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Making Advocacy a Household Name Randy Mulder, RDT Govt. Affairs Chair NADT National Conference, November 6, 2009. Advocacy - ad- vo -ca-cy . NOUN: the act of pleading or arguing in favor of something, such as a cause, idea, or policy; active support. Key Principles of Advocacy.
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Making Advocacy a Household NameRandy Mulder, RDT Govt. Affairs ChairNADT National Conference, November 6, 2009
Advocacy - ad-vo-ca-cy NOUN: the act of pleading or arguing in favor of something, such as a cause, idea, or policy; active support.
Know Who You Are & What You Want • Understand how your activities contribute to the greater good • Establish a strategy and develop a plan • Be honest • Strive for clarity and brevity in all your communications
Know Your Elected Officials • Know your elected officials • Politics is fluid; change is constant • Work hard for your political friends • Politicians respond to voters
Know Your Allies • Seek to establish coalitions • Create a unified message of purpose and strategy • Treat your allies and opponents with friendly respect
Make Advocacy a Part of Your Daily Mission • Not once a year • Not issue to issue • Daily
Lobbying - lob-by-ing VERB: To try to influence legislation or administrative decisions
Who are Lobbyists? • ANYONE with an interest in a particular issue • ANYONE who wants to change the law or status quo • ANYONE with a story to tell
Lobbying Is Essential to the Legislative Process: • Provides needed expertise • Everyone can be a lobbyist/activist • Each person is an expert
Lobbying Goals • Building professional relationships with key decision makers • Knowledge is power • For your supporters, volunteer on their election campaigns
Lobbying Rules • Does she trust you? • Does she respect your opinions? • Does she value you as a person and SEEK YOUR ADVICE?
Lobbying Rules • Be honest • Know your and your opponent’s position • Never insult the key decision maker • Never insult your opponent
Lobbying Rules • Never lose your cool. • Understand the key decision maker’s position. • Only lobby your elected officials • Always “Make the Ask”
Advocacy – What to do • Have information, statistics, and success stories relevant to the district • Keep message short and succinct • Suggest solutions or a specific request • Follow-up with an email or phone call
Advocacy is Relationship Building • Become a resource • Know whom to contact • Invite officials to events and media opportunities • Visit your officials’ offices • Write to your officials
WHY GET INVOLVED? • Have the opportunity to change and/or influence United States law • If you don’t get involved, your opponents will. • This is a marathon, not a sprint
Acknowledgements NADT Government Affairs Committee Deb Pierce, Krista Verrastro, Karimah Dillard, Linda Cook, Susan Ward, Pilar D’Asto, Jen Johnson NADT NYS Task Force Lucy McLellan, Kristin Long, Pam Edgar, Becca Elkin, Courtney DePascual Americans for the Arts
Presentation Acknowledgements NADT Government Affairs Committee 2009-2010 Anne Portine, Alan Pottinger, Annie Ready Coffey, Amber Bond, Deb Pierce NADT NYS Task Force 2009-2010 Lucy McLellan, Nancy Sondag, Kristin Long, Andrew Gaines, Pam Edgar, Becca Elkin, Courtney DePascual, Drena Fagan, Cora Goldfarb, Chantal Georges , Kate Hurd (ex-officio) Americans for the Arts
For Further Information Randy Mulder NADT, Government Affairs Chair governmentaffairs@nadt.org Diane Brown NADT Office Manager nadt.office@nadt.org