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State Training Webinar. Agenda and Presenters. 7:00 – 7:15pm ET. 10 minutes presentation 5 minutes Q&A. Building State Coalitions Edwina Rogers, Executive Director State Website Management Loren Vandergrift, Webmaster Effective Lobbying - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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State Training Webinar
Agenda and Presenters
Building State Coalitions Edwina Rogers, Executive Director
State Website Management Loren Vandergrift, Webmaster
Effective Lobbying Kelly Damerow, Director of Federal
and State Affairs
Media & Communications Lauren Anderson Youngblood,
Communications Manager
Development & Fundraising Aisha Goss, Deputy Director
7:00 – 7:15pm ET
7:15 – 7:30pm ET
7:30 – 8:00pm ET
8:00 – 8:30pm ET
8:30 – 9:00pm ET
10 minutes presentation5 minutes Q&A
10 minutes presentation5 minutes Q&A
20 minutes presentation10 minutes Q&A
20 minutes presentation10 minutes Q&A
20 minutes presentation10 minutes Q&A
Keystone Subject Areas
Health & Safety Education
Tax PolicyDiscrimination
Government Actions Military
Health and Safety• Abortion• SmartRecovery• Adoption• Conscience clause• Death with dignity• Stem cells research• Contraception mandate• Medical neglect exemptions• Child care center regulation exemptions• Child abuse reporting exemption for clergy• Vaccination exemptions
Education• Vouchers to religious school• Secular student groups• Religiously motivated
bullying• Teaching evolution, not
creationism• Sex education• School prayer• Pledge of allegiance
Discrimination• Same-sex marriage• Faith-based initiatives• Employment
discrimination exemptions
• Housing discrimination exemptions
• Grants to religious charities
• Prisoner discrimination• Boy scouts
Tax Policy• Religious privileging in the tax
code• Automatic exemption status• Financial disclosures (990’s)• Church Audit Procedures Act• Politicking from the pulpit• Parsonage exemption
Military• Chaplain reform• Humanist
identity• Non-proselytism• Acceptance of
nontheists
Government Actions• National day of prayer• “In God We Trust”• Oaths of office• Legislative prayer• Prayer caucus• Federal funding to
build churches
Changing Demographics of Religiously Unaffiliated
Changing Demographics of Nonbelievers
Secular Coalition Services
• Your Government Watchdogso Your voice on Capitol Hill – The Secular Coalition is the sole full time 501c4 advocacy
organization representing nontheistic Americans at the federal level.o Legislation and Regulation Tracking – Alerts and updates on legislation that attempts to
privilege or insert religion into secular laws, at the state and federal level. o State Chapters – The Secular Coalition has functional chapters in 7 states and is in the
process of rolling out new chapters in every state across the country. State chapters organize SCA-trained constituent lobbyists to combat troublesome legislation at the state level.
o Action Alerts – Calls to action on pertinent pieces of legislation at the state and federal level, allowing supporters to contact their representatives swiftly.
o Influencing with Decision Makers– Holding meetings with Capitol Hill and the Administration advocating for our supporters and arranging for constituent lobbying visits for our supporters.
• Advocacy and Educationo Secular Summit and Lobby Day – An opportunity to show lawmakers that nontheistic
Americans are part of their constituency and advocate at the federal level for inclusion and secular laws.
o Trainings—The SCA offers lobbying and media training to state chapters and provides continuing support as chapters grow.
o Summits & Movement Calls – Hosting strategy meetings to discuss issues of concern to the movement.
o Research – Bolster your advocacy with our updated website collection of research on secular issues.
o Scorecards – Our election scorecards help you quickly identify where candidates rate in their support of a secular government.
Secular Coalition Services
• Keeping You Updated o Weekly Movement Update Calls & Agenda – Every Thursday at 12:00 pm ET, in depth analysis on
secular and related issues, including a rundown of all of SCA’s lobbying efforts and the combined efforts of the entire movement.
o Morning Read – A daily synopsis of the secular and related news of the day.o Secular News Daily – Affiliated news website offering secular news and updates from SCA’s
member organizations.o Weekly Wrap Up- Weekly newsletter with the most important information of the week in an easy to
digest format for the casual supporter.
• Connecting to You and the Secular Movemento Facilitating Movement Unity – the Secular Coalition plays an integral role in bringing together the
most powerful organizations in the secular and nontheistic movements to work on shared goals and toward a common purpose.
o Social Media – Connects supporters and movement organizations via social media networks, keeping the community updated.
o Communications – The Secular Coalition blogs, press releases and news updates feature movement leaders including Herb Silverman, president emeritus of the Secular Coalition and David Niose, president of the SCA.
o Master Calendar—The only calendar featuring movement-wide events, holidays, conferences and other secular events.
o Speakers- the Secular Coalition speakers at events, conferences and other movement-related events across the country.
o New Exciting Initiatives— There’s always something new brewing at the SCA, such as the Model Secular Policy Guide, written by experts for legislators, providing them with accurate background, research, and model legislative language to use as a resource when legislating on secular issues.
