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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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