Advocacy, whether at the local, state, or federal level, is simply making your views known through direct and indirect contacts with elected officials and other decision makers. Everyone, regardless of your prior experience, should make it a practice to let your representative know your position on key issues. Your representatives need to hear from you!
Now that you've agreed to help promote gifted education issues, take a moment to review the following steps that will help you ensure success. bullet
Educate Yourself: A well-informed advocate is the most successful advocate. Although it is not necessary to become an "expert" in gifted education issues, it is very helpful if you share with your representatives more than your personal story. For a brief history of gifted education issues in Nebraska, click here
Communicate Your Message: Once you are comfortable with the issue, decide what you are seeking from your representative, and be as specific as possible. Do you want their support for existing legislation? When your message is clear, it will be easier for your representative to respond. NAG's current position can be found here.
Identify Targets: Not every elected official can efficiently help you with every gifted education issue. Be sure that you identify which level of government handles the specific issue you are concerned about (for example, curriculum decisions may be a local school board issue; some funding issues are state-level questions; others are federal) and that you are directing your advocacy efforts to the correct representative. NAG can help you identify key state-level decision-makers. Click Here for the contact information for various levels of government.
Important Points to Remember when Contacting Your Elected Officials: 1. Be brief and concise (letters generally not more than 3-5 paragraphs; phone calls generally 1 to 2 minutes). 2. Inform the official who you are and if you are from his/her district. 3. Say why you are writing/calling. 4. Explain the action you want the elected official to take. 5. Explain what this action will accomplish (especially in his/her district). 6. Ask for his or her vote. Ask if you can count on his/her commitment. 7. If the official is unavailable when you call, speak to the staff member. This is more likely to get the message across than waiting for a return phone call, especially if a vote is pending.
Contacting by Mail
Essential Letter Components: Officials and their staffs pay careful attention to their mail since it often conveys the major body of public and voter sentiment on pending legislative activity. Your letter should include: Introductory Paragraph: Give a reason for your letter, stating the title and number of the existing or pending legislation, if appropriate. Identify yourself and your interest in gifted education. Request Action: Communicate reasons why this legislator should act in support of your bill. These reasons might include historical facts, logic, data, credible opinion, personal experience, and the weaknesses of opposing points of view. Letter Closing: Restate the action you are seeking. Ask for the official's comment. Express appreciation for considering your views. Indicate willingness to help. If you can arrange it, invite the official to visit your classroom or school. Provide your address and phone number.
Tips to Increase the Effectiveness of Your Letter: 1. Be courteous, constructive, and reasonable, or you will lose credibility and the reader's good will. 2. Be careful not to give exaggerated or misleading information. Facts must be accurate. 3. Write your letter in your own words. Form letters do not produce results. Here are some ideas to kick-start your thinking process. Click here for ideas 4. Use your own stationery. Never use work time or materials for advocacy purposes. 5. Spell names correctly. Be neat. Type if your handwriting is hard to read. 6. Send a letter of appreciation after you have received the support you request.
Contacting in Person 1. Take someone with you. There is strength in numbers. 2. Make sure your presentation is simple, clear and specific 3. Some ideas to raise: The impact current legislative proposals have on your school district and, in turn, the community Thank him/her for their previous support The unique contribution the programs make to the community 4. If you don't know the answer to a question, don't bluff. Say "I don't know, but I'll get back to you on it." Then DO IT. This gives you another opportunity to bring the issue to the legislator's attention. 5. Don't use a lot of statistics. They won't be remembered. Use a few, strong, memorable numbers to illustrate your points. 6. Following-up on the Meeting: Send a thank-you note. Invite the legislator to an upcoming event, or an opportunity to visit your school program. Let your NAG know of the meeting and its outcome.
Adapted, with permission, from the Advocacy page created by the Gifted Association of Missouri at www.mogam.org
