Advocacy 101 nysoa
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Presentation by Sean Mahar, NYS Audubon, at the 2013 New York State Ornithological Association Conference.
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Advocacy 101 nysoa
- 1. ADVOCACY 101: HOW TO BE AN EFFECTIVE ADVOCATE FROM YOUR BACKYARD TO WASHINGTON DC Sean Mahar Director of Government Relations Audubon New York
- 2. Atlantic Flyway Capacity 8 State Offices ~200 Staff Members 21 Environmental Education Centers 157 Local Chapters -- Membership Total: 126,235 Median: 587 >20 BirdLife International Partners
- 3. Atlantic Flyway Priority Projects Eastern Forest Birds Beach-nesting/Coastal Birds Grassland and Shrubland Birds Saltmarsh Birds Long Island Sound
- 4. Why is advocacy important? • Citizen action is the bedrock of democracy • Grassroots pressure ensures effectiveness of lobbying • Enhance & expand awareness of your organization and attract greater funding for conservation
- 5. Grassroots Action is Key • Congress receives over 200 million email communications every year—Audubon has 160,000 activists signed up to our E-Activist list. • Well informed, motivated and trained birders and activists are crucial to achieving conservation goals.
- 6. What does it mean to be an advocate? • Webster says: one that pleads the cause, supports or promotes the interests of another; one that defends or maintains a cause or proposal • However…
- 7. Effective Advocates… • Build relationships with those able to make decisions about conservation • Talk not only about legislative measures – they educate on conservation themes and local projects! • Apply endless pressure endlessly
- 8. Getting Started Step 4: Get others involved Step 3: Influence the media and public opinion Step 2: Contact your lawmakers Step1: Get informed and focused
- 9. Different Levels of Government • Federal • • • • President Senate House of Representatives Agencies • State • • • • Governor Senate Assembly/House of Reps. Agencies • Counties, Cities, Towns, Villages • Executives, Mayors • Legislatures/city councils • Planning/zoning boards • Judicial…
- 10. Building a Field Guide to your Representative • Find a connection • Party Affiliation • Interests/ hobbies • Colleges • Degrees • Where they went • Legislative interests • What laws have they passed or are working on • What committees do they sit on
- 11. Contacting your Lawmaker Why: • Urge them to support/defeat certain legislation. • Thank them for voting right – feed the ego. • Inform them on your local projects – all politics is local. • $$
- 12. Which method is best? • Letters vs. Emails vs. Calls vs. Meetings • Time sensitivity and comfort level • The more personal the greater the impact • Visits in DC or in-district….make the time • Build a Relationship
- 13. Writing a letter • Personal letters are the best. • Use template letters as a • • • • starting point. Short, sweet and on one point. Identify yourself as a voting constituent. Explain why the issue is important to you – localize it! Be courteous and ask for a response
- 14. Calling Your Representative • Be Calm, Cool, and Collected, and Polite • Identify yourself as a constituent and give your address • Identify the issue including any bill numbers • State your opinion and back it up with why you feel that way - Localize
- 15. Meeting With Your Representative • Set up a :30 minute appointment on a specific issue – Bring a friend • Dress appropriately and be POLITE!!!! • Be relaxed and rehearse • Ask and answer questions, but don’t answer what you don’t know • Localize it! • Leave behind materials • Send a follow up letter • Take a picture!
- 16. Attend a Lobby Day!
- 18. Media: Strategies to get the message out • LTE’s – short, sweet and to the point • Press releases • Press events • Call in programs • Editorials • Op-eds • Social Media
- 19. Get others involved • Advocacy at centers – Prospect Park Audubon Center Advocacy Station! • House Parties • Festivals
- 20. Now what?.......
- 21. A little mainstream help…
- 22. BIRDS MEAN, BUSINESS? • US Fish and Wild Service: National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-associated Recreation • 2006 – Nationwide: 71.1 million bird and wildlife watchers $51.1 billion economic impact • – NY = 3.8 million bird/wildlife watchers - $1.6 billion • 2011 – Nationwide: 71.8 million wildlife watchers (46.7 million birders) $54.9 billion economic impact • NY = 4.2 million bird/wildlife watchers - $4.2 billion
- 24. BIRDER BUCKS!
- 25. Personalize
- 26. Spread the word • Whenever birding, make sure you stop in local shops and eateries to support the local business. Leave the card when you pay to let them know what brought you to their store. • In addition to local businesses, be sure to leave these cards with • Tourism Promotion Agencies • Chambers of Commerce • Regional Economic Development Council members • Offices of local elected officials …so they know why people are visiting their town, and do more to protect the places that attract them there.
- 27. Hot Upcoming Issues • Climate Change! • Farm Bill—Conservation Titles • State and Federal Conservation Funding • Environmental Protection Fund • NY Works • Sandy Recovery/Coastal Restoration • Water Quality - Long Island Sound & Great Lakes Restoration
- 28. What else you can do • Support federal State Wildlife Grants funding and get involved in development of a new State Wildlife Action Plan. • Push for statewide promotion of wildlife watching opportunities and encourage greater publicity of existing voluntary conservation funding options • Buy a Habitat Access Stamp!
- 29. 160,000 online activists can have a huge impact on legislation Join Audubon’s Action Center www.audubonaction.org/audubon
- 30. Remember… BIRDS CAN’T VOTE, BUT YOU CAN!
Editor's Notes
- Most think they Do business. But many didn’t realize they contribute greatly to local economies. Nearly 1/3 fo the nation watches birds and wildlife around their homes and beyond.