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Community Organizers Take on Marriage Equality

Join the Manhattan Young Democrats as they strategize on advancing marriage equality in New York. This session, part of the 2009 YDA Convention, will cover the campaign "New Yorkers for Marriage Equality". We'll discuss how local chapters can engage, assess the current political landscape, and build coalitions with organizations like the ACLU and HRC. Participants will develop action plans focusing on communications, media outreach, and effective lobbying techniques to ensure the passage of marriage equality legislation. Together, we can take decisive steps toward achieving equality.

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Community Organizers Take on Marriage Equality

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  1. Community Organizers Take on Marriage Equality Manhattan Young Democrats Friday, August 7, 2009 2009 YDA Convention

  2. What are we going to talk about? • MYD’s campaign: • New Yorkers for Marriage Equality • How your chapter can help pass marriage equality in your state…

  3. First: What’s Up In Your Org? • What is the consensus of your membership re: Marriage Equality? (two ways to move fwd) • Entire Org Effort • Caucus or Sub Group Effort

  4. Research • History of Marriage Equality efforts in your state • Current Whip Count: • Governor • Legislators • Influential Orgs • Unions • Progressive Lobbying Orgs • Etc

  5. Coalition Building • Identify Potential Partners • LGBT Orgs • Local • State (see hrc.org directory) • National - HRC, Stonewall Dems, Lamda Legal, Log Cabin (!) - Regional/State rep or steering committee • ACLU (State Chapter – visit aclu.org for info) • Other YDA Chapters in state • Dem/College/Youth Orgs • Fundraisers, Ideologically Aligned Media

  6. Assess Strengths + Weakness (Of Your Coalition) STRENGTHS • Lobbying Power, Government Contacts • Field Expertise • New Media • Press Outreach/Contacts

  7. Assess Strengths + Weakness WEAKNESSES • Lobbying Power, Government Contacts • Financial/Influence Interests • Geographic Presence • Demographic Scope • Incompetence • Landmines

  8. Action Campaign • Specific Action Item • like a bill, an election, not just “Gay Rights” • Target? • Who? • What? Full Marriage, Civil Unions, Etc • We Did: State Senate • Method? • We Did: Constituency Activation

  9. Planning: Strategy & Communications • Branding/Marketing • Simple Focus • Messaging/Communications Outreach, Earned Media • Timing & Timeline • Measures of Success

  10. Planning: Build Your Team • Lean on your Coalition • Determine Responsibilities within Coalition • Obtain Time Commitments! • Intercommunication/Synchronicity

  11. MYD’s Team for NY Equality Al President Chas Creative & Tech Beth Communications Emmy New Media Julie Social Media Shannon Video Andrew Communications Gloria Social Media Taylor Pride Parade

  12. Planning: New Media • Site Design • Simplicity • Domain Name • Install Google Analtyics (It’s FREE!) • http://newyorkequality.com

  13. Planning: Demopolis • What kind of call to action will you use? NYers for Marriage Equality: Letters & Calls • How will you configure it?

  14. Planning: Communications • Write press releases for major events, including campaign launch (email comm@gomyd.com for samples) • How to spin your story to get it picked up • Send the press releases to MSM, blogs, etc. • Hit issue-related media & blogs (e.g. Change.org, Towelroad, HRC blogs) • Get creative: Perez Hilton helped out MYD

  15. Planning: Facebook • Set up a fan page (Why not a group?) • Branding same as site • How often should you status update? • What kind of content should you post? • Suggest to friends” to grow your network

  16. Planning: Twitter • Choose your hashtag. Less characters is better: #nyequality • Build a following for your account & hashtag • Use your chapter’s account • Hootsuite.com • More questions on how to use twitter? Email social@gomyd.com

  17. Planning: Other Social Media Tactics • Comment seeding • Reach out to other facebook fan pages, groups, communities • Communicate with other activists who focus on your issue using Twitter • Post to email lists • Use your network to get the word out – you’ll be surprised how much friends & former employers will help out (CNN, DailyKos, etc.)

  18. How to Use Your Connections to Elected Officials • Press Release/Conference • Media Favors/Contacts • Event Co-Participation • Marches/Rallies • Letter Delivery

  19. Planning is Done: It’s Launch Time • Hit all your messaging and contacts on the first day • What worked for MYD • Press release • Keep using your network of contacts to your advantage, “after the splash” • Use analytics, tracking and feedback to see how you are doing

  20. Keeping it going and ROI • Blog/Newsletter Support • React to News • News stories posted to Facebook • Releases for major events • Continue to grow your Facebook page • Use your twitter hashtag. • Show up at (& promote) events related to your issue.

  21. What’s Next for #nyequality? • “Take the Pledge” (in production now) • An additional round of action if bill comes to a vote in September • If not this year, we’ll be back at it for the 2010 legislative session.

  22. How can your chapter help? • In New York State? • Join our alliance • Direct your members to http://newyorkequality.com • Not in New York? Start your own campaign! Reach out to other local YDA chapters, HRC, your state’s ACLU chapter, Courage Campaign and others for partnerships.

  23. Thanks! Questions? • Al: president@gomyd.com • Chas: creative@gomyd.com • Emmy: newmedia@gomyd.com • Julie: social@gomyd.com Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/gomyd Become a fan: http://facebook.com/gomyd

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