Being an ACLU Ambassador: Building an Advocacy Network Deborah Fritsch, ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties Alli Harper, ACLU of Maryland Selene Kaye, National ACLU

Conocimiento Trust Rapport Power Conocimiento is mindfully communicating to know each other and create connection. We do connection talk to build relationships, lift inspiration, and develop shared power.

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ACLU of Maryland Marriage Fairness Action Team : A Case Study in Staff-Lay Leader Action-Based Partnership Alli Harper, ACLU of Maryland

Whether large or small… Whether large or small...

Roadmap...  What is an Action Team?  Why Action Teams?  The Marriage Fairness Action Team  Three Lessons Learned

What is an Action Team?  A TEAM that takes well-coordinated, strategic ACTION aligned with concrete campaign objectives  The TEAM includes:  Interdepartmental Staff Members (6), Board Members (6), Other Lay Leaders (3)  ACTION is always strategic:  High Value -- Needed by and aligned with campaign plan  Effective -- Taps into the passion and assets (expertise, experience, networks, willingness…) of team members  Three action teams -- Marriage Fairness, Criminal Justice and Immigration Reform

Why Action Teams?  Staff and lay leaders' passion for substantive ISSUES  Value-added to campaign – leveraging untapped resources  Builds ownership and relationship with ACLU (which means more members, more donors, more allies, more visibility … for future campaigns)

Maryland’s Marriage Fairness Action Team Highlights  Concrete, winnable, clear campaign objectives  Team members: passion, action, networks  Action menu  Team members’ time is precious

A Key Target: Prince George’s County

Prince George’s County Results – Every Vote Mattered  Presidential Results:  Approximately 348,000 total votes for Obama  Approximately 36,000 total votes for Romney  Question 6 Marriage Results:  Approximately 183,000 total votes FOR Question 6  Approximately 186,000 total votes AGAINST Question 6

Example: Matching Campaign Need with Team Member Assets Campaign Need:Team Member's Asset Legislator votes for billPersonal relationships with legislators African-American vote in referendum Immediate past chair of County NAACP; active member on NAACP state board Faith, labor, and other community leaders to sign on to coalition Relationships with such leaders

Legislative Effort Actions  Meetings and calls with target legislators with whom one has personal relationships  Meetings, calls, and s with target legislators, even without relationship  Testify at or attend hearings  Phone banks  Lobby nights, press conferences, big events

Referendum Actions: Activating Networks  Asked faith, labor, community, and business organizations to join coalition and take action  League of Women Voters  Unitarian churches  Quaker meetings  Brown, Goldstein & Levy law firm  Others

Referendum Actions: Activating Networks  Hosting "house" parties  The Action Team and Board hosted 10 of the ACLU’s 100 house parties that:  Educated 1,700 attendees,  Signed up over 1,000 volunteers, and  Raised approximately $144,000.

Referendum Action: Activating Networks  Action team non- board lay leader organized over 100 volunteers for the ACLU in adopting 16 polls

3 Keys to Success

1. Concrete campaign objectives and clear strategies to meet objectives

2. Staff buy-in and capacity to lead and support action in coordination with campaign plan

3. ACTION is as easy, as fun and as empowering as possible so all feel greater ownership of the campaign victory as well as the ACLU

For further questions, discussion or action team tools, contact: Alli Harper Former President of the Board Marriage Fairness Action Team Co-Chair, ACLU of Maryland or Susan Goering Executive Director, ACLU of Maryland

It’s Your Turn!

Using Your Networks to Build Support for the Marriage Referendum

Discussion Q&A

Thank You! Deborah Fritsch Board Vice President ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties Alli Harper Former President of the Board Marriage Fairness Action Team Co-Chair, ACLU of Maryland Selene Kaye Advocacy & Policy Strategist National ACLU