The ABCs of Advocacy

1. A Become an “expert” Know all you can in the area you wish to advocate for. Pick the brains of your partners who work at agencies. They can supply targeted reading and can help identify key talking points to assist your efforts. Be a clear communicator You may be the person that can translate professional jargon into plain terms that can help key decision-makers see the merit of what you are advocating for them to do. Community asset Key decision-makers need your input and support, and partner organizations need your voice. As an advocate, you can assist both ends of the spectrum at succeeding in their efforts by working with both entities to better understand the needs of your community. Credibility is key When advocating you must be credible and legitimate. Be sure to use facts you can support, and be willing to explain both sides of the issue, even if one is critical of your goal. People you are trying to influence will grow to trust and rely on you if you are credible, and often this will assist in future efforts too. The ABCs of Advocacy B Alignment if you are looking at an issue or cause, be sure there is alignment between the cause and your organization. If the mission and actions of the partner organizations are a “good fit”, then advocacy on their behalf will be a much easier task. All about relationships if you wish to influence policy/decision-makers, it is best to work on developing a relationship with them before you need them. What’s important to them that you can pitch in with? Consider working on their campaign for office if an elected official. That way when you want to seek their assistance you will be a known (and valued) person. C Presented by Kevin Lewis, CEO of Southwest Florida Addiction Services Inc. at Zonta District 11 Conference September 2011

2. ZI Resources and Excerpts http://www.zonta.org/MemberResources/Governance.aspx http://www.zonta.org/MemberResources/Tools/AdvocacyTools.aspx Advocacy Definition: Advocacy is the expression of support for or opposition to a cause, argument or proposal. Advocacy may include influencing laws, legislation or attitudes. ZI, its districts, and its clubs are urged to express themselves about and become involved in issues which: • improve the legal, political, economic, educational, health and professional status of women; • advance understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of executives in business and the professions; and • promote justice and universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Advocacy Policies: • ZI, districts & clubs, shall be non-partisan and nonsectarian. • ZI, districts & clubs are encouraged to support legislation, which advances the implementation of the Objects of Zonta and the mandates of ZI Resolutions, the Beijing Declaration from the UN 4th World Conference on Women and its updates; and the Millennium Development Goals and their updates. • ZI, districts & clubs will ascertain if there are other like-minded organizations or individuals researching issues regarding the legal, political, economic, educational, health and professional status of women, and co-operate with these when appropriate. • Whenever it is more effective to do so, ZI, districts & clubs will work in co-operation with other organizations to educate people (including ourselves) about the legal, political, economic, educational, health and professional issues which affect the lives of women and the actions we must initiate to effect a positive change. • When ZI, districts & clubs host or sponsor educative activities, every effort should be made for a well-balanced presentation of facts and viewpoints. • ZI, districts & clubs may register protests concerning violations of human rights with the ZI UN Committee. • Districts, Clubs & Members shall not otherwise express positions on issues involving a country other than their own except with prior approval of the ZI President • ZI, districts & clubs shall not advocate for or endorse a political candidate or party, or religious denomination. • ZI, districts & clubs may endorse qualified individuals for nonpartisan positions. • Clubs may express their opinion on issues only as club, districts only as districts. Convention may express opinions on issues on behalf of ZI. Between conventions, only the ZI Board may express opinions on issues on behalf of ZI. Subject to Item 6 members may express a position on issues involving a country other than their own providing they use the exact wording of the position in material adopted by the ZI Board or the International President... Individual members may express their personal views on issues which have not been given prior approval only as private citizens, but must not attribute them to Zonta