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Strengthening Your Chapter Advocacy Program

Strengthening Your Chapter Advocacy Program. Chapter Leaders Webcast November 20, 2008. Presenters Jim Coppola, New England Chapter Past President; Chair , Chapter Advocacy Task Force Bob Freudenthal, APWA Past President; Chair , Government Affairs Committee

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Strengthening Your Chapter Advocacy Program

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  1. Strengthening Your Chapter Advocacy Program Chapter Leaders Webcast November 20, 2008

  2. Presenters Jim Coppola,New England Chapter Past President;Chair, Chapter Advocacy Task Force Bob Freudenthal, APWA Past President; Chair, Government Affairs Committee David Lawry,APWA Director, Region V; Chicago Metro Chapter Past President;Chapter Advocacy Task Force

  3. Task Force on State, Local and Provincial Advocacy • Established after April 2007 GAC meeting • Appointed by President Frevert • Charge to identify potential resources and tools to enhance and support advocacy within chapters • Timeline of Activity • Met September 2007 • Series of conference calls from October – March • Report to GAC April 2008 • Report to Board June 2008

  4. Task Force Members • Jim Coppola, New England, Chair • Ron Calkins, Ventura • Doug Fredericks, Sacramento • Daryl Grigsby, Washington • David Lawry, Chicago Metro • Richard Ridings, Texas • Joel Riggs, Kansas City Metro • Ric Robertshaw, Ontario

  5. Task Force Approach Define advocacy • Legislative/Regulatory • Promotional • Financial Major areas of effort • Survey of APWA chapters • Survey of potential advocacy partners

  6. Key Findings • “Proactive” chapters identified • 5% “highly” and 58% “somewhat” engaged; Proactive in efforts to influence legislation • Partnering with organizations is common • ASCE, WEF, AWWA and State Municipal Leagues • One-quarter have Government Affairs Committees • Most Chapters want to do more in Advocacy • No chapter provides Advocacy training • Major obstacles: Time constraints and lack of training

  7. Recommendations & Next Steps:Government Affairs Committees (GAC) • Establish chapter Government Affairs Committee • Establish a process for determining chapter positions and priorities • Establish a process for approving plans and goals • GAC should include members who are committed and who want to play an active role in advocacy

  8. Recommendations & Next Steps:Coalition Partners • State Municipal Leagues • State County Associations • Provincial Municipal Associations • Establish relationships with these important groups • They are a resource on the issues • Chapters are a resource to them

  9. Recommendations & Next Steps:Coalition Partners (Con’t) • Build strong relationships with state & provincial leagues and county associations by: • Serving on committees • Establishing chapter liaisons to work with staff • Monitoring their activities and positions • Ensures chapter activities and messages are harmonized with local elected officials

  10. Recommendations & Next Steps:Coalition Partners (Con’t) • Other Public Works Associations • State Executive and Regulatory Agencies

  11. Recommendations & Next Steps:Building Coalitions • Many potential coalition partners are already active public works advocates • State, local and provincial organizations provide the best resources for advocacy engagement

  12. Recommendations & Next Steps:How to Build Effective Coalitions • Make appointments to meet with these groups • Volunteer to serve on a legislative committee • Invite coalition members to chapter events • Learn from coalition partners by reading their position papers and testimony • Attend meetings with coalition partners

  13. Recommendations & Next Steps:Track and Respond to Legislation • Be selective when choosing a legislative initiative to undertake • Meet with legislators • Broadcast chapter-wide alerts • Use the resources of your coalition partners • Develop and present testimony at public hearings

  14. Recommendations & Next Steps:Keys to Success • Prioritize your issues • Define your objectives; know what your goals are • Don’t take on too much at one time • Be prepared -- know the history of the issue and players involved

  15. Recommendations & Next Steps:Keys to Success (Con’t) • Know who you need to work with • Know the decision-making process and its timeline; who makes the decisions and when • Get to know key staff • Communicate with your members on the status of the issue and your accomplishments

  16. Tips for Success • You are the experts • Do your research • Develop issue briefs • Prepare your messages • Send letters (on chapter letterhead if possible)

  17. Tips for Success (Con’t) • You are the experts • Prepare talking points for all meetings • Know your audience • Have a leave behind – your supporting materials • Follow up – send thank you letters • Follow through

  18. Tips for Success (Con’t) • APWA, APWA chapters and APWA members acting on behalf of APWA cannot: • Engage in partisan political activities • Endorse candidates for office • Contribute to or raise funds for political campaigns

  19. Tips for Success (Con’t) • Know and understand state and local laws and requirements • Rules governing reporting, disclosures vary from state to state, locality to locality • Chapters are responsible for knowing, understanding and complying with all state and local laws, ordinances and regulations as they pertain to lobbying and advocacy • State laws typically prohibit use of public funds (in some cases chapter funds derived from public sources) and other public resources (computers, phones, email)

  20. Tips for Success (Con’t) • Contact and work closely with State Municipal League/County Association for guidance on state and local requirements • Do’s and Don’ts for Public Officials • Other Resources: • Secretary of State, State Legislature and other state agencies

  21. Tips for Success (Con’t) • Ensure chapter activities and positions are consistent with APWA national policy and positions • Positions and priorities posted on APWA advocacy site, www.apwa.net/advocacy • Contact APWA Washington Office with questions or to request assistance, 202-408-9541 • Ensure chapter actions and positions align with state league and county association partners

  22. Resources:APWA Web Site www.apwa.net/advocacy • APWA Washington Office • APWA State and Provincial Advocacy Pages • APWA Advocacy and Government Affairs Guidebook • Chapter Advocacy Task Force Toolkit • Use APWA’s Web site as a resource for policy and positions

  23. Case Studies • Tennessee – Telecommunications Act of 2007 • California Chapters – Collective Action Underway • Georgia – Successful Coalition Building • Massachusetts – New England’s First Steps

  24. Questions?

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