Increasing
Your Association's Visibility
Before the Maryland Legislature
Outward Efforts to Increase Visibility
Endorsements
of Candidates for Office
- Send a cover letter and survey
to all candidates running for the General Assembly four days after the deadline
to register to run in the Primary Election.
- Compile completed surveys and
rate according to responses, incumbency, and previous voting records of
incumbents.
- Select candidates to endorse.
- Send letters of endorsement
to the selected candidates.
- Send list of endorsed candidates
to Maryland newspapers.
- Have lobbyist contact endorsees
to determine need for volunteers to work on candidates' campaigns.
- Send mailing to all members
describing selection process and listing endorsees.
Welcome Packets for Legislators
- Develop packets and review materials
with lobbyist.
- Include: welcome letter from
President and Legislative Chair giving name and phone number of District
Coordinator for the Legislator's district, legislative agenda of the organization,
fact sheets on important issues, and explanation of the role organization
wants to play.
- Send packets to all new and
incumbent legislators within one month after the General Election.
Legislative Receptions
- Plan reception during Legislative
Session.
- Send invitations to legislators
and organization members once Session has started.
- Follow up with reminders one
week prior to and morning of reception.
- Hold workshops just prior to
reception to prepare members on your issues.
District Coordinators Work with Legislators
- Assign each legislative district
at least one District Coordinator.
- Give coordinators lists of all
organization members living in their district; update list twice a year.
- Have Coordinators contact organization
members in their district when phone calls or letters are needed to influence
legislation.
800 Telephone Message Line for Organization Members
- Install a telephone/answering
machine with an 800 number listing in the home of a Legislative Committee
member; set it up to give messages, but not to take them.
- Put new three-minute messages
on the line at least once a week.
- Record messages that will inform
members about the status of legislative issues, notify them of upcoming
meetings, and/or ask them to take particular actions (depending on their
home district).
- Direct the messages primarily
to District Coordinators during the Legislative Session.
Behind the Scenes Activities
Campaign Time
- Send members to fundraisers
for endorsed candidates.
- Ask members to work in local
campaign offices, place signs in their yards, and/or hand out literature
at polling places.
During Session
- Devote space in each organizational
newsletter to legislative issues.
- Develop a system to evaluate
all incoming bills.
- Determine positions to be taken
on bills; the President, State Legislative Chair, Lobbyist, and/or other
members may influence these decisions.
- >Send letters and give testimony,
whenever appropriate.
- Coordinate mailing to District
Coordinators and chief members every month during the Session.
- Include: legislative information,
and "how-to's" for assigned and requested tasks.
Summer Time
- Hold networking meetings in
local areas throughout the state in order to involve more members in the
legislative process.