From the Executive Director
Advocacy basics: Building & Maintaining
COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR POLICYMAKERS
- Advocate as Part of a Statewide Network – be a member of the S.C. Arts Alliance — an informed and active member of our E-mail Arts Advocacy Network, responding to our Action Alerts, Calls to Action — sharing the information with friends, colleagues; board members, staff, volunteers, your membership, business and parent leaders; Report responses back to the SCAA;
- Know the Players – by building long-term relationships: legislators, principals, school board members, mayors, city and county council members, your congressional delegation, and business leaders;
- Know the Issues – not just your issues but those of your policymakers – how your priorities and theirs can impact a mutual agenda;
- Understand the Process – how things happen, how laws are made, how the state budget bill and federal appropriations are developed; and the power of YOU;
- Make that Connection — Get to know something about the policymaker — background, personal interests, experiences and their priorities; then connect the arts to the experiences;
- Stay Informed – about state and national issues affecting the arts and education, staying up-to-date about the latest initiatives and research and trends;
- Be at the Table when decisions are being made in your local community, school, district, and statewide — speaking out in support of the arts and the value of “learning in and through the arts”;
- Become a Trusted Resource – stay in touch with your policymakers, offering accurate and timely information;
- Involve Decision-makers in your classroom, school and community activities; (“in front of the curtain duties”);
- Form an Advocacy Committee – within your own organization or school, placing Advocacy on the agenda of your meetings, reporting out what action has been taken on your behalf, and identifying additional advocacy efforts;
- Make It Personal – contacts with your legislative delegation can mean leaving a message at their office, emailing, faxing, a handwritten note-card, or even meeting with them in your home district; Other venues might be special events and town meetings, through the media, such as writing op-ed pieces or letters to the editors, meeting with the editorial board, or testifying at hearings or meetings;
- Use Other Resources: the SCAA’s Arts Advocacy Handbook, SCAA Web site, State and S.C. Department of Education Web site; Statewide Associations – SC Education Association, Palmetto State Teachers, Statewide Arts Discipline Organizations; and other partners S.C. Alliance for Arts Education; Americans for the Arts;
- Participate in National Arts Alerts – be sure to check out the Legislative Action Center on the SCAA web site, especially for national arts issues and how you can help advocate;
- On the Run – Legislators are always running for re-election, even when it isn’t an election year – Use your clout as a voter and a financial contributor to speak out for the arts;
- Be Visible & Active in the Election Process – Attend candidate forums, debates, many town hall meetings are now “streamed” and can be viewed on your computer;
- Keep Up with Media Coverage – from the “Left” to the “Right”, but think for yourself! Read between the lines. Go to candidate’s web sites. Talk with your friends;
- Keeping them Honest – Ask candidates where they stand on policy and funding for the arts and arts education;
SC Budget Process:
- Various House and Senate Committees meet throughout the year;
- Legislative session – January – June;
- The Governor’s Executive Budget comes out in January (agency hearings are in late summer and early fall before the New Year;
- House begins work on their version of the budget starting with subcommittees of the Ways & Means Committee (HWM); then goes to the full House Ways & Means Committee; written up and a week later goes to the full House for debate;
- When the budget is voted out of the House, it moves to the various committees of the Senate Finance Committee (SFC)– to listen to agency presentations; they make their recommendations to the full Senate Finance Committee,
- The Senate Finance Committee’s version of the budget then goes to the floor of the full Senate for debate;
- If the 2 budget versions differ, then a Conference Committee is formed to work out those differences. The Conference Committee is made up of 3 House and 3 Senate members – usually including the Chairs of the HWM and the SFC.
- After both the House and Senate give their approval, the Budget goes to the Governor, who usually has a long list of vetoes.
- The vetoes have to be accepted over overridden.
Attend SC Arts Advocacy Day:
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2010
- A Great way to get to know your Legislator – read all about it when our 2010 Arts Advocacy Handbook goes on line in January or review the 2009 Arts Advocacy Handbook currently on our web site, www.scartsalliance.net;
- Learn What to Expect – Join the crowd at the Statehouse and attend the Legislative Appreciation Luncheon at the Capital City Club;
- Have lunch with Legislators from your region of the state
- Every Legislator is introduced and has the opportunity to speak – and they do! [50 legislators attended this year]
- You’ll be informed – information and talking points are sent out in advance; Arts Advocacy Handbook at the SCAA Web site; view the day’s proceedings from the House and Senate galleries;
- Hear from the Legislative Arts Caucus Co-chairs [84 House members and 39 Senators – 123 members out of 170]
- Attend the SCAA Arts Advocacy Workshop
- Enjoy nationally recognized student performances
- Plan to visit your Legislator in his/her Columbia office or in your home district;
- If you can’t come to Columbia on Arts Advocacy Day, participate “at home” by writing, calling, faxing or emailing your Legislator on February 2nd;
Advocating to legislators – be strategic:
- Have a Goal - What you are trying to achieve?
- Know your Desired Action – What needs to happen?
- Build Coalitions – Who can help lead the way”
- Do your home work – What information do you need to know?
What is Your Key Message?
- Be Specific – ask for a specific action
- Use a personal reference – to help make the connection
- Be Informative – use clear examples, statistics
- Be respectful (non combative) – be a good listener
- Always say “thank you” – start off with a “thank you” and finish with a “thank you” – referring to another time of leadership for your cause;
Timing is Everything – Be aware of the environment – locally, statewide, and nationally; perceptions are important too;
Main advocacy issues:
- Advocate for stable state funding for the arts
- To continue funding the South Carolina Arts Commission’s Grant making Program – for general operating and project support to arts organizations and arts education initiatives across the state;
- $500,000 from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (federal stimulus funds) to the state budget for a second year;
- The SCAC’s grants program previously received $585,000 each of the prior 3 years
- Preserving and increasing the Arts Curricular Innovation Grants Program within the S.C. Department of Education’s budget currently funded $1,187,571;
Writing your legislators – Sample letter:
DATE
THE HONORABLE_____________
SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE/SENATE
P. O. Box 11867, Columbia, SC 29211 for the House
P. O. Box 142, Columbia, SC 29201 for the Senate
Dear Senator___________or Dear Representative___________:
I am a constituent – have lived in your district for ___________years
I am a supporter – I gave a contribution to your campaign
I voted for you — in the primary –
I knew your mother when we taught school together at____
We go to the same church –
MAKE SOME PERSONAL CONNECTION – IT WILL HELP THEM TO REMEMBER YOU. PERSONALIZE YOUR MESSAGE BY “TELLING YOUR STORY”. STATE YOUR CASE OR YOUR POSITION – OR ASK THE QUESTION, “will you support…….?” – BUT BE SPECIFIC
Please support an increase for ___________
Please support _______ legislation because it___________ preserves arts instructional time
