Advocacy
at the
National Level
NAME Conference October 15, 2009
Presenters:
Marjorie Rollins, LEC MAA Director
Sutter County Superintendent of Schools
Yuba City, CA
Sue Hamblin, NMAS-JPA Director
Stanislaus County Office of Education
Modesto, CA
What is Advocacy?
“The action of advocating,
pleading or supporting
a cause or proposal”
dictionary.com
…meaning?
The act of influencing or supporting
The desire to change regulations, laws,
institutional policies, court decisions
The ability to speak out in favor of a
particular position or policy
Who Should Advocate?
Anyone with an interest in
supporting an effort or program
Can Anyone Advocate?
Any private citizen can advocate
Not all employees are allowed to
advocate representing their employer
Know your employer’s rules
How Do We Advocate?
VOTE!
And…
Understand the
Legislative Process
And…
 Become Involved
 Know your Representatives:
 Know What Issues they Support
 Know their Voting Record
 Know their Committee Membership
And…
Contact your Representatives and
Voice your Opinions and Concerns
Time To Get Serious
Ready to offer some serious support
to your public policy efforts?
First: Have a Plan
 Form Coalition or Advocacy
Committee - strength in numbers
 Communicate with others to
strengthen your goals
 Be specific, prioritize concerns
Focus and Prepare
 Hold focus group meetings
 Identify key leverage points
 Prepare to approach legislative
supporters with your concerns
 Identify the “ASK”
Washington, D.C.
Ready for your trip to
Washington, D.C.?
Begin by:
Building an itinerary for your visit
Choose a time to visit when
representatives are in session
Make appointments with your
representatives first
Preparation is Key
Make appointments:
State where you are from
State who you represent
Speak authoritatively requesting your
predetermined date and time
Be persistent – you are an important
meeting! Be sure they understand!
Call for Appointment:
Call early in the morning, prior to
12:00 noon
Speaking in person with ‘scheduling
secretary’ offers much more success
in getting appointment
Key Words:
“Urgent and Imperative”
“Delegation”
“Absolutely require meeting”
Hint: Do not be shy!
E-mails are Effective
“It is imperative that Dr. John Jones,
Superintendent of Schools and CA
Delegates, meet with you April 21, 2009
1:30 – 5:00 or April 22, 2009 10:00 – 2:00.
Please let us know which dates and times
work best for you to meet with us.”
Follow-up
After Appointment is made, follow
up with email or FAX to confirm.
Add explanation and background
of program you will discuss
Some legislative offices only work
by email and some only by FAX.
Be flexible
Biographies
Biographies of legislators are
available on web
Know their interests and their
policy commitments
Organizational charts
Know who is chair of committee
important to your cause
Final Preparations
 Gather all research and put into
binder or folder. Should include:
 Itinerary – detailed with date, time,
location - including office number,
staff contact person, phone numbers
 Biographies
 Support documentation
And . . .
Do not forget
your camera!
Handouts
 Program status
 The “ASK”
 Supporting documentation
 Identification (business cards work)
Suggested Protocol
For each meeting, choose a
“Lead Person”.
Take the cue from lead to determine
when it is best to talk
Possible to have a pre-selected lead
for each topic or portion of discussion
Stick to the ‘Message Points’
Suggested Protocol
If using a local example, be certain
it represents a statewide point
School representatives work best
when educating and informing
Exchange business cards
Suggested Protocol
Be on time. No, be early!
Use only your designated
appointment time.
Address Senator as Senator and
Congressman as Congressman or
Congresswoman
Thank-You Letters
Always send a “Thank you letter
for the meeting”
Thank-you letter can include more
specific local information
Exchange business cards
Thank-You Letters
A “Thank you letter for their
support” is appropriate anytime.
Drop into the office and leave your
card with a “Thank you letter for
their support”. You need not see
the legislator.
Summarize
Follow up with Advocacy Group
Supply brief summary of meetings
and results