Building a Legislative Contact Network in your District

1
Building a Legislative Contact Network in your
District

• Project Grass Roots
• Workgroup
• April 23, 2003
• Sara Haines and Rita Maddox

2
Building a Network Why?

• We can make a difference in Lansing if we work
  together in Kent County and across our state
• Our superintendents and board members cant do it
  alone
• Legislators need to hear from parents and
  community members from many different school
  districts

3
Building a Network Why?

• Blended Count Example
• Network was formed across the state
• Research was done to provide Network and
  Legislators with facts
• Parents and Community Members sent emails and
  made phone calls to legislators
• Network provided the means to communicate
  information in a timely manner

4
Building a Network How?

• An effective network needs
• Superintendent support
• School Board contact
• Parent and Community Contact
• Good communication

5
Building a Network Where to begin

• Contact your superintendent and let him/her know
  you want to be involved
• Ask if your district has a network if not,
  volunteer to start one
• Identify a parent contact in each building
• PTA, PTC, PTO or other parent group is a great
  place to start
• Many of these groups already have a legislative
  representative. The Michigan PTA has resources
  available
• Building principals may also be helpful in
  identifying possible individuals
• Develop a means of communicating with your
  intra-district network
• Newsletters and email are two options

6
Building a NetworkWhat to Communicate

• Provide information to your network
• Email addresses, phone numbers and addresses for
  your legislators
• A Citizens Guide to State Government is
  available from your state senator or
  representative and includes
• How to communicate with your legislator
• Committee assignments
• Information for each representative and senator

7
Building a NetworkWhat to Communicate

• Our Kent County and Statewide Network will
  provide
• Legislative Updates
• Legislative Alerts
• Calls to Action
• History/Talking Points regarding Issues
• and /or Legislation

8
Building a Network Statewide

• To be effective in Lansing we need
• help in growing our Network
• to coordinate our lobbying efforts
• to educate our parents and community members on
  the issues
• Together We Can Make A Difference!
• Network of Michigan School Districts
  grassroots_at_chartermi.net