U.S. Poverty Weekly Update November 13, 2018
U.S. Poverty Campaigns
Weekly Update | November 13, 2018
“The job of being a good citizen is not over once a vote is cast. So let’s get to work.”
– November 10 article in the Albuquerque Journal featuring RESULTS Albuquerque volunteer Sandy Duckert
Got Two Minutes (and then 58 more)? Join the National Webinar Tonight at 8pm ET
Join us for the RESULTS November 2018 U.S. Poverty National Webinar tonight, November 13 at 8:00 pm ET. We, of course, will debrief about today’s election results and what it means for our U.S. Poverty Campaigns. We’ll also talk about harnessing the amazing energy and intensity around the election to move people into action on our issues. This will be an important webinar to attend. Please join us.
TAKE ACTION: Take two minutes to join the RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar tonight at 8:00 pm ET. To join, login at: https://results.zoom.us/j/873308801 or dial either (929) 436-2866 or (669) 900-6833 and then enter Meeting ID: 873 308 801. Then stick around and listen to the rest of the webinar. If you’ve invited others to listen with you or on their own, remind them of the time and login information. The slides for the webinar will be available this afternoon on our National Webinars page. If you have questions or need help, please contact Jos Linn.
Got Ten Minutes? Engage New People with our New Video (Post-Election Action)
For the rest of 2018, RESULTS is focused on maximizing the excitement and energy around the election to get more people involved in the movement to end poverty. Fortunately, this is the ideal time to be engaging new people. We’ve just come off an historic election. More people were engaged in this midterm contest than any other in decades. Millions of people paid attention for the first time, volunteered for the first time, and voted for the first time. And many of them are hungry for more. Fortunately, you are poised to provide the civic sustenance they are looking for.
We have an exciting new resource to help you. Our new ”You Voted. What’s Next?” video says it all – why people should get involved and how to do so. Why not use it to start a conversation with someone you know about joining RESULTS? Someone you met during campaign activities, someone on Facebook who has been talking about the election, perhaps someone you’ve reached out to before. In addition, our Post-Election Action walks you through the steps for finding people, reaching out to them, and following up. People want the chance to make a difference – show them how!
TAKE ACTION: Take ten minutes to forward our ”You Voted. What’s Next?” video to people you know as an introduction to RESULTS. Then use the Post-Election Action to talk to them about your RESULTS work and invite them to get involved. If you have questions, please contact Jos Linn. We’ll discuss new volunteer engagement on tonight’s National Webinar (see above).
Got Twenty Minutes? Engage New People with Meetings with Newly-Elected Lawmakers (Post-Election Action)
Showing people our new ”You Voted. What’s Next?” video is a quick easy way to introduce people to RESULTS. But the video is only a start. People need to see that if they join RESULTS, they will make an impact. Nothing does that better than meeting with lawmakers.
Congress is going to look at lot different in 2019, with nearly 100 new members coming to Washington. Plus, re-elected members now must adjust to the new dynamic of a Democratic House majority for the first time in eight years. New members will need to be educated on how best to end poverty and veterans will need new resources to continue the fight. You can provide that by meeting with them (of their staff) in November and December.
But even more, these meetings are a fantastic introduction to the power of advocacy for new people. Most Americans have never met a member of Congress or sat down with a congressional staffer to talk about issues important to them. Most don’t even know how. But you do. And inviting new people to have that experience is the quickest way to get people hooked on advocacy.
TAKE ACTION: Take twenty minutes to work on setting up a meeting with members of Congress who just got elected (or re-elected). If you don’t have an “in” with the campaign, do you know someone who does? Would they help you set up a meeting? You can also call the campaign office and ask for a meeting. If you need help, please contact Jos Linn for assistance. When you get a meeting with your member of Congress set up, please contact Meredith Dodson to get coaching on which issues to discuss.
Once you get a meeting, invite potential new volunteers to go with you. Tell them you’d love them to be part of the meeting, even if they only want to observe. Be sure to set up a planning meeting with your group and ask new people to attend. Make them feel comfortable and let them participate in the lobby meeting as much or as little as they want. For tips and resources to help with engaging new people, read out Post-Election Action.
