legislative advocacy toolkit
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TOOLKIT Your Civic Engagement Guide This toolkit will guide you to be a more engaged and effective advocate in your community. Find out more about the CAIR-New York Muslim Day at the Capitol, and the CAIR-NY Government Affairs department online at: WWW.CAIR-NY.ORG
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TOOLKIT Your Civic Engagement Guide
WHY ENGAGE?
✓ The American Muslim community is underestimated as a voting bloc. As long
as we do not engage our elected officials, candidates will continue to ignore our concerns.
✓ Some of the biggest legislative issues of the past decade have directly effected Muslim-Americans and our families.
✓ If American Muslims chose to be disengaged, politicians will continue to
ignore, dismiss, or even a#ack our community as they have in the recent past through anti-Muslim campaign rhetoric & anti-Muslim legislation.
✓ As Muslims, our religion guides us to bring good to our communities, and keep harm away from our communities. Engaging in our democracy in a responsible manner can help us achieve this religious obligation.
✓ It is your responsibility & right as an American citizen. You should exercise a right that people all over the world, and throughout history, have fought & died for. VOICE YOUR VOTE.
“
The growing rhetorical invocation of Islam as a scare tactic to gain votes may work in some parts of the country, but candidates could pay dearly in critical battleground states. -New York Times (4/2/12)
”
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TOOLKIT Your Civic Engagement Guide
CAIR-New York organizes an annual Muslim Day at the Capitol, but we also engage our elected officials on every other day of the year-- and we encourage you to do the same. These are a few tips to help you mobilize support for issues important to your community in the future. If you have any questions, or would like for CAIR-NY to help you become an advocate in your community, contact our office at 212.870.2002.
I. KNOW & DEFINE YOUR ISSUES 1. Everyone planning on meeting with our elected officials should be familiar with the issues you plan to discuss. 2. Everyone should be asking for the same thing. What is your “ask.” 3. Monitor the progress of the legislation by reading its latest version online (Track Your Issue). 4. Develop short talking points explaining why this issue is important. 5. Share a personal story that connects you to this issue.
II. IDENTIFY YOUR TARGET OFFICE & ELECTED OFFICIALS
1. Find out which legislative districts you live in, and who your district’s elected officials are (*elected officials respond to their constituents more favorably)
2. Find out which elected officials serve on legislative commi#ees relevant for the issue or bills you are concerned with.
3. Research the voting record of elected officials on your relevant issues (be prepared to thank those who support your issue, and ask those who don’t why they do not support your issue)
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TOOLKIT Your Civic Engagement Guide
IV. PLAN YOUR MEETING
III. PREPARE MATERIALS TO LEAVE WITH YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS 1. Materials For Yourself: short bios outlining your elected official’s relevance to your issue & roles on various commi#ees. 2. Materials For Your Elected Official: clearly outline the issues you want to discuss, and include your talking points (no more than one page if possible). Leave behind this one-page memo with the office. 3. Your materials should clearly indicate where you stand on an issue, and what you want your elected official to do. Make “Your Ask” as clear as possible. 4. Include information about your group, the legislation you desire action on, the issues you wish to advocate for, & your contact info.
1.
Be prepared for 30 minutes, or 5 minutes. Make the most of your time.
2. Do not be disappointed to meet with a staffer, or to be asked to meet outside the office in a hallway. Staffers are important too! 4.
If you are asked a question that you do not have an answer to, always tell them you will contact them later with the answer—never guess.
5. NEVER ARGUE with a staffer or elected official. Advocacy does not require arguing. 6. Make sure to leave your one-page material with the office, and include your contact information.
V. FOLLOW UP AFTER MEETING YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS 1. Send a thank you note to the elected official & CC their scheduler. 2. If you were asked a question that you did not have an answer to, then remember to follow through with an answer. 3. Follow the issue you were advocating for & follow-up with your elected official on important dates (when the issue is up for a vote). Make them live up to their promises. 4. Invite the elected official, or his staff to visit your community on special occasions.
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TOOLKIT Your Civic Engagement Guide
ATTACHED ARE THE FOLLOWING TEMPLATES TO HELP YOU ENGAGE YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS & ADVOCATE FOR YOUR ISSUES 1.
Template Le#er Requesting A Meeting w/ An Elected Official
2.
Template Le#er Thanking Your Elected Official For Meeting You
3.
Template Talking Points Material To Hand To Your Elected Official
4.
