Tactics
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - -
We have developed a menu of activities for each state:
Action alerts: We send messages specifically to the
folks who live in each state to give specifics on what is needed.
For example, sometimes we will ask you to contact your legislator.
Other times we might ask you to attend a demonstration, write a letter-to-the-editor,
etc.
Phone calls: Sometimes it is worthwhile for our staff
to get on the phone and call the people on our list to find the leaders
who can take charge in their congregation and drum up grassroots support
by starting a Drug Policy Rapid Response Team, getting action alerts
printed in the order of service, organizing a church forum or guest
sermon on the topic, or staffing a table at the service where people
can send letters.
Outreach mailings to clergy: Having a list of religious
leaders who support our legislative agenda can be very useful in convincing
legislators. We will be sending a mailer to religious leaders from
supportive denominations asking them to add their names to a sign-on
statement. Some of the clergy who send the sign-on letter back will
speak at news conferences, testify at legislative committee hearings,
preach on the topic, get religious groups they are involved with signed
on, and write letters-to-the-editor.
Engaging denominational leaders: For the supportive
denominations, we will urge their regional and/or state-level leaders
to give witness to their denominations’ positions by testifying,
sending in written testimony, activating the congregations they serve,
etc.
Religion-specific lobbying of state legislators:
Often times there is a legislator who needs to be influenced who happens
to be a member of a supportive denomination. In such cases, we will
send letters and make phone calls to share their denominations’
perspective with them. (This usually works best with the help of a
local religious leader.)
Interfaith
Drug Policy
Initiative, P.O. Box 6299, Washington,
D.C. 20015
Phone: 301-933-7681 Fax:301-933-7682 |
|
