Strengthening Your Chapter Advocacy Program
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Transcript of Strengthening Your Chapter Advocacy Program
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Strengthening Your Chapter Advocacy Program
Chapter Leaders Webcast
November 20, 2008
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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
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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
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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
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Task Force Approach
Define advocacy• Legislative/Regulatory• Promotional • Financial
Major areas of effort• Survey of APWA
chapters • Survey of potential
advocacy partners
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Recommendations & Next Steps:Coalition Partners (Con’t)
• Other Public Works Associations
• State Executive and Regulatory Agencies
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Tips for Success
• You are the experts
– Do your research
– Develop issue briefs
– Prepare your messages
– Send letters (on chapter letterhead if possible)
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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
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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
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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)
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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
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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
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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
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Case Studies
• Tennessee – Telecommunications Act of 2007
• California Chapters – Collective Action Underway
• Georgia – Successful Coalition Building
• Massachusetts – New England’s First Steps
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Questions?
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