Template Profile Of Your Elected Official
475 Riverside Dr., Suite 244 New York, NY 10115 www.cair-ny.org 212.870.2002 Facebook/CAIRNewYork Twi!er @CAIRNewYork
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TOOLKIT Your Civic Engagement Guide
Template Le!er Requesting A Meeting w/ An Elected Official Date The Honorable First (NAME) C/O (Scheduler Name) OfFice Title Address Dear (TITLE & NAME): On behalf of the (INSERT YOUR AFFILIATION), I am writing to respectfully request a meeting with you to discuss a number of issues of priority to me and other constituents from (your afFiliation). We are hoping that you might have time to see us. Below are the details of this request. Date: INSERT DATE OR DATE RANGE Time: INSERT TIME RANGE Contact to ConFirm Meeting: INSERT CONTACT (Facilitator/Coordinator) Attendees: NAMES OF ATTENDEES Topics/Issues: INSERT ISSUE(S) & BILL NUMBERS I very much hope that your schedule will permit us an opportunity to meet so we can discuss ways that we can work together. I will follow‐up with your scheduler shortly to schedule a meeting. Should you or your staff have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (PHONE NUMBER) or (EMAIL ADDRESS). I look forward to seeing you soon. Sincerely, Name AfFiliation Address Phone Number/Email Address
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TOOLKIT Your Civic Engagement Guide
Template Le!er Thanking Your Elected Official For Meeting You Date The Honorable (NAME) C/O (Scheduler Name) OfFice Title Address Dear (TITLE & NAME): I am writing to express my gratitude to (NAME OF PERSON YOU MET), meeting with me to discuss (ISSUES YOU DISCUSSED & BILL NUMBERS). I wanted to take this opportunity to reiterate my request that you: (1) List the item(s) you discussed and the speciFic action you wish the elected ofFicial to take. Thank you again for taking the time to meet with me. Please do not hesitate to contact me, should you have any questions about these or other [issue]‐related matters. I would be happy to be a local resource for you. I look forward to hearing back from you regarding the status of our requests. Sincerely, Name AfFiliation Address Phone Number/Email
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TOOLKIT Your Civic Engagement Guide
Template Talking Points Material To Hand To Your Elected Official Short Blurb about yourself/organization & your community. LEGISLATIVE ISSUE WE SUPPORT/OPPOSE
1. BILL NAME/NUMBER & AUTHOR • We support/oppose this bill b/c • Supporting point • Supporting point • What the critics say, and why they are wrong • What you want the elected of5icial to do 2. BILL NAME/NUMBER & AUTHOR • We support/oppose this bill b/c • Supporting point • Supporting point • What the critics say, and why they are wrong • What you want the elected of5icial to do 3. BILL NAME/NUMBER & AUTHOR • We support/oppose this bill b/c • Supporting point • Supporting point • What the critics say, and why they are wrong • What you want the elected of5icial to do
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TOOLKIT Your Civic Engagement Guide
Template Profile Of Your Elected Official [PHOTO] State Senator Big Apple (D/R//I‐NY) U.S. Senator, 1st Term Senator Pro?ile District No: County: Cities: Leadership Position: Committee Roles: Bills Authored: District Pro?ile Population: Demographics: Schools: Corporations: Faith Community: Average Per Capita Income: Of?ice Pro?ile ROOM NUMBER: 302 Hart Senate OfFice Building CONTACT PERSON: SCHEDULER: EMAIL/PHONE:
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TOOLKIT Your Civic Engagement Guide
WHY ENGAGE?
✓ The American Muslim community is underestimated as a voting bloc. As long
as we do not engage our elected officials, candidates will continue to ignore our concerns.
✓ Some of the biggest legislative issues of the past decade have directly effected Muslim-Americans and our families.
✓ If American Muslims chose to be disengaged, politicians will continue to
ignore, dismiss, or even a#ack our community as they have in the recent past through anti-Muslim campaign rhetoric & anti-Muslim legislation.
✓ As Muslims, our religion guides us to bring good to our communities, and keep harm away from our communities. Engaging in our democracy in a responsible manner can help us achieve this religious obligation.
✓ It is your responsibility & right as an American citizen. You should exercise a right that people all over the world, and throughout history, have fought & died for. VOICE YOUR VOTE.
“
The growing rhetorical invocation of Islam as a scare tactic to gain votes may work in some parts of the country, but candidates could pay dearly in critical battleground states. -New York Times (4/2/12)
”
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TOOLKIT Your Civic Engagement Guide
CAIR-New York organizes an annual Muslim Day at the Capitol, but we also engage our elected officials on every other day of the year-- and we encourage you to do the same. These are a few tips to help you mobilize support for issues important to your community in the future. If you have any questions, or would like for CAIR-NY to help you become an advocate in your community, contact our office at 212.870.2002.
I. KNOW & DEFINE YOUR ISSUES 1. Everyone planning on meeting with our elected officials should be familiar with the issues you plan to discuss. 2. Everyone should be asking for the same thing. What is your “ask.” 3. Monitor the progress of the legislation by reading its latest version online (Track Your Issue). 4. Develop short talking points explaining why this issue is important. 5. Share a personal story that connects you to this issue.
II. IDENTIFY YOUR TARGET OFFICE & ELECTED OFFICIALS
1. Find out which legislative districts you live in, and who your district’s elected officials are (*elected officials respond to their constituents more favorably)
2. Find out which elected officials serve on legislative commi#ees relevant for the issue or bills you are concerned with.
