Transcript Slide 1

Effective Grassroots
Advocacy
Prepared for Family Voices of California
Presented by Tony Anderson
The Arc of California
Prepared from resources from The Arc of the United States and the Disability Policy
Collaboration of The Arc & UCP
November 2009
Communicating with Congress:
How Capitol Hill is Coping with
the Surge in Citizen Advocacy
By the Congressional Management
Foundation
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What Works? Ask the Experts
 Survey completed by 350
staff from more than 200
House and Senate Offices
http://www.cmfweb.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=63
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Postal mail and e-mail to
Capitol Hill
Take Home
Message:
Congress gets
LOTS of email
 Approximately 10 million emails in 1995 to over 300
million in 2006
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Effects of the Internet on Congress
“Please indicate the extent to which you
agree or disagree that e-mail and the
Internet have…”
Take home
Message:
The internet is a
mixed bag.
+ Quantity
+ Involvement
+ Understanding
+ Responsiveness
- Quality
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Influence of individual communications
"If your Member/Senator has not already arrived at a firm decision on
an issue, how much influence might the following Individualized
written communications directed to the Washington office have on
his/her decision?"
Take Home
Message:
Most forms of
individualized
written
communications
work
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Influences on Member Decision-making
"If your Member/Senator has not already arrived at a firm decision on an
issue, how much influence might the following advocacy strategies
directed to the Washington office have on his/her decision?"
Take Home
Message:
Personal
Interactions
are most
effective
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What Staff Want in
Constituent Communications
"How helpful is it for messages from constituents to include the following?
Take Home Message:
Most Important
information:
1) Contact information
2) Specific legislation
3) Bill Number & Title
4) Impact on community
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staff views on form
communications
"Most identical form communications campaigns are sent
without the constituent's knowledge or approval."
Take Home
Message:
Form letters
are not
effective.
Staff think
they are
often fake.
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Implications for citizens and
the grassroots community
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Quality is more persuasive than
quantity.
The organization behind a grassroots
campaign matters.
Grassroots organizations should
develop a better understanding of
Congress.
There is a difference between being
noticed and having an impact.
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2008 Survey Results on Communicating
with Congress
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N = 10,000 citizens
Almost half of adult Americans contacted Congress in
the last five years
Majority do not believe Congress is interested in what
they have to say
Most want Members to keep them informed of their
views and activities
The Internet has become the primary method of
communications
A majority of people who contacted Congress had
been asked to do so by a third party - primarily
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through interest groups
Principles, strategies,
Resources & Tools
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Committees – Where Members spend
over 90% of their time in Washington
Agriculture
Appropriations *
Armed Services
Budget
Education and Labor *
Energy and Commerce *
Financial Services
Foreign Affairs
Homeland Security
House Administration
Judiciary
Natural Resources
Oversight and Government Reform
Rules
Science and Technology
Small Business
Standards of Official Conduct
Transportation and Infrastructure *
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Committee on Ways and Means *
Joint Economic Committee
Joint Committee on Taxation
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Appropriations *
Armed Services
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs *
Budget
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Energy and Natural Resources
Environment and Public Works
Finance *
Foreign Relations
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions *
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Judiciary
Rules and Administration
Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Veterans' Affairs
Indian Affairs
Select Committee on Ethics
Select Committee on Intelligence
Special Committee on Aging
Joint Committee on Printing
Joint Committee on Taxation
Joint Committee on the Library
Joint Economic Committee
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What committees do we focus on in
California
Senate
• Appropriations
• Budget
• SubBudget:
Education
• SubBudget: Human
Services
• Education
• Health Human
Services
• Judiciary
• Transportation
• Housing
• Public Safety
Assembly
• Appropriations
• Budget
• SubBudget: Education
• SubBudget: Human Services
• Education
• Health
• Human Services
• Judiciary
• Transportation
• Housing
• Public Safety
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Time Your Efforts
Federal
State
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Congressional Caucuses
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Informal groups
Shared interests in specific issues or philosophies
(e.g., countries, products, beliefs)
House disability related caucuses include:
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Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus
Coalition on Autism Research and Education
Bipartisan Cerebral Palsy Caucus
Congressional Caucus on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
House Long-Term Care Caucus
Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus
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State Select Committees
Senate
 Autism (ASD) & Related
Disorders
 Disaster and Emergency
Response
Assembly
 Select Committee on
Alcohol and Drug Abuse
 Select Committee on
Disabilities
 Select Committee on
Workforce Development
within the
Developmentally Disabled
Community
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Recruit your Messengers
Pecking Order
Self-Advocates &
Parents/Siblings
Advocates
Providers
Paid Lobbyists
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Don’t Work Alone
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Join/Use Coalitions
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Diverse Skills/Contacts
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Power in Numbers
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Coalitions Work!