Secular Policy Guide• With Co-Chairs Jacques Berlinerblau and Wendy
Kaminer• Working with Academics, Policymakers, and
Advocates• Providing Guidance to Policymakers On:
o Constitutional Frameworko Health and Safetyo Educationo Discriminationo Military Discriminationo Tax Policyo International Policy
16
National Secular Movement Call
• White House & Congress
• Secular Events • Secular News• United Nations• Students
Thursdays at Noon ETPhone: 559-726-1300
Code: 199568
• Judicial Update• State Chapters• New Research• Coalition Expansion• Charity Work
SCA Coalitions• CARD – Coalition Against Religious Discrimination• NCPE – National Coalition for Public Education• Coalition for Responsible Sex Education• National Advisory Board – Watching religious
hospital mergers• International Family Planning Coalition • LCCR – Leadership Council on Civil and Human
Rights• IRF – International Religious Freedom Roundtable
State CoalitionsBenefits to Coalition Work• Increased credibility• Maximized resources• Shared ideas• Mutual support• Strength in numbers
Types of Coalitions• Common cause
o Developing and implementing a shared policy agenda around a common cause
o Ex: respect for nonthesists, child welfare, human services, the arts, etc.
• Specific Issueo Coordinating efforts on a specific issue campaigno Ex: contraception mandate, blasphemy laws, etc.
Working in Coalitions• Clear purpose/mission
o To increase the visibility of and respect for nontheistic viewpoints in the United States, and to protect and strengthen the secular character of our government as the best guarantee of freedom for all.
• Include all stakeholderso All groups that can endorse our missiono Be sure to think beyond the “usual suspects.”
• Understand limitso Not all coalition members will agree on
everything all the time, and that’s okay!• Communicate
o Clear communication avoids misstepso Conference calls
Building a Coalition• Identify groups that support our mission• Attend/speak at their meetings• Get permission to list them on the website• Partner with organizations, even only on a
single issue• Bigger the coalition the better
Q & A
Please type your questions in the chat box
NEW State Website Management
Secular State Purpose
• Built for state chapters to share and promote state activities with supporters, press, & local government.
• As a community tool where supporters can share and discuss updates, strategy, lobbying efforts in a single place.
State Sites Overviewo Abouto Newso Resources
• State and National • Training Guides and Videos
o Key Issueso Supporting Groupso Events
• Physical and online• Attendee Registration and communication• Recordings of past calls
o Legislative Reportso Community
Secular Community• Tools for the a state chapter
o Postso Pollso Documentso Questionso Wikiso Supporting Groups
• Threaded conversation on all content• Following and Notification• Natural Promotion of Content.• Future integrations with Secular.org• This is just the beginning
Leadership Roles• State leadership has the ability to add events,
pages, news and more.
• Further customization abilities coming with time
• To apply for leadership access you may do so at http://states.secular.org/states/secular-state-leadership-application (must be logged in)
Getting Started• Getting started guide will be available on all
state resource pages along with the posting of this recording
Q & A
Please type your questions in the chat box
Effective Lobbying• State lobbying Strategy
o Preparationo Lobbying in Action- Legislationo Lobbying in Action- Regulation
• The Lobby Visito Preparationo Requesting a Meetingo Day of the Meetingo The Meetingo Follow up
• Contacting your legislatoro Phoneo Lettero Email
• Presenting Testimony
State Lobbying Strategy Preparation• Build a coalition• Grow your list of supporters• Gather and prepare resources• Build relationships with lawmakers• Fundraising• Monitor legislation and regulation• Opposition research
State Lobbying Strategy Lobbying in
Action• Coordinate with your organization or coalition • Opposition research on this bill/amendment• Meet with legislators • Educate • Call to Action
The Lobby Visit
Lobby VisitPreparation
• Know the facts• Know the history• Know the legislator• Prepare material
Lobby VisitRequesting a Meeting• Email or call the office
o Scheduler is the gate keeper!• Have several dates and
times ready to offer• Provide them with:
o Your name and contact infoo Your organization o If you are a constituento Specific bill or issue you want to
discuss
Day of the Meeting• Dress• Timing• Demeanor• Greeting• Information presentation• Decide who will be the
primary speaker• Know with whom you are
meetingo Meetings with staffers are just as
important!
The Meeting• Open with a thank you• Introduce the Secular Coalition and
its mission• Ask if they are familiar with terms
like “humanist,” “atheist,” or “secular”
• The reason why I wanted to meet with you today…
• Share personal experiences• Ask if they have any questions• Thank them again• Be professional and courteous
The mission of the Secular Coalition for America is to increase the visibility of and respect for nontheistic viewpoints in the United States, and to protect and strengthen the secular character of our government as the best guarantee of freedom for all.
