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How To Plan A Successful National Drug Court Month. National Drug Court Month Resource Center www.NADCP.org/NDCM-12. Largest annual celebration of Drug Courts in nation Hundreds of media stories Thousands of graduates Massive impact on local, state and national support for Drug Courts.
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National Drug Court Month Resource Center www.NADCP.org/NDCM-12 • Largest annual celebration of Drug Courts in nation • Hundreds of media stories • Thousands of graduates • Massive impact on local, state and national support for Drug Courts
Presenters Tonya Voelker - Associate Director of Legislative Affairs, NADCP Connie Payne - Administrative Office of the Courts, KY Tina Messer - Regional Specialist, Statewide Services Division of Drug Court, KY Jennifer Grandal- Senior Court Operations Consultant Office of the State Courts Administrator, FL Michelle Jones - Adult Drug Court Coordinator, Osceola County Adult Drug Court, FL
Engaging Your Members of Congress • District Work Weeks: May 1-4 & May 21-30 • Perfect opportunity to meet with your Members or invite them to a graduation/event • Start early, it takes lots of contact to make it happen
Engaging Your Members of Congress • Step 1 – Call your Members Washington, DC office • http://capwiz.com/nadcp/home/ • Ask to speak with person responsible for Drug Court or Judicial Issues • Tell them who you are and that you would like to invite your Member to speak at a special National Drug Court Month event • You will be referred to scheduler
Engaging Your Members of Congress • Step 2 – Follow up • Within a week of your call, fax or email your invitation (sample letter in Field Kit) • A few days after sending your letter, make a follow up call to the Scheduler • Acknowledge the amount of requests, thank them for their time. • Mention other notable speakers attending, mention press will be there • If Scheduler says that they cannot attend, ask if there is another available date for future invite • If the Scheduler confirms they can attend, go over key logistics
Engaging Your Members of Congress • Step 3 – Reconfirm the visit • A few days before event, contact Scheduler to confirm date and time. • Step 4- Day of Event • Expect staff to accompany Member • Consider appointing a greeter/escort • Provide material on your court and the NADCP Capitol Hill Brief • Ensure Media is aware the Member is present
Engaging Your Members of Congress • Step 5 – Thank your Member for attending! • Following the event send a personalized thank-you note to your Member. • Include pictures of the event. • It is critical that they understand how much you appreciate their visit. • Now you have a relationship! Continue to keep them updated on your court and all of the great work you do.
We are here for you! Tonya Voelker Associate Director of Legislative Affairs, NADCP tvoelker@nadcp.org 571-384-1863 Chris Deutsch Director of Communications, NADCP cdeutsch@nadcp.org 571-384-1857 Connie Payne Administrative Office of the Courts, KY conniepayne@kycourts.net 502-573-2350 x2256 Jennifer Grandal Office of the State Courts Administrator, FL grandalj@flcourts.org 850.922.5101 Tina Messer Regional Specialist, Statewide Services Division of Drug Court, KY tinamesser@kycourts.net 606-627-8236 T. Michelle Jones Adult Drug Court Coordinator, FL ctdcmj1@ocnjcc.org 407-742-2431