VFW Legislative and Political ActivismVFW Legislative and Political ActivismNEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2013NEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2013

Our Guiding Principles:Our Guiding Principles:

• All Politics is LocalAll Politics is Local

• Your Influence Counts Your Influence Counts – Use It– Use It

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERSLEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERSJOB RESPONSIBILITIES:JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work with National Legislative Service/Action Corps on Work with National Legislative Service/Action Corps on legislative campaigns and alertslegislative campaigns and alerts

• Establish and maintain working relationships with congressional Establish and maintain working relationships with congressional members/staff in their district offices and in Washingtonmembers/staff in their district offices and in Washington

• Inform and update VFW/Auxiliary members regarding key Inform and update VFW/Auxiliary members regarding key legislative issues, and educate the general public on VFW’s legislative issues, and educate the general public on VFW’s legislative agendalegislative agenda

• Submit Monthly Reports to NLS regarding your activitiesSubmit Monthly Reports to NLS regarding your activities

• Submit periodic “Field Reports” to NLS for consideration on the Submit periodic “Field Reports” to NLS for consideration on the VFW Capitol Hill blogVFW Capitol Hill blog

Action Corps/ Washington Weekly/ Action Corps/ Washington Weekly/ Action AlertsAction Alerts

• Action CorpsAction Corps• VFW platform for grassroots advocacyVFW platform for grassroots advocacy• Sign up for and promote Action CorpsSign up for and promote Action Corps

• Washington WeeklyWashington Weekly• Communicates NLS weekly activitiesCommunicates NLS weekly activities

• Action AlertsAction Alerts• It allows NLS to communicate to the Troops on It allows NLS to communicate to the Troops on

specific bills specific bills • Our strength in numbers on issuesOur strength in numbers on issues

Get to know your Elected Officials and Get to know your Elected Officials and their Stafftheir Staff

• Members of CongressMembers of Congress– You are the local face of the VFWYou are the local face of the VFW

• Be known, attend town hall meetings, get other VFW Be known, attend town hall meetings, get other VFW members and veterans involved in the processmembers and veterans involved in the process

• Congressional Staff Congressional Staff – They are the brains of the operationThey are the brains of the operation

• Earn their trust and respect and you are inEarn their trust and respect and you are in• In D.C. and the DistrictIn D.C. and the District– Both are keyBoth are key

• District = advisory committees, round tables, town hallsDistrict = advisory committees, round tables, town halls• DC = policy DC = policy

Inform and UpdateInform and Update• You are the conduit between NLS and You are the conduit between NLS and

membershipmembership– This is more than forwarding the Weekly This is more than forwarding the Weekly • Be an advocate, get members and non-members to Be an advocate, get members and non-members to

sign up for Action Corpssign up for Action Corps

• Non-members and General PublicNon-members and General Public– Explain our agenda and why its important to our Explain our agenda and why its important to our

veterans and the Nation veterans and the Nation – They can join Action CorpsThey can join Action Corps

Build a network of advocates Build a network of advocates • You cannot do it all by yourselfYou cannot do it all by yourself– Find others who are interested but don’t know Find others who are interested but don’t know

what to dowhat to do• As you advocate, ask them to work with youAs you advocate, ask them to work with you

– Try to find a member who can assist with “getting Try to find a member who can assist with “getting to know” Members and staff.to know” Members and staff.

– Join or know who is on advisory committeesJoin or know who is on advisory committees– Build a network of subject matter expertsBuild a network of subject matter experts• Health Care, Employment, DVOP/LVER, Vet Centers, Health Care, Employment, DVOP/LVER, Vet Centers,

SVA SVA

MONTHLY REPORTSYour monthly legislative reports help demonstrate the power of the VFW to influence veterans’ policy.

• You will receive a reminder• Ann Markel will send a blank

copy of the form every month• If you need one contact:

amarkel@vfw.org• Fill out an email to Ann

following the format on the form.

• Send email reports EVERY MONTH

“FIELD REPORTS” for the BlogNLS maintains a blog, www.thevfw.blogspot.com, which reaches more than 10,000 readers every month, highlighting VFW advocacy work. We want to share your stories!

• When you host or attend an event, take pictures and take notes (who, what, when, where, why).

• After the event, fill out our online form here: http://www.vfw.org/Forms/Capitol-Hill-Blog-Submissions/

• Don’t worry about space. You can write as much as you need to in each field.

