Get Your Grassroots Going Preparing for the Next Legislative - PDF document

Get Your Grassroots Going Preparing for the Next Legislative Session November 17, 2010 How to Submit Your Question Step 1: Type in your Step 2: Click on the Send question here. button.

Polling Question Do You Like Ice Cream? Randy Dwyer, NRECA Director of Grassroots Advocacy Topics we’ll cover: • How states are using E-Advocacy Tools • Using the OEOF Database • Grassroots Tools Provided by NRECA Randy.Dwyer@nreca.coop • Q &A Gabe Snow, NRECA Sr. Advisor, Grassroots Advocacy • Today’s Moderator • Instructor for Director- level Grassroots Training • Directs our Candidate Training School Program • Gabe.Snow@nreca.coop

Today’s Take-Away Elements of Grassroots: • Recruit • Communicate • Educate • Activate • “Close the Loop” “It’s a Win-Win-Win” Today’s Presenters • Randy Dwyer, Director • Marc Armstrong, Director of of Grassroots Govt. Affairs, Ohio Advocacy, NRECA Statewide • James Dukesherer, Grassroots Coordinator, • John Cassady, Sr. Nebraska Statewide Principal, Legislative Advocacy, NRECA • Amanda Wolfe, Sr. Database Advisor, NRECA • Karen Metivier-Carreiro (Karen M-C), Manager, E-Advocacy, NRECA Polling Question #1 Do you think you will have to call on your grassroots advocates for a serious legislative issue in your state next year? A. Yes B. No

James Dukesherer, Grassroots Coordinator, Nebraska Statewide • Former Legislative Staffer to Rep. Adrian Smith (NE) • Master’s Degree in Political Science from Washington State Univ. • jdukesherer@nrea.org Grassroots in Nebraska • Education and Awareness • Relationship Building • Advocacy Organization Education and Awareness • Annual Member-System Visits • Monthly Grassroots Newsletter • Community Interest Group Presentations • Grassroots Updates in Board Rooms/Employee Meetings • NREA Website

Relationship Building • Invite Representatives and Candidates for Office to Board Meetings • Annual Legislative Reception • Attend Local Forums • Member-System Capitol Visits Advocacy Organization • Build Advocacy Database • Key Contacts, Power Advocates, Grassroots Advisors • “Rural Electric 15” • Take Action Alerts

Take Action Alerts Polling Question #2 Do you know who, at NRECA, to contact to get the list of Our Energy, Our Future activists for your state? A. Yes B. No C. Our Energy, Our What? Amanda Wolfe Sr. Database Advisor, NRECA • Joined NRECA Grassroots Staff in 2008 • Has 12 years in Trade Association Database experience • Amanda.Wolfe@nreca.coop

User Provided Information • Prefix (if provided) • First & Last Name • Email (if provided) • Home Address • Phone number (if provided) • Affiliated Organization State • Affiliated Organization Keeping Your Advocates Engaged • Direct Mail or Email • “Action Alert” on State or Federal Issue (Coal Ash) • Follow up / “Thank You” • Legislative Update (i.e. New Congress)

Privacy Policy “By providing your personal contact information ("Contact Info") through this web site you are enrolling in the Our Energy, Our Future advocacy campaign. This campaign seeks to challenge the U.S. Congress to meet our climate change goals while maintaining affordable electricity.” The Privacy policy provides detailed information about how advocates’ personal information is collected, stored and the appropriate use thereof. https://www.ourenergy.coop/pages/Privacy.htm Amanda’s Contact Info • Database Expert / Resident Cheesehead • Amanda.Wolfe@nreca.coop • (703) 907-5609 Marc Armstrong, Director of Government. Affairs, Ohio Statewide • Coordinates Legislative and Political Strategy and Directs Grassroots • Former Lobbyist for the Ohio Farm Bureau • Former Staffer, Ohio House of Representatives • marmstrong@buckeyepower.com

Ohio Take Action Network • Post monthly legislative update • Targeted message to legislators from constituents • Useful in lame duck session • Keep action alert short and sweet • Don’t go to the well too often Communication & Advocacy • Regular Grassroots and Legislative Updates at Co-ops • Quarterly ACRE/Co-op Owners Newsletter • Bi-annual Campaign Training Seminar • Attend Community Forums “Grass-tops” • Engage managers and politically active co-op employees • Annual Statehouse visit with Managers/Grasstops • Relationships with local legislators • Emails from Grasstops to targeted elected officials • Promote ACRE/Co-op Owners, “OEOF” involvement at Annual Meetings.

U.S. Representatives Jim Jordan and Bob Latta attend Midwest Electric ACRE Breakfast Karen M-C, Manager of NRECA E-Advocacy • M.S. in Management Information Systems and M. Phil. In Public Policy, Science and Technology concentration • Leading “Constituents Communicating with Congress” efforts since 1993 • karen.m-c@nreca.coop John Cassady, Sr. Principal, NRECA Legislative Advocacy • Portfolio: Climate Change and Environmental issues • Former Director of Gov. Affairs for the Ohio Statewide (2000-2010) • Legislative Asst, US Representative (OH), Deborah Pryce (`98-`00) • John.Cassady@nreca.coop

Grassroots in Action Tools of the Trade What is Your Grassroots Strategy?

Summary • NRECA Grassroots Team: Your Partner in Advocacy • NRECA has a Suite of Tools to Fit Your State’s Unique Needs • Use Grassroots to Leverage your Lobbying and ACRE Activities How to Submit Your Question Step 1: Type in your Step 2: Click on the Send question here. button.