Legislative Outreach
Gain support for DECA and Career
and Technical Education

WHY OUTREACH TO LEGISLATORS?
• LEGISLATORS CAN SERVE AS PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS FOR
YOUR CHAPTER
• LEGISLATORS CAN HELP PASS BILLS IN SUPPORT OF CAREER
AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
• LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT CAN INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT
DECA IN YOUR COMMUNITY
• LEGISLATORS CAN PROVIDE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
AND CHANCES TO SPEAK TO PROFESSIONALS ABOUT DECA
• LEGISLATORS CAN SUPPORT YOUR CHAPTER AND GIVE YOU
MORE CREDIBILITY IN YOUR COMMUNITY

4 GREAT IDEAS FOR LEGISLATIVE
OUTREACH
• SEND AN EMAIL TO YOUR LEGISLATOR’S
RECEPTIONIST OR LEGISLATIVE AIDE OR
SCHEDULER
• CALL THE LEGISLATOR’S DISTRICT OFFICE TO
SET UP A MEETING
• ATTEND A COMMUNITY EVENT THAT SUPPORTS
EDUCATION OR BUSINESS WHERE LEGISLATORS
MIGHT BE IN ATTENDANCE
• PRESENT AT A CITY COUNCIL OR CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE MEETING

IDEA #1: SENDING A
LEGISLATIVE EMAIL
STEP #1: CHECK YOUR LEGISLATOR’S WEBSITE FOR THE EMAIL OF EITHER THE
LEGISLATIVE AIDE OR SCHEDULER OR RECEPTIONIST
STEP #2: MAKE SURE YOUR EMAIL HIGHLIGHTS DECA, CALIFORNIA DECA
AND KEY CHAPTER FACTS
STEP #3: DETAIL THE NEXT STEP YOU OR YOUR LEGISLATOR NEEDS TO TAKE AT
THE END OF THE EMAIL, E.G. IF YOU NEED TO SCHEDULE A MEETING
STEP #4: HAVE SOME OF YOUR CHAPTER OFFICERS AND ADVISOR READ IT
TO MAKE SURE IT REFLECTS THE AMBITIONS OF YOUR CHAPTER
STEP #5: ALWAYS FOLLOW UP WITH A PHONE CALL OR ADDITIONAL EMAIL
A SAMPLE LEGISLATIVE EMAIL IS LOCATED IN RESOURCES AT
WWW.CALIFORNIADECA.ORG

IDEA #2: PHONE CALL TO
SET UP A MEETING
A S A M P L E P H O N E S C R I P T I S L O C A T E D I N R E S O U R C E S A T
W W W . C A L I F O R N I A D E C A . O R G
STEP #1: LOCATE THE PHONE NUMBER; THE PHONE NUMBER
FOR THE MAIN OFFICE IS LOCATED ON THE LEGISLATOR’S
WEBSITE
STEP #2: MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE
SAYING/ASKING BEFORE YOU MAKE THE CALL
STEP #3: BE PROFESSIONAL AND TAKE NOTES DURING THE
CALL
STEP #4: TRY TO SCHEDULE A VISIT WITH YOUR LEGISLATOR,
USUALLY THEY ASK YOU TO FOLLOW UP WITH AN EMAIL
(REFER TO THE PREVIOUS SLIDE)

IDEA #3: ATTENDING A
COMMUNITY EVENT
STEP #1: RESEARCH COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT SUPPORT EDUCATION OR
BUSINESS, LEGISLATORS ARE USUALLY PRESENT AT THESE TYPES OF EVENTS
STEP #2: PRACTICE AND DEVELOP AN ELEVATOR PITCH THAT YOU WILL
USE WHEN SPEAKING TO THE PROFESSIONALS AND LEGISLATORS YOU
MEET ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
AND DECA
STEP #3: ATTEND THE EVENT WITH SOME CHAPTER OFFICERS OR MEMBERS
STEP #4: BE PROFESSIONAL AND READY TO NETWORK AT THE EVENT

STEP #5: STRIKE UP A CONVERSATION WITH ANY LEGISLATORS
OR CITY OFFICIALS AND GET THEIR BUSINESS CARD FOR FUTURE
CONTACT
STEP #6: FOLLOW UP THE LEGISLATOR OR CITY OFFICIAL BY
EMAIL OR PHONE CALL! INFORM THEM OF OPPORTUNITIES TO
SUPPORT DECA AND ARRANGE A DISTRICT MEETING
IDEA #3 (CONT.)
A S A M P L E E L E V A T O R P I T C H I S L O C A T E D I N R E S O U R C E S A T
W W W . C A L I F O R N I A D E C A . O R G

