NDRPA Thursday, September 13 Grand Dakota Ballroom www.nrpa.org
The Future is Advocacy!
What Is Advocacy?
Elected officials need and want to hear directly from you! Constituents matter You re the experts! Relationships with elected officials don t always cost money
Congress Majority Leader: Sen. Mitch McConnell (KY) Senate: 51-49* (*Inc 2 Ind.) Minority Leader: Sen. Chuck Schumer (NY) Speaker of the House: Rep. Paul Ryan (WI-1) House: 237 193 (5 vacant) Minority Leader: Rep. Nancy Pelosi (CA- 12)
Members of Congress for the Peace Garden State Senator John Hoeven (R) (Up for election this year) Senate Appropriations Committee Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D) (Up for election this year) Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Members of Congress for the Peace Garden State Congressman Kevin Cramer (R) (Up for election this year) House Committee on Energy and Commerce
ND State Legislature 47 constituent districts 2 representatives, 1 senator Lower North Dakota House of Representatives, with 94 representatives, and the upper North Dakota Senate, with 47 senators Regular sessions in odd years, Jan April
Method When? Effectiveness Form Emails / Scripted Phone Calls Long or short-term requests Fine helpful when many people communicate Phone Calls Short-term urgent requests Good! Helpful when many people communicate Social Media Long or short-term requests / relationship-building Good! Especially when paired with in-person meetings/events Personalized Emails and Phone Calls Frequently making asks, providing information, building a relationship Great! Especially when paired with in-person meetings/events
Why Build Relationships?
Method When? Effectiveness Town Hall Meetings In-District Meetings Park Champion Events Periodically in coordination with legislative initiatives and action Periodically in coordination with legislative actions and initiatives Often, especially during Congressional recesses Good! Chance for some quick one-on-one face time. Great! Chance to talk in-depth about policy issues AMAZING! Connects policy issues to needs/concerns of real constituents
Congress Has Changed : (
Fight for the Future
Why Your Director / Commissioner Should Care About Advocacy It makes them and you look good! (Because you are, of course) Every single advocacy action fills a line in a commissioner report Unless your district is permanently authorized, you re at risk
Link
NRPA Park Champions Nrpa.org/Park-Champions
Use Your Assets!! Sad Senator Ron Wyden Happy Senator Ron Wyden in a park!
The Making of a Park Champion Responds to calls to action Keeps in touch Attends webinars and trainings Hosts Park Champion events
What s a Park Champion Event? Any event attended by a member of Congress (U.S. representatives and senators) or their staff Park dedications Program kick-offs or visits Project groundbreakings Special events
What s In It For You? Learn critical advocacy skills Demonstrate your agency s value to the public and elected officials at all levels Encourage investment in your parks, programs and facilities Strengthen volunteer and friends support through advocacy Understand how federal funding affects your agency
2019 Park Champion of the Year Recognition at NRPA s Annual Conference in Baltimore Features in NRPA s Parks and Recreation magazine and Open Space blog Roundtrip flights and lodging for two in your agency to come to Washington, D.C., in spring 2020! HOW TO ENTER: Submit your event details and photos on the Park Champion Advocacy Toolkit page by August 31 st, 2019!
Non-profit 501(c)3 You CAN lobby! Government agency Check with your city plenty of local/state governments lobby 1.ND Secretary of State says it s not if you re: An employee, officer, board member, volunteer, or agent of the state or its political subdivisions whether elected or appointed and whether or not compensated, who is acting in that person s official capacity Education is always okay If lobbying is very restricted: Lobby on your personal time using personal resources Talk about your program, not legislation
Park Champion Advocacy Toolkit Step-by-step guide to planning an event Zip code search tool Draft invitations Email addresses for schedulers Planning checklist and day-of guide
STEP ONE: Brainstorm Your Event! Check your event calendar NRPA Policy Platform Research your members of Congress
STEP ONE: Brainstorm Your Event! What exciting events are on your calendar? High attendance State/local officials attending Speaking, participation and photo opportunities Interaction with community But really, ANY EVENT!
