How One Action Per Month Can Save the World An ALA Washington Office Webinar.

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

Who’s Speaking?

Welcome from ALA

Kristin Murphy, Government Relations Specialist, ALA

Where are we Starting From?

Let’s go to the polls!

Building Your Advocacy Calendar

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

July: Web 2.0 Outreach

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?

November: Vote! Early and Often

Throughout the Year

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– [email protected]– Washington Office Line:

(202) 628-8410 (800) 941-8478 (for the cash strapped among us)

– www.ala.org Stephanie Vance, the Advocacy Guru

– [email protected]– (202) 349-1036– www.advocacyguru.com