History of NFIB: 1943-2011

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1943C. Wilson Harder founds the National Federation of Small Business (NFSB), Inc. in the basement of his home in San Mateo California, and signs up its first members at $8.50 a year.

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1949NFSB becomes the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).

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1958The first Mandates are printed on one side of single sheet of paper. The format remains simple today.

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In the early days, almost everyone pitched in to help with the Mandate mailing.

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1959An early employee publication highlights “Sixteen Years of Growth and Progress.”

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1969Wilson S. Johnson- formerly an NFIB division manager is elected president of NFIB. Membership is at 266,000 when he takes office and will double under his leadership.

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1977Auto dealer Charles Raffone becomes the 500,000th small business owner to join NFIB.

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1983The board of directors names John Sloan as NFIB’s third President.

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1984

President John Sloan and NFIB counsel Mike McKevitt visit in Vice President George Bush’s West Wing Office.

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1985Led by Wayne Campbell (hired in 1979) in the State Government Relations department, NFIB reaches a long-held goal: a lobbyist in every state.

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1986President Reagan addresses NFIB members.

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1990Debut issue of Independent Business magazine is published.

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1992

Jack Faris becomes NFIB’s fourth president. In 1993, he leads NFIB in the fight of its life: defeating the Clinton health-care employer mandate.

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1997

NFIB unveils the Campaign to Abolish the IRS Code in Independence, Missouri. The Campaign gathers more than one million signatures and garners national media attention.

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2000The second NFIB Congressional Small Business Summit is held in Washington, D.C. Retired General Colin Powell, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and IRS Commissioner Charles Rossotti are among the key speakers.

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2000MYBusiness magazine becomes the premier member publication. “Capitol Coverage” and “NFIB Report from the State Capitols” are features of the new magazine.

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2000

NFIB President Jack Faris is named No. 1 on the “Power 30” list be Fortune Small Business magazine. Tom Sullivan, Executive Director of the NFIB Legal Foundation, is also listed at No. 23.

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2001

NFIB expands its online presence to become the Internet’s most comprehensive small-business resource.

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2001NFIB and its members help defeat Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s ergonomics regulations that would have cost small-business owners more than $40 billion.

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2002NFIB stages its third Congressional Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C. where Barbara Bush, Dick Cheney, Elaine Chao and other members of President Bush’s staff address NFIB members and staffers.

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2003President Bush names NFIB President Jack Faris to the President’s Export Council (PEC), the premier national advisory committee on international trade.

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2004 Hundreds of the nation’s politically active small-business owners converged on Washington, D.C. for the NFIB National Small Business Summit. Among the highlights: a stirring address by President George W. Bush, a former NFIB member.

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2006Todd A. Stottlemyer becomes the 5th President of NFIB.

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2008@NFIB launches with currently over 5,000 followers.

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NFIB and eBay partner to host the National Small Business Summit, so businesses of all types, from brick and mortar, to online, could come together to learn and connect.

2008

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2009

NFIB launches webinar series for small business owners, watched by 10,000 viewers to date. Attend a webinar

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2009Dan Danner is named the 6th President of NFIB.

Meet Dan Danner

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2009

NFIB creates a Facebook page for those who ‘Like’ small business.

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201025 NFIB Members Join the 112th Congress.

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2010

NFIB joins 26 states in the historic lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

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2010The new NFIB.com launches, improving the online experience for small business owners and members

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2011

The NFIB.com studio launches with breaking interviews covering issues and raising awareness for small businesses. Take a look

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Join today and help us shape the way we promote and protect your right to own, operate, and grow your small business.

For more information, visit:http://www.nfib.com