http://www.c-c-d.org/
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The Coalition for the Preservation
of the Lanterman Act “The
Lanterman Coalition”
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Learn about your Members’
Personal Connection to the Issue
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More likely to understand & care about
the issues.
 Most of our champions have a close
personal connection (E.g. Kennedy,
Sensenbrenner, Harkin).
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Other opportunities to Connect
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Invite to programs/events
–Seek local media coverage
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Participate in Campaigns *
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Vote
* Learn about lobbying restrictions for 501(c)3 non profits at:
http://www.clpi.org/Make_a_Difference_Resource_Guide.aspx
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Follow-up
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Thank you
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Confirm conversation
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Confirm commitments
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Ask to help
Follow through is the Chariot
of Genius
Terry Lierman, Chief of Staff
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer
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It’s Year Round
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One visit a year isn’t enough
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Don’t always ask for something
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Publicity
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Thank yous /Awards
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Town Hall Meetings
 Offer face to face
interactions with
Members & staff
 Help to get your
message to your
fellow community
members.
 Photo ops
Sign up for alerts on your
members’ web sites
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Getting and Keeping Connections Social Networking – Web 2.0 – etc.
Example
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Advocacy ‘do’s and don’ts
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Advocacy ‘do’s and don’ts
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Dos
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Make an Appointment
Be on time
Be positive and friendly
State Reason for Visit
Personalized the issues
Provide reliable data and facts to support
your position
Provide Names of people who can be
resources
Leave a written summary of your position
Have a picture taken with the official if
possible
Write a thank you letter
Arrange for the member to meet people with
disabilities/ families later in the year
Have others write letters
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Don’ts
Arrive unexpectedly and be upset if your
member can’t meet with you
Be late for the visit
Be Confrontational
Try to discuss several different issues
Talk only in terms of numbers and statistics
Give incorrect information
Try to answer questions you don’t know
Leave long issue papers or lobbying
documents
Make a funny face or obscene gesture while
your picture is being taken with your member
Forget to write a thank you letter
Ignore the member the rest of the year
Ignore the member the rest of the year
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A Few More Tips for Change
Agents in Influencing Public Policy
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Understand the Needs of
Policymakers and the Importance
of Long Term Relationships
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Self-Interest
Time (Balancing Priorities)
Trust
Know the viable Policy options.
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Understand the Needs of
Political Staff
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Promote and protect the boss.
Help with sorting through information
to get to what’s most important.
Be a resource for fiscal and program
estimates.
Help identify Key players
Help in developing true policy options,
drafting bills, etc.
Help in developing political strategy
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Understand the Need for and the Role
of An Organized Coalition in Exercising
Power Over the Policymaker
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Need for coalition
Composition of coalition members
Cohesion
Synergy
Skilled individuals
Leadership
Responsibility
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Understand the Power of
Personal Stories
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Telling personal stories in isolation
doesn’t work
Determine the policy objective, then
frame the issue, then
Tie in the personal stories.
Demonstrate positive impact and give
a before and after intervention story
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Wrap up
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Get involved
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It’s your job
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You are the expert
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Much is at stake
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It can be frustrating
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Don’t ever give up
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Questions?
Tony Anderson, The Arc of California
(916) 552-6619
www.arccalifornia.org
[email protected]
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