But what AAA does do very effectively is lend its name, its middle-American respectability and the moral weight of those 43 million members to its transportation causes. AAA's critics charge that it takes positions on transportation and the environment largely without the knowledge or permission of its members. AAA does survey its members, both at the national and local level. According to a AAA public relations officer, this information is used to help determine national policy. These positions are formulated by AAA's public and government relations committee, made up of about 20 top-level executives from the clubs.
Final approval is left to delegates from the clubs.
Environmental critics say this process has much to do with the content of AAA's policy agenda. The CEO of the national office sits on the boards of a forest products company and a high-tech manufacturing company. Other executives and directors of the national office and the clubs have similar links to big business. There is no mention of AAA's positions on specific environmental issues. But since the brochure is clearly far too expensive for mass mailing, most members likely learn even less.