STEP ONE: Brainstorm Your Event! NRPA Legislative Platform - Infrastructure Bill - Active Transportation - Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) - TIGER Grants - Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) (State Assistance Fund and Outdoor Recreation Legacy Program ) - Environmental Education - STEM education, tutoring, after-school programs - Child Nutrition Reauthorization (USDA Summer and after-school meals) -Farm Bill - PHIT Act -CDC Funding
Policy = Park Champion Events Issues House Comm Chair/ Ranking Senate Comm Chair/ Ranking Event USDA Summer and Afterschool Meals and Snacks / 21 st CCLCs House Education and the Workforce Rep. Virginia Foxx (NC-5) / Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-3) Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee Sen. Pat Roberts (KS) / Sen. Debbie Stabenow (MI) Summer and Afterschool Meal Program (Anytime!) Land and Water Conservation Fund House Natural Resources Rep. Rob Bishop (UT-1) / Rep. Raul Grijalva (AZ- 3) Senate Energy and Natural Resources Sen. Lisa Murkowski (AK) / Sen. Maria Cantwell (WA) Events at or a tour of an LWCF park! Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and TIGER Grants House Appropriatio ns THUD Subcomm Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) / Rep. David Price (NC-4) Senate Apprioriation s THUD Subcomm Sen. Susan Collins (ME) / Sen. Jack Reed (RI) Events at or a tour of a CDBG or TIGER park/project!
Policy = Park Champion Events Issues House Comm Chair/ Ranking Senate Comm Chair/ Ranking Event PHIT Act House Ways and Means Rep. Kevin Brady (TX-8) / Rep. Richard Neal (MA-1) Senate Finance Sen. John Cornyn (TX) / Sen. Bob Casey (PA) ANY event! PPHF / CDC Arthritis House Appropriatio ns Labor, Health, Human Services, Education Subcomm Rep. Tom Cole (OK- / Rep. DeLauro (CT-3) Senate Appropriatio ns Labor, Health, Human Services, Education Subcomm Sen. Roy Blunt (MO) / Sen. Patty Murray (WA) Tour / events at preventative programs Transportatio n Alternatives Program House Transportatio n Rep. Bill Shuster (PA- 9) / Rep. DeFazio (OR- 4) Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportatio n Sen. John Thune (SD) / Sen. Roger Wicker (MS) Events like bike rides on rec trails!
Senator Hoeven USDA Summer / Afterschool Meal Programs (SFSP / CACFP) Summer or Afterschool Meal/Snack Program
STEP TWO: Congressional Calendar
STEP THREE: Invites Edit draft invitation (Draft invitation included in Toolkit) Copy and paste into email Email to office scheduler (Email addresses included in Toolkit) Follow up!
STEP FOUR: Prep Confirm attendance Create event agenda Plan ways for the visiting official to participate in the event Draft and send press release (Draft press release included in Toolkit)
STEP FIVE: During The Event Welcome and introduce member of Congress Share how parks and rec policy has benefited or could benefit your community Capture quotes and comments made Take plenty of photos! Social media! Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Use #ParkChampion Tag the member of Congress Tag @NRPA_News
STEP SIX: Follow Up! Send thank you notes to all attending officials and staff Continue to share on social media ***Send photos, quotes, and takeaways to NRPA*** Keep in touch with Congressional offices and invite them to future events!
In-District Meetings Foster the relationship Work with volunteers and friends groups Encourage attendance at future events
Town Halls, Community Forums Events being hosted at your facilities Interaction time before and after speaking engagements
Storytelling: Supporters Citizens are aware of what they love about parks and recreation, but they need solid, credible, relevant data in order to believe it, AND then speak up when it makes a difference.
Storytelling: Park & Rec Agencies Make sure that your agency employees KNOW why they do what they do. There is measurable value on all levels. Make sure they can articulate it to others.
FOTP Model Program Audience Challenge Facts (General and agency) ASK! 43
Keep It Short and Sweet!
Program Walkie Talkies walking program Audience Community, especially older adults Challenge Economic 45
Facts (general): Treatment of dementia sufferers is estimated to cost $60,000 per year. An Oxford study found that women 65+ who walked 5 miles a week were 50% less likely to develop dementia. Facts (agency): The Walkie Talkies program walks 5 miles a week. 46
ASK! Join the Walkie Talkies! 47
Treating dementia costs a family $60,000 a year. Did you know that walking 5 miles a week can reduce your risk of dementia by 50%? The Walkie Talkies cover that distance every week join in to boost body, mind - and pocketbook! 48
Crafting Your Advocacy Story Keep it short! Policy Program Audience Challenge Facts (General and agency) Emotions ASK!