Quick News
Not Too Late to Join the 2018 VTF! The 2018 Virtual Thanksgiving Feast fundraising campaign is rolling along. Help us raise the money that helps us continue to push for the end to poverty here in the U.S. and around the world. We have lots of resources to make it easy for you, including a new video on how to set up you VTF fundraising page. For additional questions, contact Mea Geizhals.
New Bill Summaries Online. We’ve updated our “bill tracker” page with summaries of current bills on Congress addressing health care, nutrition, and tax policy. Check them out to learn what legislation we support… And be sure to come back – we’ll be adding more in the coming days.
RESULTS on the Road. Grassroots Manager for U.S. Poverty Campaigns Jos Linn traveled to the Greenville-Spartanburg, SC area in October to speak about RESULTS to two groups of students at Wofford College and a UU Church group. He and local volunteers are working to expand our presence there. If you know someone in that area who might be interested in getting involved, please contact Jos.
Keep Pushing for Public Charge Comments. Go to www.protectingimmigrantfamilies.org to submit your personal comment opposing the Trump Administration’s new rule to punish immigrant families for using anti-poverty programs. Urge others you know to comment as well.
Use Broadcast Media to Promote Your Local Advocacy Work. Want to get the word out about RESULTS in your area? Check out this webinar walking step-by-step through the process to get your group featured in the local news. Download this template email pitch you can edit and send to producers and reporters. When get an interview scheduled, contact us for coaching.
Sign Your Group Up onto New SAVE for All Principles. Help build support for the new SAVE for All principles for the next Congress by signing your local RESULTS group (e.g. “RESULTS Santa Fe”) onto them by December 12.
Give Us Suggestions for the 2019 RESULTS International Conference! The 2019 RESULTS International Conference is set (July 13-16, 2019). Help us make it the best conference yet by completing our suggestion form with your ideas for speakers and sessions.
Upcoming Events
Go to the RESULTS Events Calendar to see a full list of RESULTS events. Also, find a list of the RESULTS U.S. Poverty staff with contact information on the RESULTS website.
U.S. Poverty Team members planned time off: Meredith Dodson, Monday, November 26. Jos Linn: Wednesday, November 21.
RESULTS Virtual Thanksgiving Feast Fundraising Campaign, November 2018. Contact Mea Geizhals, Grassroots Fundraising Manager, with any questions and look for more information soon.
RESULTS U.S. Poverty National Webinar, Tuesday, November 13 at 8:00 pm ET. Join at: https://results.zoom.us/j/873308801 or dial (929) 436-2866 or (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 873 308 801.
RESULTS New Advocate Orientation, Wednesday, November 14 at 8:30 pm ET. Get started here.
U.S. Poverty Free Agents Calls, Tuesday, November 20 at 1:00 pm and 8:00 pm ET. Join at: https://results.zoom.us/j/324294681 or dial by phone at (929) 436-2866 or (669) 900-6833, Meeting ID: 324 294 681.
Thanksgiving Holiday Break, Thursday, November 22-Friday, November 23. All RESULTS offices closed.
RESULTS Action Network Community of Practice webinar, Wednesday, December 5 at 8:00pm ET. To join, log in: https://results.zoom.us/j/427674133 or dial in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 427 674 133.
RESULTS International Conference, July 13-16, 2019. Learn more at www.resultsconference.org.
Other Resources
Learn more about the RESULTS Experts on Poverty at: https://results.org/issues/experts_on_poverty.
If you need materials (banners, pens, stickers, or business cards) for your local RESULTS work, fill out our Materials Order Form and we’ll send them to you.
If you have a question, comment, or suggestion for the RESULTS/REF Board, please e-mail Steven McGee at [email protected]. View Board minutes and Annual Reports on our website.
Please fill out the RESULTS Lobby Report Form after any lobby meeting to let us know what happened. In meetings that cover both U.S. and global poverty issues, please fill it out twice.