Fighting for Your Beliefs

At 11am today, members of each branch of our military gathered in Arlington National Cemetery at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to pay tribute those who have died in service to our country.  Today, Veterans Day, commemorates the peace that ended World War I, but in the United States, it has come to reflect a time to honor all veterans of all wars our country has fought.

Our soldiers serve on the front lines in battle.  They fight against those who threaten us and they sacrifice a great deal to do so.  They fight to protect our way of life, our freedom, our democratic process.  While our soldiers all have differing opinions about our country’s leaders and their ideas, they share a common belief that our nation and its democratic process is worth protecting.  And yet those of us who are not on the front lines of combat can sometimes take our way of life for granted.  We grow frustrated with our government when they don’t make decisions we agree with.  We grow apathetic and don’t take the time to vote in elections because we are accustomed to the democratic process and don’t anticipate it changing anytime soon.  And there are certainly reasons for disillusionment in our government.  Stories of corruption and other scandals only make us more wary of those in power.

And yet our democracy isn’t something we should become apathetic towards or take for granted.  All across the world, people live under repressive regimes where they truly have no influence over the decision-makers who control their lives, and they would give a great deal to have the right to vote and voice their opinions.  Our men and women in uniform fight to make sure we keep these rights of expression and maintain the power to influence, at least in some small way, how our government is run.  You won’t always be on the winning side, and decision-makers will continue to make decisions you don’t agree with.  But if you don’t actively participate, actively look for ways to make your voice heard, you give up your right to complain about the way our country is being run.

So today, on Veterans Day, I challenge you to think about the issue or issues you truly care about and find some ways, small or large, to fight for them.  Plan to call you Members of Congress and tell them what you think about a national issue.  Write a letter to your state senator about a local issue that directly affects you.  Set up meetings with your representatives either in your state or in Washington, DC.  Things like this may seem small, but if more people participate in our legislative process in small ways, our government will, by its nature, be more responsive.  While our small fights can in no way compare to our troops’ willingness to sacrifice everything, including their lives, in service to their country, they can be just as important.  And advocating—fighting for what we believe in—is in itself a way to honor and remember the sacrifice and service of those who have faced battle and fought because they believed in our country, in our democracy, and in the power of an individuals to have a say in their government.

Capitol Hill Days and the New Congress—Time to Get Prepared!

The endless campaigning, the repetitive political ads, the persistent news coverage, the crazy whirlwind that is election night and then, just like that, it’s all over. The 114^th Congress will convene in January, and when your advocates come to DC for your 2015 Capitol Hill Day some of them will have brand new Members of Congress to start building relationships with. Be sure to focus some of your attention on these new legislators as you develop strategies and outline the logistics for next year’s event. Here are some of the considerations you should keep in mind:

• Keep your advocates informed about congressional districts that will have a new incumbent come January. Guide them to the resources that will help them research their newly elected officials, such as OpenSecrets.org to look at campaign contributions. Show them how to look up a legislator’s record if they were once a Governor or member of the State Legislature. If you have any advocates who have good relationships with a House member turned Senator, ask them to reach out to their connections to congratulate them.
• Incorporate relevant information about the new Congress into your advocate training. Whether you’re doing a pre-event webinar or phone call or an in-person training the day before your hill day, spend some time focusing on how your advocates can get to know their new legislators and what a great opportunity this is to indoctrinate them with your issues. 
• Early on, some new Members of Congress won’t have an office yet and will have a temporary space in the basement of their building, so if you have an early hill day make sure you are aware of these location changes. Some returning Members will also have room changes as some of the legislators who have been around for a while and have started to develop some seniority will eventually “upgrade” to a better office. Similarly, while new Members usually take on the phone number of the old Member, you might need to call the congressional switch board to connect with some of these offices where the phone number might change. You might consider subscribing to a service like KnowWho which keeps track of these changes.

If you’re looking for some assistance from a group that understands the ins and outs of coordinating a hill day in a new Congress, visit us at http://advocacyassociates.com/stress-free-advocacy-days/.