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Contrary to the perception of many people, advocating effectively is not for experts only. Advocating can be easy, stimulating, and fun. All you need to be an effective advocate are three things:
1. A Few Basic Facts What is the substance of the legislation you are proposing or opposing? Why is it so important? What will happen if it passes (or does not pass)? How much will it cost? The Building Bridges Campaign will provide you with facts, figures and current information on the issues affecting the mental health budget and other issues such as health care reform in Alaska.
2. Belief in the Cause of Improved Mental Health Services
If you have conviction, dedication to the unmet needs of the mentally ill and emotionally disturbed, and determination to see the needs met no matter how long it takes, then you will be an effective advocate.
3. A Little Common Sense
Whether advocating face-to-face, by letter, by telephone or through a Public Opinion Message (POM), an effective advocate follows these common sense principles:
DO - Be brief; be prepared; be clear; be honest; be accurate; be persuasive; be timely; be persistent; and be grateful.
DO NOT - Be argumentative; promise rewards; be demanding; knock the opposition; or bluff.
Have you ever presented your case, or your cause, to a public official? If so, you will recognize these universal principles that apply across the board for everyone who works with legislators, commissioners, city councilmen and other public officials.
Don't underestimate public officials.
With very rare exceptions, they will be honest, intelligent and will want to do the right thing. Your job is to inform them what YOU think is right.
Don't look down on government and policies.
They may be faulty, but so are other professions. A disdainful attitude is an expensive luxury these days. Whatever affects your business ... IS ... your business ... even if it is politics.
Be understanding.
Put yourself in the public official's place. Try to understand the official's problems, the official's outlook, the official's aims. Then you are more likely to persuade the official to do the same in understanding yours. Remember that we must have people who are willing to commit themselves to public service positions.
Be friendly.
Don't contact public officials only when you want their help. Invite them to be guests at meetings. Take pains to keep in contact with them throughout the year, every year.
Be informed.
Never meet with public officials to advocate a position without first studying the facts and the arguments pro and con. The mere fact that you want a public official to adopt one position or another won't be enough to convince the official. Do your homework.
Be reasonable.
Recognize that there are legitimate differences of opinion, with at least two sides to every issue. Never indulge in threats or recriminations. They are confessions to weakness.
Be thoughtful.
Commend the right things public officials do. That's the way you like to be treated. Any public official will tell you that he gets dozens of letters asking him to do something, but very few thanking him for what he has done.
Don't blame public officials for "failing" to do what you wanted.
Choices are not always clear cut, and the failure could be yours if you have not done a good job in preparing, presenting and following through on your case.
Don't be a busybody.
You don't like to be scolded, pestered or preached to. Neither do public officials.
Be cooperative.
If a public official makes a reasonable request of you, try to comply with it. Don't back away for fear that it's a "deal," or that you're "geffing into politics."
Be realistic.
Remember that controversial legislation and regulation usually result in compromise. It has always been so and it will always be so in a democracy.
Be open and candid.
State your views, and the reasons for your position, with willingness to listen to the problems and concerns that your position may create for the public official.
Be practical.
Recognize that each legislator has commitments and that a certain amount of vote-trading goes on in a legislature. Don't chastise a legislator who normally supports you if he happens to vote against one of your bills. This doesn't necessarily mean he has deserted your whole program. Give the legislator the benefit of the doubt: the legislator will appreciate it and remember that you did. There will be other "roll calls" and the next time the legislator may vote for you. Also, remember that while some votes may be firmly committed, there will be many others that can be swayed on the basis of sound arguments, properly presented.
Be a good opponent.
Fight issues -- not personalities. And be ready with alternatives or solutions as well as with criticisms. This is constructive opposition.
Never break a promise.
This is a cardinal rule of politics. If you tell a public official you'll do something in exchange for a certain action, stick to the bargain. Politics, and politicians, work on a base of mutual trust and confidence.
Don't change horses in the middle of the stream.
Never leave an official stranded out on a limb by changing your policy or position after the official has publicly stated a po@iton that you have urged him to take.
Learn to evaluate and weigh issues.
Many bills which are tossed into the hopper "by request' are never intended to become law. So, don't criticize legislators for the bills which are introduced, and donl call out the army until you're sure a bill is serious.
Public Speaking, at a hearing for example, is an opportunity to influence many people at once. Remember reading a prepared statement is much better than forgetting your ideas because you tried to be spontaneous.
The Bridges group will arrive at a consensus as to which members will act as spokespeople. Sometimes it's appropriate for more than one to speak, but others should be enlisted as backup speakers. This comes in particularly handy at meetings where each participant is allowed only one turn, and your position needs to be clarified later in the proceedings. Never sign up to speak at a public hearing or conference without one alternate, and preferably two in reserve.
Bridges will rehearse testimony before meeting with the Legislative Committees.
Like your letters, or one-to-one discussions, your statements should be courteous, brief and to the point:
Good afternoon. My name is and I am a resident of .I'm here today on behalf of the Building Bridges Campaign for Mental Health to request that you maintain funding for our community based mental health services. This issue affects approximately one of four individuals in Alaska.
End your story with, "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak, and I will try to answer any questions you may have."
Remember, written testimony will also be collected and distributed. So please prepare your testimony in advance.
Telephone calls can be an effective means of communicating with legislators if the calls:
Calls from constituents are the most effective; 'Telephone blitzes" are the least effective. Other calls are somewhere in between.
It is important to remember that, during the legislative session, legislators usually are attending committee meetings, conducting other legislative business such as meeting with staff, drafting legislation, preparing for bill presentations, lobbying other legislators, or participating in formal legislative work in the Senate or House chambers. Therefore, it is likely that a legislator will not be available to take your call. If that is the case, do not hesitate to leave your message with a legislative assistant or other staff. Trust the staff to get your message to the legislator.
If you request a return call, you can usually be assured of getting one if you are a constituent. Others may get a return call. Remember that there simply are not enough hours in the day for legislators to return all calls, particularly if there is an organized blitz underway. Fortunately, most people are comfortable leaving their message with staff.
It is important to make your call brief and to the point. Always be polite.
Your call will have the most impact when received within a week of the bill's being heard in committee. If the legislator serves on the committee hearing the bill, that is a bonus! Another appropriate time, but usually not nearly as effective, is shortly before the bill is heard by the entire legislative body.
Legislators also receive many calls from people requesting assistance for a problem with the bureaucracy. These calls are handled in the same manner in which letters requesting assistance are handled.
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