Title: Navy League of the United States Energizing Legislative Affairs Participation at the Council Level
1Navy League of the United StatesEnergizing
Legislative Affairs Participation at the Council
Level
- Don Giles
- Co-Chairman, Legislative Affairs Committee
- 770-509-3772 dongiles_at_mindspring.com
2Topics
- Need for an Energized Grassroots Legislative
Affairs Effort - Advantages and Risks for Councils
- Current Organization
- Council VP Legislative Affairs Duties and
Responsibilities - Requirements for Council VPLA
- Council Best Practices for Success
- Need for more Council-level Volunteers
- Use of Region A-Team and Alternate Procedures
- Metrics for Success
- What this Means to our Maritime Services
3We Need an Energized Grassroots Effort
- NLUS Purpose Educate Citizens, including Members
of Congress - Fewer Members of Congress have served in the
military (84 of 435 in House 19 of 100 in
Senate) - Expand involvement of local councils with
Legislative Affairs and local MOCs - Demonstrate Constituent Interest at grassroots
- Council members concern is perceived as an
independent view, not the output of a lobbying
effort in Washington - Major challenges facing our Sea Services today
4Major Sea Services challenges that can be
addressed locally include
- The size and makeup of our naval forces --are
we configured to win the current war and continue
to plan for future potential conflicts? - Expansion of the duties of the Coast Guard after
9/11 and the need for adequate resources. - The continuing decline in the US-flagged merchant
fleet. - Encroachment on existing military installations
and its negative effect on training and
readiness. - The impact of severe defense department budget
cuts on our Sea Services. - Budget Control Act, Sequestration, Continuing
Resolutions - Environmental Restrictions impacting training and
operations
5Advantages and Risks for Councils
- Enables the council member to get to know the
representatives local staff, but - Risks
- Need for high quality presentation materials
- Delivered by council members in a confident,
professional manner - Presenters
- Able to answer questions
- Stay within prescribed boundaries if asked for
more information - Council member must also follow a protocol for
planning a MOC Visit - Training is required for each Presentation
6Current Organization
- National VP for Legislative Affairs
- 15 Regional Vice Presidents for LA
- Council VP LA or LA Committee Chair
- LA Steering Committee Meets Monthly
- LA Committee (LA SC and RVPs) Meets Monthly
- Staff Support
- Staff Vice President, Governmental Operations
Administration - Senior Director of Mission Focused Programs
7Region Vice President for Legislative Affairs
- Peer of the Area President
- Reports directly to the Region President, with a
dotted line relationship with the National VP,
LA for all content - The NVP, LA concurs in the selection of the RVP
each year - Experience requirements include (1) current or
former senior NL officer or (2) a proven
legislative affairs expert - Is the legislative affairs expert for the region
- Responsible for gaining commitments to make MOC
visits, ensure that those visits occur using
approved materials - Arranges required MOC visit training for
Presenters - Attends required monthly meetings of all RVPs and
turns in required monthly Region Grassroots
Reports - Time commitment of 3-4 hours per week
8Council VP Legislative Affairs Duties and
Responsibilities
- Promotes a successful legislative affairs program
for that Council. - Reports directly to the Council President, with a
heavy dotted line reporting relationship to the
Regional Vice President for Legislative Affairs. - This individual will be selected by the Council
President, after receiving concurrence by the
Regional Vice President for Legislative Affairs
to ensure the needed qualifications are met.
9Requirements for Council VPLA
- Have a clear interest in a strong legislative
affairs program - Excellent communications skills
- Basic computer skills
- Work the needed hours
- Incur minor expenses
- Attend the legislative affairs training program
- Participate in periodic telephone and Email
communications with the Regional VPLA
10Council Best Practices for Success
- Active involvement by Council President
- Assignment of a highly regarded leader as the
Council VP who is willing and able to spend the
needed time each month - Clearly assign accountability to Council officers
for making the MOC visits - Monthly communications with the Region VPLA with
those assigned for making visits - Ensure that personnel assigned to make visits
have had needed Grassroots training - Complete Legislative Contact Reports after MOC
Visits - Keep region leaders apprised of key legislative
affairs matters - Communicate with Council Members (News Letter,
Email, Calls to Action regarding key issues and
legislation
11Using A-Teams for Visits with Members of
Congress
- A-Team Alternate Procedures are used when
- A Grassroots MOC Visit becomes too difficult due
to the MOCs schedule, - The local Council is not available to support
Grassroots MOC Visits, or, - The Congressional District is too remote from a
participating Navy League Council. - A-Team optimally consists of 3 NL members
- Manager,
- Scheduler, and
- One additional person (ideally, a constituent of
the MOC being visited).
12Acceptable Alternate Procedures MOC Briefs
- Acceptable Alternate Procedures MOC Briefs
- Staff Brief and MOC Photo Opportunity
- Staff Briefing by Video Conference and MOC Photo
Op - Staff Presentation Only
- Brief must be made to a qualified staff member
- Chief of Staff, or
- Legislative Director, or
- Military Affairs Legislative Assistant (MLA), or
- Local Staff
- State Director (Senate), or
- District Director (House),
13Region A-Team Building and Planning Essentials
- PSW Region A-Team Building Session
- Saturday, June 23
- 100 p.m.
