Advocacy-AzTEA

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Advocacy versus

Lobbying

AzTEA Retreat - June 2007 Helen Padgett, Ph.D.

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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,

committed citizens can change the world;

indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

- Margaret Mead

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Advocacy defined --

• Advocacy. n. Derived from the Middle English word advocacye

• It now means the act of pleading for, supporting, or recommending

• Influencing outcomes that directly affect people’s lives

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Advocacy and LobbyingSimilarities and Differences

• People sometimes confuse the words “advocacy” and “lobbying.”

• The legal definition of lobbying involves attempting to influence legislation.

• Advocacy covers a much broader range of activities that might or might not include lobbying.

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Advocacy and LobbyingSimilarities and Differences

• One way of differentiating between the two terms is to understand that lobbying always involves advocacy but advocacy does not necessarily involve lobbying.

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Lobbying can be an effective means through which a nonprofit can achieve its mission.

• Lobbying is a form of advocacy that focuses on changing laws that affect individuals’ lives and issues communities care about.

• Lobbying is an appropriate way to educate and even influence government and has resulted in many important policies from clean air, civil rights, labor laws, foster care and recognition for arts and culture.

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Nonprofit Lobbying Laws:Common Myths

• Lobbying is not legal

• Even if lobbying is legal it will make an organization subject to audit by the IRS

• There are no clear definitions of what is lobbying and what is not lobbying

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Is lobbying legal?

• YES! Lobbying by charitable nonprofits -- tax-exempt under section 501(c )(3) of the Internal Revenue Code -- is absolutely legal.

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Can AzTEA lobby?

• Of course it can, it should, and it’s easy.

• Anyone who can make a phone call, write a

letter or write and send an email can lobby.

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Why should AzTEA lobby?

• First, because virtually every aspect of our lives, every institution, every activity is affected by government. And in America, government responds to the wishes of the people.

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Why should AzTEA lobby?

• Second, because if we don’t someone else will.

• Every conceivable cause has its advocates.

• Competition for a place in the legislative sun is ceaseless.

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Why should AzTEA lobby?

• Lobbying today is a must.

• Any organization that does not lobby, or an organization that does not lobby well, is almost certain to get left out.

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What do we mean by lobbying?

• We mean nothing more than trying to persuade the members of the legislature to enact legislation favorable to our cause of education technology.

• The legislation may set up a new program, change an existing one, appropriate funds, etc.

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You count

• You are a constituent!

• You and the rest of the people who go to the polls are really the ones who carry the weight.

• Your legislator needs you every bit as much as you need him or her.

• You count and don’t you forget it.

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Two things you can give your legislator

• One is information.

• AzTEA is an authority in the field of education technology.

• Second is recognition.

• Whenever your legislator does something that helps AzTEA, advances our cause, show him or her your appreciation - and let the world know it.

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What do I need to know to follow the IRS rules for lobbying by 501(c)(3)s?

• Organizations have a choice between two sets of rules to follow…

• The Substantial Part Test and the Expenditure Test, also known as the 501(h) election

• One set of rules is generally preferable for most charities – The Expenditure Test enacted in 1976

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Advocacy Exercise #1:

• Turn to the person next to you.

• Tell them something about your most important technology issue.

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Effective Advocacy

• Requires building trust over time

• Is personalized

• Employs collaboration

• Involves meeting decision makers on their home turf

• Requires carefully devised influence activities

• Requires solid planning

• Builds in periodic assessment

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Stay Informed

• Keep track of what officials say in the media

• Attend meetings and hearings

• Directly request a policymaker’s statement of position

• Learn the names and numbers of appropriate bills, their sponsors, and the rationale for support or opposition

• Share this information with others

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General tips• R-E-S-P-E-C-T

• Think locally before you act globally

• Understand the system

• Begin the process early

• Get a sponsor

• Get your issue on the record

• Contact the whole committee

• Negotiate

• Don’t forget legislative staff

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Communication Tools

• Meetings and hearings

• Letters

• Electronic mail

• Telephone calls

• Personal visits

• Position papers

• Policy Briefs

• Testimony

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Communication with the Media

• News releases

• Media advisories

• Public Information packets

• Fact sheets

• News conferences

• Individual briefings

• Visits with editorial boards

• Op-Ed pieces

• Letters to the Editor

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“If you want your audiences to listen, match your purpose to their needs.”

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Advocacy Exercise #2:

• Turn to the person seated next to you and pretend that he/she is your legislator.

• Tell your legislator how your school system used the technology appropriation from the legislature last year.

• Tell them how you plan to use this year’s appropriation.

• Tell them why you need to see this fund grow.

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Identify Legislators

• Champions

• Allies

• Fence Sitters

• Mellow Opponents

• Hard-Core Opponents

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How to Talk to an Elected Official

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Establish your agenda and goals

• Know what subject you are going to address.

• Decide what you would like to get out of the visit.

• Allow some time for small talk.

• If it is a group visit, decide who will start the discussion and put your agenda on the table.

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Listen well

• Look for indicators

• Draw out “silent types” with questions

• Pull back “long-winded types” by looking for openings to bring her/him back to the point

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Be prepared

• Provide personal experiences.

• Know when to admit “I don’t know.”

• Be open to counter-arguments, but don’t get stuck on them.

• Don’t be argumentative or confrontational.

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Don’t stay too long

• Keep your group small

• Include someone from the legislator’s district

• Make your group diverse

• Discuss in advance how to handle the meeting

• Be direct but not threatening

• Know your facts

• Leave informational material with the official

• Try to get closure on your issue.

• When faced with an impasse, offer your thanks and leave.

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You are there to build a relationship

• Acknowledge past support.

• “No permanent friends, no permanent enemies.”

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Follow-up is important

• Be sure to send a thank-you note after the visit.

• If commitments were made in the meeting, repeat your understanding of them.

• If staff members were present, write to them too. They can often be important allies.

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Establish a relationship with staff

• Usually more accessible than the elected official

• Can usually help to get your message through

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Writing Elected Officials

• Be brief, be clear

• Say what you want up front

• Make sure to personalize

–Tell a story

• Be an expert

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Correspondence Don’ts

• Mass mail ins of the same letter

• Electronic deluges

• Jamming the phone and fax lines

• Petitions

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“The right people need the right information at the right time.”

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Advocacy Exercise #3:

• Identify the following:

–State Representative for your district

–State Senator for your district

–Congressional Representative from your district

–The Two Senators from Arizona

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“If you can’t beat them, arrange to have them beaten.”

George Carlin

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Guiding Quote:

Politics is the recurring drama of admiring what some people stand for, and being astonished at what others fall for.

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RESOURCES

• Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest

http://www.clpi.org/

• Alabama Educational Technology Association

http://www.aeta.cc/