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

RapportPower

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

Ways to Plug In

• Liberties at Night• Luncheon Conversations• Volunteer Night• Grassroots Task Forces• Constitution Day• Conference and Lobby Day• Progressive Speakers• Lawyers’ Campaign• Board Committees

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 planEffective -- 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 HighlightsConcrete,

winnable, clear campaign objectives

Team members: passion, action, networks

Action menuTeam 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 ObamaApproximately 36,000 total votes for Romney

Question 6 Marriage Results:Approximately 183,000 total votes FOR Question 6Approximately 186,000 total votes AGAINST

Question 6

Example: Matching Campaign Need with Team Member Assets

Campaign Need: Team Member's AssetLegislator votes for bill Personal relationships with

legislatorsAfrican-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 e-mails with target legislators, even without relationship

Testify at or attend hearingsPhone banksLobby nights, press conferences, big events

Referendum Actions: Activating Networks

Asked faith, labor, community, and business organizations to join coalition and take actionLeague of Women VotersUnitarian churchesQuaker meetingsBrown, Goldstein & Levy law firm Others

Referendum Actions: Activating Networks

Hosting "house" partiesThe 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 HarperFormer President of the Board

Marriage Fairness Action Team Co-Chair, ACLU of Maryland alliharper13@gmail.com

202-906-0687or

Susan GoeringExecutive Director, ACLU of Maryland

goering@aclu-md.org410-889-8555

It’s Your Turn!

Using Your Networks to Build Support for the Marriage Referendum

DiscussionQ&A

Thank You!Deborah Fritsch

Board Vice PresidentACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties

dkfritsch@cox.net 619-410-9614

Alli HarperFormer President of the Board

Marriage Fairness Action Team Co-Chair, ACLU of Maryland alliharper13@gmail.com

202-906-0687

Selene KayeAdvocacy & Policy Strategist

National ACLUskaye@aclu.org212-549-2645