IDEA #4: PRESENT AT A CITY COUNCIL OR
COMMUNITY MEETING
STEP #1: CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CITY COUNCIL TO SEE
WHEN THEY HAVE MEETINGS AND WHETHER THEY HAVE
TIME FOR A PRESENTATION
STEP #2: CREATE A SHORT 5-7 MINUTE PRESENTATION
(POWERPOINT IS OPTIONAL) ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF
DECA AND HOW CITY COUNCIL AND OTHER
LEGISLATORS CAN HELP SUPPORT
STEP #3: PRACTICE THE PRESENTATION SEVERAL TIMES IN
FRONT OF YOUR ADVISOR

IDEA #4 (CONT.)
STEP #4: ATTEND THE EVENT IN DECA PROFESSIONAL
ALONGSIDE OTHER CHAPTER MEMBERS
STEP #5: AFTER DELIVERING YOUR PRESENTATION, MAKE
SURE YOU HAVE HANDOUTS ON THE CONGRESSIONAL
ADVISORY BOARD AND PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP TO
GIVE OUT
STEP #6: FOLLOW UP WITH CITY COUNCIL AND ANYONE
INTERESTED THROUGH PHONE CALL OR EMAIL

WHAT TO DO WHE N Y OU ME E T WI TH A LE G I SLATOR
STEP #1: AFTER SCHEDULING A MEETING, START DEVELOPING AN
OUTLINE OF WHAT YOU WILL BE SPEAKING ABOUT
STEP #2: RESEARCH YOUR LEGISLATOR SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE
A PERSONAL CONNECTION DURING YOUR MEETING
STEP #3: PRACTICE IN FRONT OF YOUR ADVISOR AND DIVIDE
PARTS AMONGST THOSE ATTENDING THE MEETING
STEP #4: BRING THE DECA FACT SHEET, CALIFORNIA DECA FACT
SHEET, CONGRESSIONAL ADVISORY BOARD FORM AND ANY
WRITTEN FORM WITH YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO LEAVE
WITH THE LEGISLATOR
STEP #5: ALWAYS CONFIRM WHOM YOU ARE MEETING WITH AND
ARRIVE FIVE MINUTES EARLY

STEP #6: BE COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT DURING THE
MEETING, YOUR CONVERSATION DOES NOT HAVE TO
FOLLOW YOUR OUTLINE EXACTLY
STEP #8: EMPHASIZE THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT TAKE-
AWAYS: THE IMPORTANCE OF FUNDING TO CAREER AND
TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, JOINING DECA’S
CONGRESSIONAL ADVISORY BOARD AND FUTURE
INVITATIONS TO CHAPTER AND REGIONAL EVENTS
STEP #9: FOLLOW UP WITH THE LEGISLATOR AND STAFF AND
REMEMBER TO INVITE THEM TO FUTURE EVENTS AND KEEP
THEM UPDATED ON CHAPTER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
WHAT TO DO WHE N Y OU ME E T
WI TH A LE G I SLATOR (CON T.)
A S A M P L E M E E T I N G O U T L I N E I S L O C A T E D I N R E S O U R C E S A T
W W W . C A L I F O R N I A D E C A . O R G

• REMEMBER TO ALWAYS BE CONFIDENT WHEN SPEAKING TO LEGISLATORS AND CITY
OFFICIALS
• YOU CAN FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AT HTTP://FINDYOURREP.LEGISLATURE.CA.GOV
• DON’T HESITATE TO INVITE YOUR LEGISLATOR TO CHAPTER AND DISTRICT EVENTS
• ALWAYS REMEMBER TO BE IN DECA PROFESSIONAL WHEN SPEAKING TO OR MEETING
WITH A LEGISLATOR OR A MEMBER OF THEIR STAFF
• PUBLICIZE YOUR SUCCESSES BY CREATING A PRESS RELEASE! STEPS ON HOW TO DO SO
CAN BE FOUND IN THE PRESS RELEASE SECTION OF OUR CHAPTER RESOURCE CENTER!
• INFORM THE REST OF CALIFORNIA DECA ABOUT YOUR SUCCESS BY PUBLICIZING YO UR
EFFORTS ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM. TAG US @CALIFORNIADECA OR
#CADECA
• CHECK OUT MORE HELPFUL RESOURCES AND TEMPLATES IN RESOURCES AT
WWW.CALIFORNIADECA.ORG
A FEW TIPS