Collect data and facts for your agency
Policy: CDC Pool Safely Program Program: Swimming lessons Challenge: Budgetary constraints keep you from reaching many children. Audience: Elected officials
Agency Facts: Swimming lessons given to 150 children every year. Swimming lessons sell out every summer, with an estimated unmet need of teaching 100 children to swim.
General fact: Drowning is the 2 nd leading cause of accidental death in children ages 1-14.
Emotion: Keeping children safe is a priority of our agency, but many children still lack access to water safety classes.
ASK! Fund the CDC Pool Safely Grant Program
Bring It All Together Drowning is the 2 nd leading cause of accidental death in children ages 1-14. Park and recreation agencies keep children safe with swimming lessons, but limited resources mean we can t reach as many kids. Please fully fund the CDC Pool Safely Program, which allows us to teach water safety to ALL kids in our community!
Friends of the Park Before you have confident, vocal advocates, you have to make them your friends! How to make a friend? Make them feel special Be consistent Make it easy
Getting Commissioners Involved Invite them to events Help collect, develop, share stories Have them send invitations to elected officials and thank you notes Develop relationships with public and elected officials
FOP Example Fairbanks AK http://www.co.fairbanks.ak.us/pr/pages/flip.aspx
Just a little bit of work
Research Your Members Senator John Hoeven (R) (Up for election this year) Senate Appropriations Committee Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D) (Up for election this year) Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Congressman Kevin Cramer (R) (Up for election this year) House Committee on Energy and Commerce
What Matters to Elected Officials Their Interests or Committee Assignments Their Policy Interests Where they are on the political spectrum
What you want to know Who are your members of Congress? Party, committees, contact information. Interests, positions, opinions, event attendance What s motivating them? Positions Vote history Elected Officials Are People, Too Platform Park Champion Advocacy Toolkit (Federal, state, some local) Facebook, Twitter, Google Open Secrets (Federal), ND Secretary of State Website Govtrack
Policy: Land and Water Conservation Fund State Assistance Fund Program: LWCF parks in your community Audience: Congress Challenge: Your community benefits from LWCF, which expires in September 2018! Facts: Make the case for LWCF by demonstrating how your community benefits. ASK: Congress should reauthorize and fully fund LWCF.
General Facts: The funding for the LWCF State Assistance Program comes not from taxes, but primarily from oil and gas lease revenues derived from federal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) offshore oil and gas leasing revenues. Agency Facts: $150,000 in LWCF grants, allowing us to develop our park and add a trail connecting it to the downtown business district. After building this new trail, area businesses reported increased revenue, and property values increased by 15%. Emotion: The owner of Dickinson Cycles says the newly revitalized trail is driving up their business, thanks to more people visiting the park and living in the neighborhood.
ASK: Our community has received over $150,000 in Land and Water Conservation Fund State Assistance Program funding, allowing us to build a new park and a trail connecting it to the downtown business district. Residents feel safer getting around town by walking and biking, and property values around the park and trail are up 15%. The State Assistance Fund provides a huge return on investment for our town. LWCF expires on Septemer 30 th please fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund so we can continue building a happier, healthier, more economically vibrant community.
Your Elected Official Democrat Moderate Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Certified Pilates Instructor Senator Heidi Heitkamp (Up for election this year) Father was a volunteer firefighter / seasonal construction worker protect access to quality health care for seniors, veterans and rural residents Lives in Mandan, from Mantador ASK: The Land and Water Conservation Fund provides a huge return on investment for our community. Please reauthorize and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund so we can continue building a happier, healthier, more economically vibrant community.
Your Elected Official Republican Moderate Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Senate Appropriations Committee Senator John Hoeven (R) Values economic investments and sustainable jobs Supportive of energy development Lives in Bismarck, from Minot ASK: The Land and Water Conservation Fund provides a huge return on investment for our community. Please reauthorize and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund so we can continue building a happier, healthier, more economically vibrant community.
Keep it short! Design Your Own! Policy: USDA SFSP / CACFP Program: Summer Camp with Free Meals and Snacks Audience: Congress Challenge: Keeping the program going Facts (General and agency) Emotions ASK!
You Know Your Community
Make Fact Sheets: Internal and External
Use NRPA Resources
Park Champion Advocacy Summit: Thursday, September 27 th, 2018 10 AM 1 PM FREE! (Lunch of champions included!)
Questions jrasmussen@nrpa.org