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Preparation is Key - Advocacy/Legislative Committee—Advocates for quality ESS education by monitoring & engaging State legislators - Legislator contacts—Create & maintain spreadsheet - Annual Legislative Platform—Create a one page platform distributed to each legislator at beginning of each session - Pertinent legislative sites—education policy committee, education funding committee, etc—Subscribe for updates & meeting notes - Knowledgeable personnel in your organization—Prepare list those to testify on your organization’s behalf if called—can happen quickly & without much notice - Periodic updates to members—Send to your organization’s members to stay informed on the status of relevant legislation. This also aides soliciting membership in a letter or email campaign - Survey state membership to gauge feelings on:
- Letter writing campaigns—Use survey data to garner support—share with legislators/staff, partner with State science associations on PD opportunities, etc - NSTA position statements—Starting point for your State organization position statements - Partnerships—Reach out form relationships with other State & National science associations / educator unions
- Letters to State legislators—Write advocating for change in statute, to request funding for PD, etc - Be persistent and patient Letter Writing Tips - One page limit - Preface letter with ‘ONE PAGER’ overview of your request—send two weeks before letter - Create spreadsheet of legislators & use macros to address letters - Send letters via BOTH email & postal service - Use educator union ‘advocacy days’ to meet with state legislators and/or staff—Prepare short statement—create relationships with staff —Follow up any meeting with BOTH Thank You email & card - Find State industry partners—geoscience industries, associations, non-profits, recreational, agribusiness, education, etc) to partner on letter | Sample Letters & Surveys |