participate. ccc2: things to know before we get started · phone. during the training, we will call...

CCC2: Things to Know Before We Get Started

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1. At the start of the training, we will call roll to see who is on the phone. During the training, we will call on individuals by name to participate.

2. Please make sure you have the In Class Exercises printed out (on paper) and ready.

3. You may ask questions at any time. Please identify yourself when you speak up.

4. We will record the webinar for our training and quality control purposes.

5. Please be sure you know how to mute your phone if you need to

....................Combat Communications for Conservationists

Part 2: Meet the Movers and Shakers

Combat Communications: The Key Takeaway

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Sooner or later, the water will get hot and your reputation and success will be on the line. In this beginner-friendly workshop, you will to tell your side of the story during heated debates around rate increases, land management decisions, policy changes, lawsuits, legislation, and emergencies.

You will explore hot topics from the movers and shakers’ perspective. Then you will learn the dos and don’ts of the

influence game for government and nonprofit employees.

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Agenda

● Three Quickfire Challenges● Confusing Terms and Blurry

Lines● The Slope

○ Target Audience○ Impressions○ Conversion○ Cultivation

● Wrap Up

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Quickfire #1: U.S. House of Representatives

In 2013, the Huffington Post reported on a leaked memo from the Democratic party to their members of Congress, with recommendations for how they spend their time.

7P.8 in your In Class Exercises

Quickfire #1: U.S. House of Representatives

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Guess how the representatives should allocate their time

Quickfire #1: U.S. House of Representatives

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If you want to talk to a representative about an issue, you face fierce

competition for a tiny sliver of their time

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But if you can bring a constituent to your meeting, you have less competition for

more time

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And if you involve a donor in the conversation, you have even less competition for even more time

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Quickfire #2: Local “Movers and Shakers”

A survey of local movers and shakers along the coast, which asked how much time they spend working on natural resource issues each week

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Quickfire #2: Local “Movers and Shakers”

P.9 in your In Class Exercises.

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Quickfire #2: Local “Movers and Shakers”

Guess how many hours per week they answered?

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Movers and shakers make quickfire decisions. They care more about who you

know than what you know.

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Quickfire #3: Influencing Movers and Shakers

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Quickfire #3: Influencing Movers and Shakers

P.9 in your In Class Exercises.

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Quickfire #3: Influencing Movers and Shakers

?

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Quickfire #3: Influencing Movers and Shakers

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Social media is great for you to distribute messages to everybody except movers

and shakers! And she didn’t even mention noise in the press...

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Trust in the media is at an all time low. Politicians care less about media coverage than they used to

Quickfire #3: Influencing Movers and Shakers

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Quickfire #3: Influencing Movers and Shakers

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Quickfire #3: Influencing Movers and Shakers

Movers and shakers may not read or respond to emails, letters, and petitions personally, but their staff are reading and tracking the content

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Quickfire #3: Influencing Movers and Shakers

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Quickfire #3: Influencing Movers and Shakers

An activist mobilizing supporters to make phone calls!

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Quickfire #3: Influencing Movers and Shakers

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Quickfire #3: Influencing Movers and Shakers

Like this!

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Quickfire #3: Influencing Movers and Shakers

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Quickfire #3: Influencing Movers and Shakers

Government agencies can invite politicians, journalists, and their staff on field trips, too.

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Quickfire #3: Influencing Movers and Shakers

Agenda

● Three Quickfire Challenges● Confusing Terms and Blurry

Lines● The Slope

○ Target Audience○ Impressions○ Conversion○ Cultivation

● Wrap Up

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Many conservationists avoid hot topics because they are unsure about what is

and isn’t allowed

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Confusing Terms and Blurry Lines

This is an introduction to basic concepts and principles.

If you need legal advice on your specific

situation, consult with a lawyer!

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Confusing Terms and Blurry Lines

Term Colloquial Usage In the Eyes of the Law

Politics Anything having to do with the government Votes and elections

Policy Anything having to do with the government

Government actions and decisions other than votes

(regulation, procedure, permits, grants, zoning, etc.

etc. etc.)

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Confusing Terms and Blurry Lines

Term Colloquial Usage In the Eyes of the Law

Lobbying Influencing movers and shakers

Influencing votes on a specific bill

LobbyistAnyone who tries to

influence movers and shakers

A paid professional who is registered to influence bills

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Confusing Terms and Blurry Lines

Term Colloquial Usage In the Eyes of the Law

PartisanA confrontational and/or

assertive approach to politics and policy

Something that benefits a candidate or political party

CampaignA short term effort, e.g. a fundraising campaign or a

boycott campaignAn attempt to win an election

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Confusing Terms and Blurry Lines

Term Colloquial Usage In the Eyes of the Law

501(c)3Nonprofit organization,

nongovernmental organization

A “charitable” organization, donations are tax deductible.

