state training webinar

State Training Webinar

Agenda and Presenters

Building State Coalitions Edwina Rogers, Executive Director

State Website Management Loren Vandergrift, Webmaster

Effective Lobbying Kelly Damerow, Director of Federal

and State Affairs

Media & Communications Lauren Anderson Youngblood,

Communications Manager

Development & Fundraising Aisha Goss, Deputy Director

7:00 – 7:15pm ET

7:15 – 7:30pm ET

7:30 – 8:00pm ET

8:00 – 8:30pm ET

8:30 – 9:00pm ET

10 minutes presentation5 minutes Q&A





Keystone Subject Areas

Health & Safety Education

Tax PolicyDiscrimination

Government Actions Military

Health and Safety• Abortion• SmartRecovery• Adoption• Conscience clause• Death with dignity• Stem cells research• Contraception mandate• Medical neglect exemptions• Child care center regulation exemptions• Child abuse reporting exemption for clergy• Vaccination exemptions

Education• Vouchers to religious school• Secular student groups• Religiously motivated

bullying• Teaching evolution, not

creationism• Sex education• School prayer• Pledge of allegiance

Discrimination• Same-sex marriage• Faith-based initiatives• Employment

discrimination exemptions

• Housing discrimination exemptions

• Grants to religious charities

• Prisoner discrimination• Boy scouts

Tax Policy• Religious privileging in the tax

code• Automatic exemption status• Financial disclosures (990’s)• Church Audit Procedures Act• Politicking from the pulpit• Parsonage exemption

Military• Chaplain reform• Humanist

identity• Non-proselytism• Acceptance of

nontheists

Government Actions• National day of prayer• “In God We Trust”• Oaths of office• Legislative prayer• Prayer caucus• Federal funding to

build churches

Changing Demographics of Religiously Unaffiliated

Changing Demographics of Nonbelievers

Secular Coalition Services

• Your Government Watchdogso Your voice on Capitol Hill – The Secular Coalition is the sole full time 501c4 advocacy

organization representing nontheistic Americans at the federal level.o Legislation and Regulation Tracking – Alerts and updates on legislation that attempts to

privilege or insert religion into secular laws, at the state and federal level. o State Chapters – The Secular Coalition has functional chapters in 7 states and is in the

process of rolling out new chapters in every state across the country. State chapters organize SCA-trained constituent lobbyists to combat troublesome legislation at the state level.

o Action Alerts – Calls to action on pertinent pieces of legislation at the state and federal level, allowing supporters to contact their representatives swiftly.

o Influencing with Decision Makers– Holding meetings with Capitol Hill and the Administration advocating for our supporters and arranging for constituent lobbying visits for our supporters.

• Advocacy and Educationo Secular Summit and Lobby Day – An opportunity to show lawmakers that nontheistic

Americans are part of their constituency and advocate at the federal level for inclusion and secular laws.

o Trainings—The SCA offers lobbying and media training to state chapters and provides continuing support as chapters grow.

o Summits & Movement Calls – Hosting strategy meetings to discuss issues of concern to the movement.

o Research – Bolster your advocacy with our updated website collection of research on secular issues.

o Scorecards – Our election scorecards help you quickly identify where candidates rate in their support of a secular government.

Secular Coalition Services

• Keeping You Updated o Weekly Movement Update Calls & Agenda – Every Thursday at 12:00 pm ET, in depth analysis on

secular and related issues, including a rundown of all of SCA’s lobbying efforts and the combined efforts of the entire movement.

o Morning Read – A daily synopsis of the secular and related news of the day.o Secular News Daily – Affiliated news website offering secular news and updates from SCA’s

member organizations.o Weekly Wrap Up- Weekly newsletter with the most important information of the week in an easy to

digest format for the casual supporter.

• Connecting to You and the Secular Movemento Facilitating Movement Unity – the Secular Coalition plays an integral role in bringing together the

most powerful organizations in the secular and nontheistic movements to work on shared goals and toward a common purpose.

o Social Media – Connects supporters and movement organizations via social media networks, keeping the community updated.

o Communications – The Secular Coalition blogs, press releases and news updates feature movement leaders including Herb Silverman, president emeritus of the Secular Coalition and David Niose, president of the SCA.

o Master Calendar—The only calendar featuring movement-wide events, holidays, conferences and other secular events.

o Speakers- the Secular Coalition speakers at events, conferences and other movement-related events across the country.

o New Exciting Initiatives— There’s always something new brewing at the SCA, such as the Model Secular Policy Guide, written by experts for legislators, providing them with accurate background, research, and model legislative language to use as a resource when legislating on secular issues.

