BPW/USA ERA TASK FORCE Unratified States Action Plan

1. BPW/USA ERA TASK FORCEUnratified States Action Plan

2. Concentrate on building ‘teams’ with clearly defined roles and tasks State regions Make assignments simple Formulate an internal network for communications Train in actions and messages Form A CoalitionWith As Many Groups as Possible Who Are Willing to Work on This Issue

3. One to two key influentials who can recruit other ‘grassroots’ leaders Identify people who are invested in your success and willing to use their position Utilize these individuals to influence decision makers and lead public opinion One to two spokespersons only for press! Team leader for legislative contacts in field Team leader for Session Team leader for grassroots activation Recruit Contact People Who Are Passionate About Passage of the ERA

4. Five ‘C’s of Media Relations Credibility Comfort Confidence Compelling story Control Begin a Public Education Campaign Present the BPW/USA workshop entitled “It’s Not Just Your Grandmother’s – or your Mother’s – ERA!” to show continued relevance for the ERA.

5. Selling Your Story

6. Access to news sources Timely responses Meet deadlines Short, clear, accurate answers Brief background materials What Reporters Want

7. Utilize your members to write Letters to Editor at key times Always provide talking points for letters that are 200 words or less Use members for calls to legislators, letters to legislators at key action times Always provide talking points: one or two! Use Public Education Campaign To Recruit Members In Coalition

8. Questionnaire should ask:1. Do you support ratification of the federal Equal Rights Amendment?2. If yes, would you sponsor a Bill for that issue?3. If no, please explain your reasons. Make sure legislator knows your coalition is monitoring their response. Let them know constituents will follow up – and then do it! Coalition Sends Questionnaire to ALL State Legislators

9. Be willing to meet with legislators. Follow-up calls or letters are important thanking respondents. Recruit ‘yes’s to be Bill authors or sponsors Important to meet with ‘no’s to find out their objections and try to answer them. Do this BEFORE session starts when possible Increasing Response Rate

10. Start with friends Legislators, Lobbyists Give Bill author and sponsors 1-page ‘talking point’ sheets. Include responses to anti-arguments on that sheet. Identify Senate and House author Discuss with each author best way to move Bill in appropriate committees and on each House floor Bill Author and Sponsor

11. Committee strategy: who moves first Follow Bill’s progress putting pressure on legislators and recruiting more individuals and groups. Utilize news outreach campaign Count your votes Committee, floor Have a presence Make it hard to ignore you Train your volunteers Moving the Bill

12. Develop a SWAT Team that will be on-call for assistance (brainstorming, role playing, review of written testimony, etc.) Capitol nerve center Action alert system Message center for coalition Keep to Your Strategy

13. Update it with new information Weekly team meetings Identify conditions that encourage your success Monitor opposition and contain quickly Know your enemy, their message, their strengths and weaknesses Go after their credibility rather than trying to counter every point they make. Once you discredit them, what they say is no longer relevant. Keep to Your Strategy (cont.)

14. What legislators and lobbyists will help? Key meetings with legislators and Governor before session? Keep overall message consistent, but… Determine ‘actor’ specific messages What moves committee chair, chamber president, Governor? Women’s Legislative Caucus Building Nerve Center

15. Legislators Lobbyists Network Friendly reporters Legislative Days Volunteers at Capitol Messages to desks Visibility in Rotunda Keep Your Friends Informed

16. Keep track of what worked well and what didn’t, and use this information in future efforts as well as sharing it with campaigns in other unratified states. Keep Score