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The Importance of Advocacy:From Your Community to the State Capitol
2008 Citizen Board Member Conference North Carolina Recreation and Parks Association
Greensboro, North CarolinaAugust 7, 2008
Presenter
Barry Ford, Esq.Director of Outreach and Advocacy
United States Tennis Association
• Attorney• Political Candidate
• Public Official• Advocate and Lobbyist
Overview of Presentation
• Define Advocacy• Why Advocacy is important
– What your voice can mean– How you can make your voice heard
• The Focus of Advocacy• Examples of Public Sector Priorities• Why your Park and Recreation Agency Needs
you• Closing and Questions
What is Advocacy?
• Effort• To Convince• Decision-Maker• What you want (Program, Facility,
or Proposal)• Will help them get what they want
What does Citizen Advocacy mean in the Park & Recreation Context?
Passion for
Parks and
Active Public
Spaces
The Needs and
Objectives of Schools, Communities, Colleges, and Local
Public Officials
Sustained Public
Support&
Healthy, Livable
Communities
Park and Recreation Agencies Need Citizen Advocates
• Many government priorities
• Often Park and Recreation Agenda is not view as important as public safety, health, or education
• Park & Recreation agencies:– Embattled– Need Allies– Citizen advocates critical
What Can the Voice the Citizen Board Member Mean?
Support for Park & Recreation Agencies:
• Helps create a healthy community,
• Improves the safety of a community,
• Increases opportunities for youth
• Enhances quality of life for all.
How can you make your voice heard?• Interests and goals of the decision-maker.
• Not Parks and Recreation Activities alone.
• Connect Park and Recreation issues to other issues.
• The Park and Recreation Agenda addresses other problems in your community.
• How does getting you what you want, help the decision-maker?
Public Sector Focus
• This Agenda Primarily Targets Public Sector Decision-Maker+ Government Leaders (Executive and Legislative)
+ Local+ State+ Federal
+ School Administrators and Educators
• But not exclusively so.+ Influential Civic Leaders
Public Priorities that Park and Rec Agencies are Relevant to
• Health+ Obesity+ Chronic illnesses
• Community Development & Public Safety+ Engagement of Youth+ Safety of Seniors+ Security and Opportunity for Families
• Education & Youth Development+ After-School and Physical Education
• Economic Development
Why Your Park & Recreation Agency Needs You• Community support and involvement Key
to success
• Enhances ability to address expressed needs
• Help to make Professional Staff more effective
• Help to build important relationships with key decision-makers
Advocacy Circle
CollegesParks
SchoolsFacilities
•Community-Based
•Youth & Families
•Sustainability•Public Support
A well-run Park & Recreation Agency is an invaluable public resource.
• President• Executive
Agencies• Congress• Judicial
• Governor/Elected Cabinet• State Legislature
• Administrative Agencies • Judiciary Department
• Cities, Counties, Town, Townships, Villages, Special Districts
FEDERAL
STATE
LOCAL
Water Boards,Youth Bureaus,Citizen Advisory Group,School Boards
•Mayors, County Executives, Town Supervisors, City Managers/Town Manager
•City Councils, Town Council,Village Board,Park Boards,
THREE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
Conclusion
• As Citizen Board members you are:
–Critical supporters
– Important voices
–Connectors
–Advocates
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