Secular Policy Guide• With Co-Chairs Jacques Berlinerblau and Wendy

Kaminer• Working with Academics, Policymakers, and

Advocates• Providing Guidance to Policymakers On:

o Constitutional Frameworko Health and Safetyo Educationo Discriminationo Military Discriminationo Tax Policyo International Policy

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National Secular Movement Call

• White House & Congress

• Secular Events • Secular News• United Nations• Students

Thursdays at Noon ETPhone: 559-726-1300

Code: 199568

• Judicial Update• State Chapters• New Research• Coalition Expansion• Charity Work

SCA Coalitions• CARD – Coalition Against Religious Discrimination• NCPE – National Coalition for Public Education• Coalition for Responsible Sex Education• National Advisory Board – Watching religious

hospital mergers• International Family Planning Coalition • LCCR – Leadership Council on Civil and Human

Rights• IRF – International Religious Freedom Roundtable

State CoalitionsBenefits to Coalition Work• Increased credibility• Maximized resources• Shared ideas• Mutual support• Strength in numbers

Types of Coalitions• Common cause

o Developing and implementing a shared policy agenda around a common cause

o Ex: respect for nonthesists, child welfare, human services, the arts, etc.

• Specific Issueo Coordinating efforts on a specific issue campaigno Ex: contraception mandate, blasphemy laws, etc.

Working in Coalitions• Clear purpose/mission

o To increase the visibility of and respect for nontheistic viewpoints in the United States, and to protect and strengthen the secular character of our government as the best guarantee of freedom for all.

• Include all stakeholderso All groups that can endorse our missiono Be sure to think beyond the “usual suspects.”

• Understand limitso Not all coalition members will agree on

everything all the time, and that’s okay!• Communicate

o Clear communication avoids misstepso Conference calls

Building a Coalition• Identify groups that support our mission• Attend/speak at their meetings• Get permission to list them on the website• Partner with organizations, even only on a

single issue• Bigger the coalition the better

Q & A

Please type your questions in the chat box

NEW State Website Management

Secular State Purpose

• Built for state chapters to share and promote state activities with supporters, press, & local government.

• As a community tool where supporters can share and discuss updates, strategy, lobbying efforts in a single place.

State Sites Overviewo Abouto Newso Resources

• State and National • Training Guides and Videos

o Key Issueso Supporting Groupso Events

• Physical and online• Attendee Registration and communication• Recordings of past calls

o Legislative Reportso Community

Secular Community• Tools for the a state chapter

o Postso Pollso Documentso Questionso Wikiso Supporting Groups

• Threaded conversation on all content• Following and Notification• Natural Promotion of Content.• Future integrations with Secular.org• This is just the beginning

Leadership Roles• State leadership has the ability to add events,

pages, news and more.

• Further customization abilities coming with time

• To apply for leadership access you may do so at http://states.secular.org/states/secular-state-leadership-application (must be logged in)

http://states.secular.org/states/secular-state-leadership-application



Getting Started• Getting started guide will be available on all

state resource pages along with the posting of this recording

Q & A


Effective Lobbying• State lobbying Strategy

o Preparationo Lobbying in Action- Legislationo Lobbying in Action- Regulation

• The Lobby Visito Preparationo Requesting a Meetingo Day of the Meetingo The Meetingo Follow up

• Contacting your legislatoro Phoneo Lettero Email

• Presenting Testimony

State Lobbying Strategy Preparation• Build a coalition• Grow your list of supporters• Gather and prepare resources• Build relationships with lawmakers• Fundraising• Monitor legislation and regulation• Opposition research

State Lobbying Strategy Lobbying in

Action• Coordinate with your organization or coalition • Opposition research on this bill/amendment• Meet with legislators • Educate • Call to Action

The Lobby Visit

Lobby VisitPreparation

• Know the facts• Know the history• Know the legislator• Prepare material

Lobby VisitRequesting a Meeting• Email or call the office

o Scheduler is the gate keeper!• Have several dates and

times ready to offer• Provide them with:

o Your name and contact infoo Your organization o If you are a constituento Specific bill or issue you want to

discuss

Day of the Meeting• Dress• Timing• Demeanor• Greeting• Information presentation• Decide who will be the

primary speaker• Know with whom you are

meetingo Meetings with staffers are just as

important!

The Meeting• Open with a thank you• Introduce the Secular Coalition and

its mission• Ask if they are familiar with terms

like “humanist,” “atheist,” or “secular”

• The reason why I wanted to meet with you today…

• Share personal experiences• Ask if they have any questions• Thank them again• Be professional and courteous

The mission of the Secular Coalition for America is to increase the visibility of and respect for nontheistic viewpoints in the United States, and to protect and strengthen the secular character of our government as the best guarantee of freedom for all.