• When you click “Submit,” your info will go to NLS.

• To send pictures, attach digital photos to an email and send it to vfwac@vfw.org. (You can also send your stories and notes here, if you think it’s easier)

• Don’t worry about writing style. We’ll take care of formatting for the blog.

VFW Members…VFW Members…• Must play a Key Role on Must play a Key Role on

State and Federal Policy State and Federal Policy for Veterans and the for Veterans and the Military Military

• Be Visible and Ask the Be Visible and Ask the Informed QuestionsInformed Questions

• We must Be Involved in We must Be Involved in the Political Processthe Political Process

We We CANCAN Make a Difference Make a Difference• Congress and staff are Congress and staff are

looking for informed looking for informed constituents constituents

• We are protecting 22 We are protecting 22 million Veterans and million Veterans and their families their families NationwideNationwide

• Representing the 2 Representing the 2 million VFW Members, million VFW Members, and our Auxiliariesand our Auxiliaries

Talking PointsTalking Points• Use the Trifold for general issuesUse the Trifold for general issues– Lets them know what issues are important and where Lets them know what issues are important and where

we standwe stand• Talking Points Booklet for more specific issuesTalking Points Booklet for more specific issues– There are five, choose the ones that you are the most There are five, choose the ones that you are the most

passionate aboutpassionate about– Let multiple people speak. Different perspectives are Let multiple people speak. Different perspectives are

goodgood• Women/ OIF/ OEFWomen/ OIF/ OEF

• Stay away from political powder kegsStay away from political powder kegs– Gun Control, Gay rights, women in combat arms Gun Control, Gay rights, women in combat arms

• Forward those to NLSForward those to NLS

Action PlanAction PlanNational Legislative ServiceNational Legislative Service

• Continue to educate VFW & Auxiliary Members, Continue to educate VFW & Auxiliary Members, Supporters, and the Public on Military and Veterans Supporters, and the Public on Military and Veterans IssuesIssues

• Help you to build Coalitions of Supporters in Your Help you to build Coalitions of Supporters in Your State and CommunitiesState and Communities

• VFW grassroots VFW grassroots • Other VSOsOther VSOs• Community LeadersCommunity Leaders

• You Must open VFW Posts for Town Hall Meetings You Must open VFW Posts for Town Hall Meetings • Know your members’ staff both in their district Know your members’ staff both in their district

offices and in Washingtonoffices and in Washington

Stay VisibleStay Visible

• We will follow the 2013 Legislative Conference on the VFW We will follow the 2013 Legislative Conference on the VFW Hill blog and social media. We want to share your stories!Hill blog and social media. We want to share your stories!

• As you conduct your visits, ask for photos with your As you conduct your visits, ask for photos with your representatives and compile a quick After Action Report. representatives and compile a quick After Action Report.

• Submit your digital photos and your AAR to Submit your digital photos and your AAR to vfwac@vfw.org vfwac@vfw.org or through the online form. or through the online form. We take care of the rest!We take care of the rest!

• Additional opportunities: Additional opportunities: • If you would like to speak with military media about your visits, If you would like to speak with military media about your visits,

speak with VFW Washington Office staff. speak with VFW Washington Office staff. • Keep up the work when you get home! Keep up the work when you get home! We are always We are always

looking to highlight your work on the blog. Just follow the looking to highlight your work on the blog. Just follow the same steps for your local events. same steps for your local events.

• Twitter Users: Twitter Users: Live Tweet with the hashtag Live Tweet with the hashtag #VFWHill2013#VFWHill2013

www.thevfw.blogspot.com

GoalsGoals

Inform Congress of our priorities and Inform Congress of our priorities and advocate to have them enacted into lawadvocate to have them enacted into law

Build a strong and active grassroots Build a strong and active grassroots program within our membershipprogram within our membership

Broaden VFW exposure in the CommunityBroaden VFW exposure in the Community

Ultimate GoalUltimate Goal• Veterans and the Veterans and the

Military Must be Military Must be a Priority in the a Priority in the 113113thth Congress Congress

Remember…Remember…• All Politics is LocalAll Politics is Local• Your Influence Counts—Use It!Your Influence Counts—Use It!

Thank You For Your Continued SupportThank You For Your Continued Support