 Understand how your activities contribute to the greater good  Establish a strategy and develop a plan  Be honest  Strive for clarity and brevity in all your communications

 Know your elected officials  Politics is fluid; change is constant  Work hard for your political friends  Politicians respond to voters

 Seek to establish coalitions  Create a unified message of purpose and strategy  Treat your allies and opponents with friendly respect

 Not once a year  Not issue to issue  Daily

 ANYONE with an interest in a particular issue  ANYONE who wants to change the law or status quo  ANYONE with a story to tell

 Provides needed expertise  Everyone can be a lobbyist/activist  Each person is an expert

 Building professional relationships with key decision makers  Knowledge is power  For your supporters, volunteer on their election campaigns

 Does she trust you?  Does she respect your opinions?  Does she value you as a person and SEEK YOUR ADVICE?

 Be honest  Know your and your opponent’s position  Never insult the key decision maker  Never insult your opponent

 Never lose your cool.  Understand the key decision maker’s position.  Only lobby your elected officials  Always “Make the Ask”

 Have information, statistics, and success stories relevant to the district  Keep message short and succinct  Suggest solutions or a specific request  Follow-up with an or phone call

 Become a resource  Know whom to contact  Invite officials to events and media opportunities  Visit your officials’ offices  Write to your officials

 Have the opportunity to change and/or influence United States law  If you don’t get involved, your opponents will.  This is a marathon, not a sprint

NADT Government Affairs Committee Deb Pierce, Krista Verrastro, Karimah Dillard, Linda Cook, Susan Ward, Pilar D’Asto, Jen Johnson NADT NYS Task Force Lucy McLellan, Kristin Long, Pam Edgar, Becca Elkin, Courtney DePascual Americans for the Arts

NADT Government Affairs Committee Anne Portine, Alan Pottinger, Annie Ready Coffey, Amber Bond, Deb Pierce NADT NYS Task Force Lucy McLellan, Nancy Sondag, Kristin Long, Andrew Gaines, Pam Edgar, Becca Elkin, Courtney DePascual, Drena Fagan, Cora Goldfarb, Chantal Georges, Kate Hurd (ex- officio) Americans for the Arts

Randy Mulder NADT, Government Affairs Chair Diane Brown NADT Office Manager