Follow Up• Thank you note

o Nor more than two days latero Email is acceptable

• Update if there is movement on your bill or issue• Keep up the relationship

o Send any information you come across that they might find relevant their way

o Become a resource they can rely on

Contacting Your LegislatorPhone Call

• Know what you want to say before you call

• Write down a few talking points• If possible, know the number

and name of the bill before you call

• Mention that you are a constituent

• State your opinion clearly and quickly.

• Be courteous; Thank the staff member for his or her time

Contacting Your Legislator

Letter • Show a connection• Make it personal• Keep it brief• Include a call to action• Be respectful• Be accurate and

timely • Thank you• Give the Facts

Contacting Your Legislator

Email • Similar to letter, but

keep it short! • Subject line should

include the word “constituent”

• If no response, follow up a week later

Presenting Testimony

• Format• Presentation• Committee Preparation• Hostile questions

Q & A


Media & Communications

• Press Releases• Media Alerts• Press Interviews

o Terms to Knowo Preparationo What to Sayo How to Say Ito Tips

• Letters to the Editor

• Social Media

MediaPress Releases

• The best way to get out an important announcement.

• Is this newsworthy?

• How will people relate and connect?

MediaPress Releases

• Relevance

• Timing

• Attention-getting

MediaMedia Alerts

• When you need to get the word out about an event but a Press Release is too much

• Description of Event• Time, place, location• Contact Info

Press InterviewsTerms to Know

• “On-the-Record Interviews”

• “Backgrounders”

• “Off the record”

Press InterviewsPreparation

• Know the official position

• Impact on the organization

• Stay away from attacking one group

• Always be professional

• 7-10 second responses

• Make up an agenda

Press InterviewsWhat To Say

• Share Website or contact information• Stay on message• Don’t get backed into a corner• If you do not like a question, reframe it• If you don’t know the answer to a question, be

upfront• Once you have said what you want to say, stop

talking

Press InterviewsHow To Say It

• Speak in positive terms

• Do not repeat your opponent’s terminology/phrasing

• Speak in terms of your values first and then your positions

Press InterviewsTips

• Practice• End on a strong note• Thank interviewer for the opportunity• Ask for other’s contact information • Find out when and where interview will be

published• Offer to give them more information when

needed

Letters to the Editor• Know the policy• Be timely• Stay on message• Get local & personal• Use your credentials• Follow up

Social Media• Wikis (Wikipedia and Philosopedia), • Blogs (Huffington Post, Friendly Atheist) • Micro blogs (Twitter) • Social networks (Facebook and MySpace) • Forums (Yahoo groups) • Review sites (where users write reviews, including

Amazon and the Internet Movie Database) Video and photo-sharing sites (You Tube and Webshots)

• Social bookmarking or news sharing sites (del.icio.us).

Social Media• How does my target

community receive or consume news?

• Go where your audience is

• Use the 1/3 rule.

Social MediaTop 10 Conversations to Listen in

On

• Influencer• Point of Need

• Complaint• Compliment• Problem• Question or Inquiry• Crisis• Campaign Effect• Competitor• The Crowd

Q & A


Fundraising• Chapter fundraising

model• Finding Donors• Asking for Donations

Fundraising• Without the support of our

donors, it would be impossible for the Secular Coalition for America to exist!

• A robust base of support is critical to our lobbying efforts

FundraisingChapter Model

• Resources to help• Growing the chapters across the country• Benefits:

o Helping them helps youo Federal members of Congress start in the stateso 501(c)(4) advantages o Experts on the fundraising rules.

• Logistics:o All collected donations directed to the Secular Coalition for America, or

being entered on secular.org. o List your state chapter in memo section of checks or comments section

on the webpage

FundraisingFinding Donors

• Reminders• Encouraging supporters

to become donors• Materials on hand

o Return envelopeso Cash boxo Pledge Cards

FundraisingAsking for Donations• It’s ok to ASK!

o Some people can donate time and energy, others can donate money

o People give because it feels goodo "Can you support the Secular Coalition for America by

giving $100?"• After you ask, stop talking• Peer-to-peer ask

o "I gave $500 to the SCA this year. That is a big commitment for me. I don't know what a comparable gift would be for you, but I hope you can support our work in that way."

• Concrete and thematic examples• Always say thank you

Q & A


Thank you!Copies of this power point and

the accompanying guides can be found at secular.org/statechaptertraining

or in the “resources” section of any state chapter page

Images courtesy of shutterstock