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How One Action Per Month Can Save the World. An ALA Washington Office Webinar. Topics. About the Webinar Who’s Speaking? Welcome from ALA Building your advocacy calendar Your five minute action plan. About the Webinar. What’s happening? Muting Q&A Recording and Follow-Up Materials.
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How One Action Per Month Can Save the World An ALA Washington Office Webinar
Topics About the Webinar Who’s Speaking? Welcome from ALA Building your advocacy calendar Your five minute action plan
About the Webinar What’s happening? Muting Q&A Recording and Follow-Up Materials
Welcome from ALA Kristin Murphy, Government Relations Specialist, ALA
Where are we Starting From? Let’s go to the polls!
December: Coalitions • Why have coalitions? • Where do we find coalitions? • Brainstorm based on issue AND audience • Political considerations • Are their groups we don’t want to partner with? • Identify coalition member strengths • Message • Contacts • Advocates • Coalition member tasks: Being specific is critical
January: Legislator Outreach • Get to know new legislators and reconnect with the survivors • Ask them “who will handle library issues?” • Create a legislator profile • Tune in to the State of the Union
February: Follow the $$’s • Review ALA’s site for information on the U.S. budget • Be prepared to send letters / deliver personal stories on important fiscal priorities
March: Hone Your Message with the Message Formula • Hello, my name is [] and I’m from [] (establishes relevancy) • I am here to talk to you about [policy / relationship ask] • Knowing of your interest in [info about your audience] we think you’ll be interested as well • This is important to the people I represent because [personal story] • That’s why we really hope you’ll [ask] • I’d like to follow-up by [follow-up ideas] • Can I get contact information for all the appropriate people in your office?
April: Media Messaging • Press releases • Press conferences • LTEs / Op Eds • Editorial Boards • Columns • Events • Local radio / TV
May: Get to Know the Staff • Talk to the Right Person • Remember, Your Issue Is One of Many • Staff Contact Has Advantages Over Member Contact • Institutional Memory in an Elected Official’s Office Can Be Short • Expect (and Appreciate) Youth
June: Make a Relationship Building Ask • District Visit • Statement in Congressional Record • Local (District or State) meeting • Newsletter Article • Website statement / photos • Helping out with case work
August: Site Visits • Decide who to invite • Don’t Forget Staff • Potential Pitfalls • Decide what to show them: You’ll be surprised at what interested them • The invitation process • Who should attend on your end (“real” people) • Logistics, logistics, logistics • Recording the event
September: Election Strategies • Why: Getting like minded people out to vote will only help your cause. • Your role: Provide resources like: • Flyers • Business cards • Online and voice mail greetings • The message? Go to www.rockthevote.org
October: Townhalls • What is a “townhall?” • Working with legislator • Independent • How do they take place? • In-person • Virtual • Telephone • How do you do it?
The Five Minute Action Plan How are you going to use this information at home? Write down three things you’re going to do to advocate for improved library policies.
Contact Information • Kristin Murphy, ALA Washington Office • kmurphy@alawash.org • Washington Office Line: • (202) 628-8410 • (800) 941-8478 (for the cash strapped among us) • www.ala.org • Stephanie Vance, the Advocacy Guru • vance@advocacyguru.com • (202) 349-1036 • www.advocacyguru.com