3. Research the voting record of elected officials on your relevant issues (be prepared to thank those who support your issue, and ask those who don’t why they do not support your issue)
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TOOLKIT Your Civic Engagement Guide
IV. PLAN YOUR MEETING
III. PREPARE MATERIALS TO LEAVE WITH YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS 1. Materials For Yourself: short bios outlining your elected official’s relevance to your issue & roles on various commi#ees. 2. Materials For Your Elected Official: clearly outline the issues you want to discuss, and include your talking points (no more than one page if possible). Leave behind this one-page memo with the office. 3. Your materials should clearly indicate where you stand on an issue, and what you want your elected official to do. Make “Your Ask” as clear as possible. 4. Include information about your group, the legislation you desire action on, the issues you wish to advocate for, & your contact info.
1.
Be prepared for 30 minutes, or 5 minutes. Make the most of your time.
2. Do not be disappointed to meet with a staffer, or to be asked to meet outside the office in a hallway. Staffers are important too! 4.
If you are asked a question that you do not have an answer to, always tell them you will contact them later with the answer—never guess.
5. NEVER ARGUE with a staffer or elected official. Advocacy does not require arguing. 6. Make sure to leave your one-page material with the office, and include your contact information.
V. FOLLOW UP AFTER MEETING YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS 1. Send a thank you note to the elected official & CC their scheduler. 2. If you were asked a question that you did not have an answer to, then remember to follow through with an answer. 3. Follow the issue you were advocating for & follow-up with your elected official on important dates (when the issue is up for a vote). Make them live up to their promises. 4. Invite the elected official, or his staff to visit your community on special occasions.
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TOOLKIT Your Civic Engagement Guide
ATTACHED ARE THE FOLLOWING TEMPLATES TO HELP YOU ENGAGE YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS & ADVOCATE FOR YOUR ISSUES 1.
Template Le#er Requesting A Meeting w/ An Elected Official
2.
Template Le#er Thanking Your Elected Official For Meeting You
3.
Template Talking Points Material To Hand To Your Elected Official
4.
Template Profile Of Your Elected Official
475 Riverside Dr., Suite 244 New York, NY 10115 www.cair-ny.org 212.870.2002 Facebook/CAIRNewYork Twi!er @CAIRNewYork
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TOOLKIT Your Civic Engagement Guide
Template Le!er Requesting A Meeting w/ An Elected Official Date The Honorable First (NAME) C/O (Scheduler Name) OfFice Title Address Dear (TITLE & NAME): On behalf of the (INSERT YOUR AFFILIATION), I am writing to respectfully request a meeting with you to discuss a number of issues of priority to me and other constituents from (your afFiliation). We are hoping that you might have time to see us. Below are the details of this request. Date: INSERT DATE OR DATE RANGE Time: INSERT TIME RANGE Contact to ConFirm Meeting: INSERT CONTACT (Facilitator/Coordinator) Attendees: NAMES OF ATTENDEES Topics/Issues: INSERT ISSUE(S) & BILL NUMBERS I very much hope that your schedule will permit us an opportunity to meet so we can discuss ways that we can work together. I will follow‐up with your scheduler shortly to schedule a meeting. Should you or your staff have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (PHONE NUMBER) or (EMAIL ADDRESS). I look forward to seeing you soon. Sincerely, Name AfFiliation Address Phone Number/Email Address
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TOOLKIT Your Civic Engagement Guide
Template Le!er Thanking Your Elected Official For Meeting You Date The Honorable (NAME) C/O (Scheduler Name) OfFice Title Address Dear (TITLE & NAME): I am writing to express my gratitude to (NAME OF PERSON YOU MET), meeting with me to discuss (ISSUES YOU DISCUSSED & BILL NUMBERS). I wanted to take this opportunity to reiterate my request that you: (1) List the item(s) you discussed and the speciFic action you wish the elected ofFicial to take. Thank you again for taking the time to meet with me. Please do not hesitate to contact me, should you have any questions about these or other [issue]‐related matters. I would be happy to be a local resource for you. I look forward to hearing back from you regarding the status of our requests. Sincerely, Name AfFiliation Address Phone Number/Email
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TOOLKIT Your Civic Engagement Guide
Template Talking Points Material To Hand To Your Elected Official Short Blurb about yourself/organization & your community. LEGISLATIVE ISSUE WE SUPPORT/OPPOSE
1. BILL NAME/NUMBER & AUTHOR • We support/oppose this bill b/c • Supporting point • Supporting point • What the critics say, and why they are wrong • What you want the elected of5icial to do 2. BILL NAME/NUMBER & AUTHOR • We support/oppose this bill b/c • Supporting point • Supporting point • What the critics say, and why they are wrong • What you want the elected of5icial to do 3. BILL NAME/NUMBER & AUTHOR • We support/oppose this bill b/c • Supporting point • Supporting point • What the critics say, and why they are wrong • What you want the elected of5icial to do
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TOOLKIT Your Civic Engagement Guide
Template Profile Of Your Elected Official [PHOTO] State Senator Big Apple (D/R//I‐NY) U.S. Senator, 1st Term Senator Pro?ile District No: County: Cities: Leadership Position: Committee Roles: Bills Authored: District Pro?ile Population: Demographics: Schools: Corporations: Faith Community: Average Per Capita Income: Of?ice Pro?ile ROOM NUMBER: 302 Hart Senate OfFice Building CONTACT PERSON: SCHEDULER: EMAIL/PHONE:
