Being an ACLU Ambassador: Building an Advocacy Network Deborah Fritsch, ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties Alli Harper, ACLU of Maryland
Selene Kaye, National ACLU
Conocimiento Rapport
Power Trust
Conocimiento is mindfully communicating to know each other and create connection. We do connection talk to build relationships, lift inspiration, and develop shared power.
Ways to Plug In • • • • • • • • •
Liberties at Night Luncheon Conversations Volunteer Night Grassroots Task Forces Constitution Day Conference and Lobby Day Progressive Speakers Lawyers’ Campaign Board Committees
ACLU of Maryland Marriage Fairness Action Team: A Case Study in Staff-Lay Leader Action-Based Partnership Alli Harper, ACLU of Maryland
Whether large or small… Whether large or small...
Roadmap... What is an Action Team? Why Action Teams? The Marriage Fairness Action Team Three Lessons Learned
What is an Action Team? A TEAM that takes well-coordinated, strategic ACTION aligned with concrete campaign objectives The TEAM includes: Interdepartmental Staff Members (6), Board Members (6), Other Lay Leaders (3) ACTION is always strategic: High Value -- Needed by and aligned with campaign plan Effective -- Taps into the passion and assets (expertise, experience, networks, willingness…) of team members Three action teams -- Marriage Fairness, Criminal Justice and Immigration Reform
Why Action Teams? Staff and lay leaders' passion for substantive ISSUES Value-added to campaign – leveraging untapped resources Builds ownership and relationship with ACLU (which means more members, more donors, more allies, more visibility … for future campaigns)
Maryland’s Marriage Fairness Action Team Highlights Concrete, winnable, clear campaign objectives Team members: passion, action, networks Action menu Team members’ time is precious
A Key Target: Prince George’s County
Prince George’s County Results – Every Vote Mattered Presidential Results: Approximately 348,000 total votes for Obama Approximately 36,000 total votes for Romney
Question 6 Marriage Results: Approximately 183,000 total votes FOR Question 6 Approximately 186,000 total votes AGAINST Question 6
Example: Matching Campaign Need with Team Member Assets Campaign Need:
Team Member's Asset
Legislator votes for bill
Personal relationships with legislators Immediate past chair of County NAACP; active member on NAACP state board Relationships with such leaders
African-American vote in referendum Faith, labor, and other community leaders to sign on to coalition
Legislative Effort Actions Meetings and calls with target legislators with whom one has personal relationships Meetings, calls, and e-mails with target legislators, even without relationship Testify at or attend hearings Phone banks Lobby nights, press conferences, big events
Referendum Actions: Activating Networks Asked faith, labor, community, and business organizations to join coalition and take action League of Women Voters Unitarian churches Quaker meetings Brown, Goldstein & Levy law firm Others
Referendum Actions: Activating Networks Hosting "house" parties The Action Team and Board hosted 10 of the ACLU’s 100 house parties that: Educated 1,700 attendees, Signed up over 1,000 volunteers, and Raised approximately $144,000.
Referendum Action: Activating Networks Action team nonboard lay leader organized over 100 volunteers for the ACLU in adopting 16 polls
3 Keys to Success
1. Concrete campaign objectives and clear strategies to meet objectives
2. Staff buy-in and capacity to lead and support action in coordination with campaign plan
3. ACTION is as easy, as fun and as empowering as possible so all feel greater ownership of the campaign victory as well as the ACLU
For further questions, discussion or action team tools, contact: Alli Harper Former President of the Board Marriage Fairness Action Team Co-Chair, ACLU of Maryland
[email protected] 202-906-0687 or Susan Goering Executive Director, ACLU of Maryland
[email protected] 410-889-8555
It’s Your Turn!
Using Your Networks to Build Support for the Marriage Referendum
Discussion Q&A
Thank You! Deborah Fritsch Board Vice President ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties
[email protected] 619-410-9614 Alli Harper Former President of the Board Marriage Fairness Action Team Co-Chair, ACLU of Maryland
[email protected] 202-906-0687 Selene Kaye Advocacy & Policy Strategist National ACLU
[email protected] 212-549-2645
