Getting to Know Your Elected Officials

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2 Getting to Know Your Elected Officials Establishing, cultivating, and sustaining effective working relationships with your elected officials. Kevin Perry Georgia Policy and Legislative Advisor, BlazeSports Leah Howard, JD Assistant Director of Policy and National Initiatives, BlazeSports

3 Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it s the only thing that ever has. --Margaret Mead 3

4 Why should you get to know your elected officials? 4

5 1. You can make a difference! Getting to Know Your Elected Officials: Lobbying and Advocacy 2. Working together WE can make a difference. 3. WE can change laws. 4. WE live in a democratic society. 5. Lobbying helps find real solutions. 6. Lobbying/advocating is easy! 7. Policy makers are just like us real people they need our expertise. 8. Lobbying helps people. 9. YOUR views are important. 10. Increasing your organization s visibility helps advance your cause and build public trust. 5

6 YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! It takes one person to initiate change. In Toledo, Ohio, a single mother struggling to raise her son without the help of a workable child support system put an ad in a local newspaper to see if there were others who wanted to work for change. There were. Over time, they built the Association for Child Support Enforcement, which has helped change child support laws across the country. 6

7 WORKING TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Remember ADA? Think about Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Through coordinated grassroots activities, states across the country continue to toughen their drunk driving laws. As a result, drunk driving deaths are lower nationwide. 7

8 WE CAN CHANGE LAWS. History is full of people and groups that fought against great odds to make great changes. Changes in public policy are never easy to achieve. Change requires the active involvement through advocacy and lobbying of hundreds or even thousands of committed people who believed in something. 8

9 WE LIVE IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY. Advocacy is a democratic tradition. Telling our policy makers how to write and change laws is at the very heart of our democratic system. Advocacy has helped keep America s democracy working! 9

10 LOBBYING HELPS FIND REAL SOLUTIONS. People thinking creatively and asking their elected officials for help can generate innovative solutions to help overcome the root causes of a problem. 10

11 How do you establish relationships with your elected officials? 11

12 LOBBYING/ADVOCATING IS EASY! We should all know who to call, when to call, and what to say. ALL levels of government City Mayor, Council County Chair, Commission State Governor, State Representative, State Senator Federal Senator, Member of Congress 12

13 POLICY MAKERS ARE JUST LIKE US THEY NEED OUR EXPERTISE! Communicating YOUR knowledge and experience is OUR best asset. Personal stories are powerful tools for change. Everyone can learn from OUR story. We see problems first-hand. We know the needs. We know what works and what doesn t. Share your passion and perspective. 13

14 LOBBYING HELPS PEOPLE. Research, strategic planning, phone calls, visits and phone calls will help you reach your goal particularly if it s a cause that helps people. 14

15 YOUR VIEWS ARE IMPORTANT. Elected officials often decide how to vote and how to spend state and federal money because of local voices and active, involved citizens YOU! Localize, localize, localize! Put a face with the sport. 15

16 Chart from Congressional Management Foundation 16

17 All Politics is Local. - Tip O Neill, U.S. Speaker of the House ( ) 17

18 What should you do to cultivate your relationships with your elected officials? 18

19 INCREASING YOUR ORGANIZATION S VISIBILITY HELPS ADVANCE YOUR CAUSE AND BUILD PUBLIC TRUST Building public trust is essential to nonprofit organizations and lobbying helps you to gain it by increasing your organization s visibility. Advocacy is just as important to our mission as raising funds or recruiting volunteers. Relationships with local, state, and federal governments can help advance your cause. 19

20 HOW CAN WE TELL OUR STORY? Invite your local elected officials to all of your events. Communicate your mission. Describe your services. Communicate your need. 20

21 HOW CAN WE TELL OUR STORY? Invite your local elected officials to speak at a public meeting sponsored by your organization. Policy makers appreciate any opportunity to speak particularly if the audience is large and they can vote! Invite your local elected officials to your next Board of Director s meeting. What do you have to lose? 21

22 HOW CAN WE TELL OUR STORY? Consider hosting a reception or breakfast at the State Capitol. Organize a Day at the Capitol and invite volunteers and participants from across the state to visit with their elected officials. Work with your local media to develop positive news stories about your organization. 22

23 HOW CAN WE TELL OUR STORY? Communicate Effectively Keep it local Keep it personal Keep it concise Put it in writing 23

24 How can you sustain your relationships with your elected officials? 24

25 YOU HAVE MADE CONTACT, NOW WHAT? Remember that building relationships takes time Regular and personal follow up is critical to maintaining your relationships You don t have to need anything to reach out in fact officials love to hear success stories! Don t overlook the importance of getting to know the official s staff 25

26 WE VE MADE CONTACT, NOW WHAT? Remember, your feedback HELPS elected officials make decisions. Right now, the Deficit Reduction Committee in Washington is meeting to try to find $1.2 trillion in savings. As Congress, State, and Local governments face tough decisions like these, hearing the importance and impacts of the programs they are considering cutting from you is crucial. 26

27 HOW DO YOU PLAN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? 27