Committee: Advocacy

Quick Link: lwvwilliamsburg.org/AdvocacyCommittee

Advocacy Mission

Based on local, state, and National League positions,

• Undertake targeted advocacy campaigns including responding to local, state, or LWVUS Action Alerts

Advocacy Actions

• Emails and calls. Ask League members and the public to contact elected officials through letter/email/phone calls or through a media outlet, etc. on issues the League represents or advocates for
  
• Stay informed. Help League members and the public keep up with League issues and priorities
  
• Advocacy visits with Members of US Congress. State and local League presidents are encouraged to make appointments to introduce themselves to members of Congress in order to establish a dialogue on issues of importance. See LWVUS on  Congressional Interview Guide and Materials
• Advocacy visits with Virginia Legislators: Committee should log any visits with legislators with your Local League president and LWV-VA president. Leagues are encouraged to make appointments to meet with their legislators to discuss League priority issue.
• Women's Legislative Roundtables (WLRT)
  • During the Virginia General Assembly session (January-February-March), the League of Women Voters of Virginia provides a nonpartisan forum open to the public each Wednesday morning to discuss and share information on issues and legislation. The League invites Legislators to discuss bills they are sponsoring and answer questions. Leaders of nonprofit groups share their priority issues. League lobbyists and Issue Group Leaders give updates on our priority issues.
    

Advocacy Tools, Resources, and Training

• Virginia
  • Advocacy Training for VA Legislature Visits (LWV-VA 2021)
  • VA Legislative Information System (LWV-VA 2021)
    
  • Citizen Guide to Making Your Voice Heard in General Assembly (VPAP)
  • Citizen Involvment in Legislative Process (VA GA)
  • The State League's Take Action page??: action alerts, find your elected officials, email your elected officials, write a letter to the editor etc.
• National and State
  
  • The National League's Take Action: action alerts, find your elected officials, email your elected officials, write a letter to the editor etc.
  • OutreachCircle
  • Talking Points. LWVUS puts out "Talking Points" on important issues. For example; Talking Points on Voting Rights, Twitter, ERA, and more.
  • Guide to LWVUS Services... - includes information about Advocacy
    
  • Membership and Leadership Development Handbook (LWVUS)
  • DEI Trainings (LWVUS)
    
  • Wellstone training series: Grassroots Advocacy, Coalition Building, Executing An Effective Issue Campaign, Building An Inclusive Volunteer Program, Integrated Voter Engagement, Base-building and Elections

When Can We Act

1. Leagues only act on an issue when we have a local, state, or national position or are acting under League principles.
2. Leagues never lobby in opposition to a League position.
3. Leagues may use any local, state, or national position to lobby at the local governmental level only without asking for authorization from state or national
4. Leagues need permission from LWV Virginia before taking action at the state level and from LWVUS before taking action at the national level
   

Observer Team

• Observer Corps Reports
• Observer Guidelines from LWVUS