Legislative OutreachGain support for DECA and

Career and Technical Education

WHY OUTREACH TO LEGISLATORS?• LEGISLATORS CAN SERVE AS PROFESSIONAL

MEMBERS FOR YOUR CHAPTER

• LEGISLATORS CAN HELP PASS BILLS IN SUPPORT OF

CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

• LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT CAN INCREASE AWARENESS

ABOUT DECA IN YOUR COMMUNITY

• LEGISLATORS CAN PROVIDE NETWORKING

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHANCES TO SPEAK TO

PROFESSIONALS ABOUT DECA

• LEGISLATORS CAN SUPPORT YOUR CHAPTER AND

GIVE YOU MORE CREDIBILITY IN YOUR COMMUNITY

4 GREAT IDEAS FOR LEGISLATIVE OUTREACH• SEND AN EMAIL TO YOUR LEGISLATOR’S

RECEPTIONIST OR LEGISLATIVE AIDE OR SCHEDULER

• CALL THE LEGISLATOR’S DISTRICT OFFICE TO SET UP A MEETING

• ATTEND A COMMUNITY EVENT THAT SUPPORTS EDUCATION OR BUSINESS WHERE LEGISLATORS MIGHT BE IN ATTENDANCE

• PRESENT AT A CITY COUNCIL OR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEETING

IDEA #1: SENDING A LEGISLATIVE EMAIL

STEP #1: CHECK YOUR LEGISLATOR’S WEBSITE FOR THE EMAIL

OF EITHER THE LEGISLATIVE AIDE OR SCHEDULER OR

RECEPTIONIST

STEP #2: MAKE SURE YOUR EMAIL HIGHLIGHTS DECA,

CALIFORNIA DECA AND KEY CHAPTER FACTS

STEP #3: DETAIL THE NEXT STEP YOU OR YOUR LEGISLATOR

NEEDS TO TAKE AT THE END OF THE EMAIL, E.G. IF YOU NEED TO

SCHEDULE A MEETING

STEP #4: HAVE SOME OF YOUR CHAPTER OFFICERS AND

ADVISOR READ IT TO MAKE SURE IT REFLECTS THE AMBITIONS

OF YOUR CHAPTER

STEP #5: ALWAYS FOLLOW UP WITH A PHONE CALL OR

ADDITIONAL EMAIL

A SAMPLE LEGISLATIVE EMAIL IS LOCATED IN RESOURCES AT WWW.CALIFORNIADECA.ORG

IDEA #2: PHONE CALL TO SET UP A MEETING

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STEP #1: LOCATE THE PHONE NUMBER; THE PHONE NUMBER FOR THE MAIN OFFICE IS LOCATED ON THE LEGISLATOR’S WEBSITE STEP #2: MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SAYING/ASKING BEFORE YOU MAKE THE CALL

STEP #3: BE PROFESSIONAL AND TAKE NOTES DURING THE CALL

STEP #4: TRY TO SCHEDULE A VISIT WITH YOUR LEGISLATOR, USUALLY THEY ASK YOU TO FOLLOW UP WITH AN EMAIL (REFER TO THE PREVIOUS SLIDE)

IDEA #3: ATTENDING A COMMUNITY EVENTSTEP #1: RESEARCH COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT SUPPORT EDUCATION OR BUSINESS, LEGISLATORS ARE USUALLY PRESENT AT THESE TYPES OF EVENTS

STEP #2: PRACTICE AND DEVELOP AN ELEVATOR PITCH THAT YOU WILL USE WHEN SPEAKING TO THE PROFESSIONALS AND LEGISLATORS YOU MEET ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND DECA

STEP #3: ATTEND THE EVENT WITH SOME CHAPTER OFFICERS OR MEMBERS

STEP #4: BE PROFESSIONAL AND READY TO NETWORK AT THE EVENT

STEP #5: STRIKE UP A CONVERSATION WITH ANY LEGISLATORS OR CITY OFFICIALS AND GET THEIR BUSINESS CARD FOR FUTURE CONTACT

STEP #6: FOLLOW UP THE LEGISLATOR OR CITY OFFICIAL BY EMAIL OR PHONE CALL! INFORM THEM OF OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT DECA AND ARRANGE A DISTRICT MEETING

IDEA #3 (CONT.)