Follow Up• Thank you note
o Nor more than two days latero Email is acceptable
• Update if there is movement on your bill or issue• Keep up the relationship
o Send any information you come across that they might find relevant their way
o Become a resource they can rely on
Contacting Your LegislatorPhone Call
• Know what you want to say before you call
• Write down a few talking points• If possible, know the number
and name of the bill before you call
• Mention that you are a constituent
• State your opinion clearly and quickly.
• Be courteous; Thank the staff member for his or her time
Contacting Your Legislator
Letter • Show a connection• Make it personal• Keep it brief• Include a call to action• Be respectful• Be accurate and
timely • Thank you• Give the Facts
Contacting Your Legislator
Email • Similar to letter, but
keep it short! • Subject line should
include the word “constituent”
• If no response, follow up a week later
Presenting Testimony
• Format• Presentation• Committee Preparation• Hostile questions
Q & A
Please type your questions in the chat box
Media & Communications
• Press Releases• Media Alerts• Press Interviews
o Terms to Knowo Preparationo What to Sayo How to Say Ito Tips
• Letters to the Editor
• Social Media
MediaPress Releases
• The best way to get out an important announcement.
• Is this newsworthy?
• How will people relate and connect?
MediaPress Releases
• Relevance
• Timing
• Attention-getting
MediaMedia Alerts
• When you need to get the word out about an event but a Press Release is too much
• Description of Event• Time, place, location• Contact Info
Press InterviewsTerms to Know
• “On-the-Record Interviews”
• “Backgrounders”
• “Off the record”
Press InterviewsPreparation
• Know the official position
• Impact on the organization
• Stay away from attacking one group
• Always be professional
• 7-10 second responses
• Make up an agenda
Press InterviewsWhat To Say
• Share Website or contact information• Stay on message• Don’t get backed into a corner• If you do not like a question, reframe it• If you don’t know the answer to a question, be
upfront• Once you have said what you want to say, stop
talking
Press InterviewsHow To Say It
• Speak in positive terms
• Do not repeat your opponent’s terminology/phrasing
• Speak in terms of your values first and then your positions
Press InterviewsTips
• Practice• End on a strong note• Thank interviewer for the opportunity• Ask for other’s contact information • Find out when and where interview will be
published• Offer to give them more information when
needed
Letters to the Editor• Know the policy• Be timely• Stay on message• Get local & personal• Use your credentials• Follow up
Social Media• Wikis (Wikipedia and Philosopedia), • Blogs (Huffington Post, Friendly Atheist) • Micro blogs (Twitter) • Social networks (Facebook and MySpace) • Forums (Yahoo groups) • Review sites (where users write reviews, including
Amazon and the Internet Movie Database) Video and photo-sharing sites (You Tube and Webshots)
• Social bookmarking or news sharing sites (del.icio.us).
Social Media• How does my target
community receive or consume news?
• Go where your audience is
• Use the 1/3 rule.
Social MediaTop 10 Conversations to Listen in
On
• Influencer• Point of Need
• Complaint• Compliment• Problem• Question or Inquiry• Crisis• Campaign Effect• Competitor• The Crowd
Q & A
Please type your questions in the chat box
Fundraising• Chapter fundraising
model• Finding Donors• Asking for Donations
Fundraising• Without the support of our
donors, it would be impossible for the Secular Coalition for America to exist!
• A robust base of support is critical to our lobbying efforts
FundraisingChapter Model
• Resources to help• Growing the chapters across the country• Benefits:
o Helping them helps youo Federal members of Congress start in the stateso 501(c)(4) advantages o Experts on the fundraising rules.
• Logistics:o All collected donations directed to the Secular Coalition for America, or
being entered on secular.org. o List your state chapter in memo section of checks or comments section
on the webpage
FundraisingFinding Donors
• Reminders• Encouraging supporters
to become donors• Materials on hand
o Return envelopeso Cash boxo Pledge Cards
FundraisingAsking for Donations• It’s ok to ASK!
o Some people can donate time and energy, others can donate money
o People give because it feels goodo "Can you support the Secular Coalition for America by
giving $100?"• After you ask, stop talking• Peer-to-peer ask
o "I gave $500 to the SCA this year. That is a big commitment for me. I don't know what a comparable gift would be for you, but I hope you can support our work in that way."
• Concrete and thematic examples• Always say thank you
Q & A
Please type your questions in the chat box
Thank you!Copies of this power point and
the accompanying guides can be found at secular.org/statechaptertraining
or in the “resources” section of any state chapter page
Images courtesy of shutterstock