(e.g. watershed associations, land trusts)

501(c)4Nonprofit organization,

nongovernmental organization

A “social welfare” organization, donations are

not tax deductible. (e.g. League of Conservation Voters)

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Private citizens enjoy complete freedom to participate in politics and policy in any

lawful manner

(Including being trolls, unfortunately)

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Non-tax exempt organizations (for-profit companies and 501c4 nonprofits) have few restrictions on how they participate

in politics and policy

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Tax exempt 501c3 organizations give up most (not all) rights to engage in politics, but retain their rights to influence policy.

501c3 organizations or employees that break the rules jeopardize their

tax-exempt status.

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Civil servants, who are paid by tax dollars, must steer completely clear of politics and lobbying but may participate in policy and

“educate” politicians.

Civil servants who break these rules can be disciplined or fired.

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Confusing Terms and Blurry Lines

P.10 in your In Class Exercises

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Confusing Terms and Blurry Lines

✔ if allowedX if not allowed:-( if legal but frowned upon? if not sure

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501c3 organizations can legally spend up to 5% of the budgets on lobbying...

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...AND because the legal definition what counts towards that 5% is so narrow...

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...AND because most lobbying activities are so inexpensive…

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...501c3s largely have a free hand to lobby and advocate for their missions, so

long as they are extra careful around elections

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Public agencies have more limited options to influence policy, but their

hands are NOT tied

Agenda

● Three Quickfire Challenges● Confusing Terms and Blurry

Lines● The Slope

○ Target Audience○ Impressions○ Conversion○ Cultivation

● Wrap Up

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“The Slope” is a framework for mobilizing grassroots support for your

policy and political positions.

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The “Slope”

}Overlook, Forget, Ignore(Only rarely refuse)

Agenda

● Three Quickfire Challenges● Confusing Terms and Blurry

Lines● The Slope

○ Target Audience○ Impressions○ Conversion○ Cultivation

● Wrap Up

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The “Slope”

}Overlook, Forget, Ignore(Only rarely refuse)

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The Slope: Target AudienceI love nature and care about your mission, but I

have never gotten involved in politics or

policy in any other way

I go to town halls, write my county council, and volunteered for the

mayor’s campaign. I’m not outdoorsy. I don’t know much about the

environment.

Imperfect Targets

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The Slope: Target Audience

The Perfect Target

I need to change out of these waders and go collect

my lifetime achievement award from the Chamber of

Commerce!

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P.11 in your In Class Exercises

The Slope: Target Audience

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People who care about your mission and will speak up to movers and shakers are

rare and precious! So if you find one, hold on to their contact information!

Agenda

● Three Quickfire Challenges● Confusing Terms and Blurry

Lines● The Slope

○ Target Audience○ Impressions○ Conversion○ Cultivation

● Wrap Up

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The “Slope:” Impressions, Conversion, Cultivation

}Overlook, Forget, Ignore(Only rarely refuse)

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The “Slope:” Impressions, Conversion, Cultivation

6 examples of nonprofit and government agencies collecting contact information as part of their activities

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The “Slope:” Impressions, Conversion, Cultivation

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The “Slope:” Impressions, Conversion, Cultivation

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The “Slope:” Impressions, Conversion, Cultivation

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The rest of the items in the packet are all jumbled up. Please put them together in

the appropriate sequence!

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The “Slope:” Impressions, Conversion, Cultivation

Arizona DOT has my email address. What else could they do with it?

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The “Slope:” Impressions, Conversion, Cultivation

Mojave Desert Land Trust has my email address. What else could they do with it?

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The “Slope:” Impressions, Conversion, Cultivation

U.S. EPA has my contact information. What could they do with it?

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The “Slope:” Impressions, Conversion, Cultivation

League of Conservation Voters has my cell phone #. What next?

Agenda

● Three Quickfire Challenges● Confusing Terms and Blurry

Lines● The Slope

○ Target Audience○ Impressions○ Conversion○ Cultivation

● Wrap Up

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(Optional) Homework

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If you want to earn CEUs for this course (or just learn as much as possible), you can complete this homework assignment.

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Click Here to Open the Homework Assignment

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Would your organization, coalition, committee, partnership, or association

enjoy this course?

Hosting is convenient and affordable. Contact me offline if you are interested.

In this session, we learned how organization gain and exercise clout in hot topic situations. Any questions or

comments?

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