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IDEA #4: PRESENT AT A CITY COUNCIL OR COMMUNITY MEETINGSTEP #1: CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CITY COUNCIL TO SEE WHEN THEY HAVE MEETINGS AND WHETHER THEY HAVE TIME FOR A PRESENTATION

STEP #2: CREATE A SHORT 5-7 MINUTE PRESENTATION (POWERPOINT IS OPTIONAL) ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF DECA AND HOW CITY COUNCIL AND OTHER LEGISLATORS CAN HELP SUPPORT

STEP #3: PRACTICE THE PRESENTATION SEVERAL TIMES IN FRONT OF YOUR ADVISOR

IDEA #4 (CONT.)

STEP #4: ATTEND THE EVENT IN DECA PROFESSIONAL ALONGSIDE OTHER CHAPTER MEMBERS

STEP #5: AFTER DELIVERING YOUR PRESENTATION, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE HANDOUTS ON THE CONGRESSIONAL ADVISORY BOARD AND PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP TO GIVE OUT

STEP #6: FOLLOW UP WITH CITY COUNCIL AND ANYONE INTERESTED THROUGH PHONE CALL OR EMAIL

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU MEET WITH A LEG ISL ATOR

STEP #1: AFTER SCHEDULING A MEETING, START DEVELOPING AN OUTLINE OF WHAT YOU WILL BE SPEAKING ABOUT

STEP #2: RESEARCH YOUR LEGISLATOR SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE A PERSONAL CONNECTION DURING YOUR MEETING

STEP #3: PRACTICE IN FRONT OF YOUR ADVISOR AND DIVIDE PARTS AMONGST THOSE ATTENDING THE MEETING

STEP #4: BRING THE DECA FACT SHEET, CALIFORNIA DECA FACT SHEET, CONGRESSIONAL ADVISORY BOARD FORM AND ANY WRITTEN FORM WITH YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO LEAVE WITH THE LEGISLATOR

STEP #5: ALWAYS CONFIRM WHOM YOU ARE MEETING WITH AND ARRIVE FIVE MINUTES EARLY

STEP #6: BE COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT DURING THE MEETING, YOUR CONVERSATION DOES NOT HAVE TO FOLLOW YOUR OUTLINE EXACTLY

STEP #8: EMPHASIZE THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT TAKE-AWAYS: THE IMPORTANCE OF FUNDING TO CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, JOINING DECA’S CONGRESSIONAL ADVISORY BOARD AND FUTURE INVITATIONS TO CHAPTER AND REGIONAL EVENTS

STEP #9: FOLLOW UP WITH THE LEGISLATOR AND STAFF AND REMEMBER TO INVITE THEM TO FUTURE EVENTS AND KEEP THEM UPDATED ON CHAPTER ACCOMPLISHMENTS

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU MEET WITH A LEG ISL ATOR (CONT. )

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• REMEMBER TO ALWAYS BE CONFIDENT WHEN SPEAKING TO LEGISLATORS AND CITY

OFFICIALS

• YOU CAN FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AT

HTTP://FINDYOURREP.LEGISLATURE.CA.GOV

• DON’T HESITATE TO INVITE YOUR LEGISLATOR TO CHAPTER AND DISTRICT EVENTS

• ALWAYS REMEMBER TO BE IN DECA PROFESSIONAL WHEN SPEAKING TO OR

MEETING WITH A LEGISLATOR OR A MEMBER OF THEIR STAFF

• PUBLICIZE YOUR SUCCESSES BY CREATING A PRESS RELEASE! STEPS ON HOW TO

DO SO CAN BE FOUND IN THE PRESS RELEASE SECTION OF OUR CHAPTER

RESOURCE CENTER!

• INFORM THE REST OF CALIFORNIA DECA ABOUT YOUR SUCCESS BY PUBLICIZING

YOUR EFFORTS ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM. TAG US

@CALIFORNIADECA OR #CADECA

• CHECK OUT MORE HELPFUL RESOURCES AND TEMPLATES IN RESOURCES AT

WWW.CALIFORNIADECA.ORG

A FEW TIPS