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ADVOCACYLET’S GET PRACTICAL
JON ALLISON
CARPENTER LIPPS & LELAND, LLP
WWW.CARPENTERLIPPS.COM
JON ALLISON
PARTNER, CARPENTER LIPPS & LELAND – PUBLIC POLICY & AFFAIRS PRACTICE
MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF CAPITOL SQUARE EXPERIENCE
LOBBY AND BEEN LOBBIED
CHIEF OF STAFF AND LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR FOR GOV. TAFT
REPRESENT BUSINESSES, NON-PROFITS & COALITIONS
DECENT HUSBAND AND FATHER OF TWO INCORRIGIBLE TEENAGERS
ADVOCACY: LET’S GET PRACTICAL
THE CHALLENGE WE FACE
ADVOCACY 101
WHERE DO NON-PROFITS FIT?
PREPARING FOR THE INEVITABLE
THE CHALLENGE WE FACE
THE CHALLENGE WE FACE
MEDICAL MARIJUANA LEGAL IN 20 STATES PLUS DC
COLORADO AND WASHINGTON HAVE LEGALIZED RECREATIONAL USE
IN 2014, VOTERS IN CA, AZ, OR AND AK WILL BE ASKED TO APPROVE RECREATIONAL USE
US JUSTICE DEPT IS TAKING A PASS
FORCES ARE GATHERING FOR AN OHIO 2014 BALLOT ISSUE
THE CHALLENGE WE FACE
NO CERTAINTY THAT PRO-POT FOLKS WILL MAKE THE OHIO BALLLOT IN 2014
HOW DO WE ANTICIPATE WHAT THEY MAY DO AND PREPARE FOR A CAMPAIGN?
CAN WE DO WITHOUT “CRYING WOLF?”
WOULD BE A HUGE MISTAKE TO BE CAUGHT FLAT FOOTED WHEN THE INEVITABLE CAMPAIGN COMES TO OHIO
ADOVCACY 101
THINK ABOUT ADVOCACY AS A FOUR-LEGGED STOOL
ADVOCACY 101
FIRST LEG: DIRECT LOBBYING
SECOND LEG: GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY-EDUCATION
THIRD LEG: CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
FOURTH LEG: MEDIA – PUBLIC RELATIONS
LOBBYING VS. ADVOCACY
LOBBYING: TAKING SPECIFIC ACTION ON A SPECIFIC PIECE OF LEGISLATION
ADVOCACY: SHARING INFORMATION GENERALLY ABOUT AN ISSUE – EDUCATION – DISCUSSING POLICY OPTIONS AND CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH POLICY DECISIONS
CONSIDERATIONS FOR NON-PROFITS
LOBBYING: ALLOWED WITH LIMITS – IRS APPLIES “NO SUBSTANTIAL PART” TEST – TOO MANY DETAILS FOR THIS PRESENTATION – CONSULT YOUR COUNSEL – NOTE THAT IF YOUR NON-PROFIT WANTS TO LOBBY AND IMPACT LEGISLATION YOU MUST MAKE AN ELECTION AND FILE A FORM WITH THE IRS [501(H) ELECTION]
ADVOCACY: GENERAL ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION ON PUBLIC POLICY MATTERS IS PERMISSIBLE AND WILL NOT JEOPARDIZE NON-PROFIT STATUS – WHEN YOU GET SPECIFIC ABOUT LEGISLATION YOU ARE HEADING TOWARD LOBBYING AND AWAY FROM ADVOCACY--CAUTION
LET’S GET PRACTICAL ABOUT OH
WHILE THERE IS LEGISLATION TO AUTHORIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA, IT WON’T BE GOING ANYWHERE FAST
THE REAL THREAT IS A BALLOT ISSUE
FOR EITHER SCENARIO, EDUCATING POLICY MAKERS GENERALLY ABOUT THIS ISSUE IS SAFE AND THE RIGHT THING TO DO
SO WHAT IF OHIO HAS A MARIJUANA BALLOT ISSUE?
NON-PROFITS MAY NOT ENGAGE IN PARTISAN ELECTIONS
NON-PROFITS MAY ENGAGE THE PUBLIC ON BALLOT ISSUES
YOU MAY EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE ISSUE
YOU MAY SAY VOTE YES OR VOTE NO
PREPARING FOR THE INEVITABLE
OHIO VOTERS WILL BE ASKED TO SUPPORT A MEDICIAL MARIJUANA BALLOT ISSUE—AS SOON AS THE BILLIONAIRES DECIDE IT’S THE RIGHT TIME
ONE OF OUR GREATEST THREATS IS NOT BEING PREPARED AND FAILING TO PREPARE A FOUNDATION TO DEFEAT THE ISSUE
PREPARING FOR THE INEVITABLE
5 THINGS YOU CAN DO TODAY
1. GET YOUR ARGUMENTS IN ORDER – RESEARCH, DATA, TALKING POINTS,WHITE PAPERS, ETC.
2. GATHER YOUR ALLIES – CULTIVATE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARTNERS WHO WILL BE IMPACTED AND KEEP THEM EDUCATED AND INFORMED – PREVENTION & TREATMENT COMMUNITIES, BUSINESSES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, FRIENDLY ELECTED OFFICIALS, ETC.
3. DON’T ASSUME THE TRADITIONAL MEDIA GETS IT – FEED THEM FACTS AND HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OTHER STATES
PREPARING FOR THE INEVITABLE
5 THINGS YOU CAN DO TODAY
4. TURN ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA – GROW YOUR NETWORK OF SUPPORTERS AND FEED THEM FACTS REGULALRY
5. BE DISCIPLINED AND EMPOWER SOMEONE TO BE IN CHARGE – HOPE IS NOT A PLAN – FORM YOUR STEERING COMMITTEE TO KEEP FOCUS AND PROVIDE THE ENERGY