- Equity Room
- Led by Jim Bras, Tim Hunsberger, Jeanie Coffey
- Representatives from other Regions are invited
- Please attend
- A-Team Training Workshop under development
14Grassroots Legislative AffairsMetrics for Success
15LA Metrics for Success
- Support 8 Goals of 2013 LA Strategic Plan
- Accomplish objectives of LA Action Plan
- Attend scheduled Orientation and Training
- Visit MOC every 9-12 months
- Use LA Presentations (4) as core messages
- Collect and Report MOC Visit Data
- Use A-Team Alternate Procedures when needed
- Achieve LA MOC Visit Goals for 2013
16Our Primary Products
- In Line with NLUS Maritime Policy
- 4 Power Point Presentations for MOCs
- P1 USN Requirements
- P2 USCG Requirements
- P3 USMM Requirements
- P4 USMC Requirements
- Q As to support each presentation
- Legislative Agenda Priority Sea Services
Programs
17Legislative Affairs Training Monthly 300 p.m.
(EST) Conference Call
- Field Leader Orientation - 1st Thursday
- RVP Training 3rd Thursday
- Presenter Training
- 1. Presentation One 1st Tuesday
- 2. Presentation Two 2nd Tuesday
- 3. Presentation Three 3rd Tuesday
- 4. Presentation Four 4th Tuesday
- Alternate Procedures Workshop As Needed
- LA Training at Region Area Meetings
- Senior Director of Mission Focused Programs (Bill
Waylett) - Additional Orientation by LA Committee
Co-Chairmen
18Legislative Affairs Strategic Planfor 2013
- Supports National NLUS Strategic Plan
- LA Strategic Goal under Education is
- To educate and inform members of Congress on the
importance of a strong Navy, Marine Corps, Coast
Guard, and Merchant Marine - 8 Legislative Affairs Goals
19Navy League of the United StatesLegislative
Affairs Committee2013 Legislative Affairs
Strategic Plan1 January 2013
- GOAL NUMBER ONE
- Increase the number of LA Presentations at MOC
Appointments to 80 during 2013. Support our
Grassroots Legislative Affairs objective to visit
at least 60 of all Members of Congress a minimum
of every two years. -
- GOAL NUMBER TWO
- Complete assignment of all 535 MOCs to NLUS
Members who will accept responsibility to
actively communicate and seek Grassroots
Appointments with the assigned MOCs. -
- GOAL NUMBER THREE
- Form at least four new Region A Teams and
target completion of at least 50 of the
participating regions MOC Visits goals using
Alternate Procedures. -
- GOAL NUMBER FOUR
- Effectively train new Legislative Affairs Team
Members and Council Presidents. - (Continued in next slide)
20Navy League of the United StatesLegislative
Affairs Committee2013 Legislative Affairs
Strategic Plan1 January 2013
- GOAL NUMBER FIVE
- Focus grassroots attention toward effective
support of the NLUS Call to Action to stop
sequestration detrimental impact on the DOD
Budget. -
- GOAL NUMBER SIX
- Effectively support Sea-Air-Space Exposition by
inviting attendance by Members of Congress that
are assigned to key Congressional Committees. -
- GOAL NUMBER SEVEN
- Review and update all four Legislative Affairs
Presentations and Questions and Answers and
promulgate to Legislative Affairs Region VPs NLT
April 30. -
- GOAL NUMBER EIGHT
- Review content and Automate Legislative Affairs
Reports. -
- Note See Legislative Affairs Action Plan for
detailed objectives that support these goals.
21Regions Goal Matrix for 2013
22Data Collection and Reporting
- Legislator Contact Report
- Regional Status Reports (P1, P2, P3, P4)
- Monthly Region VPLA Report
- Monthly LA Summary Report
- Chronological MOC Visit Report
- MOC Voting Record on Key Legislation
23Legislator Contact Form
- Date_______________ Region VP for Leg Affairs
___________________________ -
- Type of Contact PHONE LETTER EMAIL
PERSONAL MEETING -
- Council(s) Name___________________________________
______________________ -
- Area/Region ______________________________________
______________________ -
- Council Attendees ________________________________
_______________________ -
- __________________________________________________
_____________________ -
- Member of Congress visited _______________________
_________________________ -
- Issue(s) Addressed________________________________
________________________
- Please circle the appropriate response
-
- Is follow up by NLUS National necessary YES
NO If YES, please explain _____ -
- __________________________________________________
_____________________ -
- __________________________________________________
_____________________ -
- Date when follow-up is needed if
applicable___________________________________ -
- Who to follow up with (i.e. Member of Congress,
Staff, etc.) ______________________ -
- Was Member of Congress supportive of issue(s) -
YES NO, comments_____________ -
- __________________________________________________
_____________________ -
- __________________________________________________
_____________________ -
- __________________________________________________
_____________________
24Grassroots Regional Status Report Data
- MOC Identification
- State Senator or District Number
- MOC Name
- NLUS Member (Yes/No)
- Responsibility Assignment
- Council
- Member Date Assigned
- Presenter (in parens, if not same as Member)
- Date of First Contact (MM/DD/YY)
- Additional Contact Dates
- Presentation to MOC (or Photo Op) Completion Date
(Include Date, Presenter, and other attendees) - MOC Reaction to Presentation Comments
- Annotate if MOC is on a Priority Committee (HASC,
SASC, HAC, SAC, HHSC, H-TI, S-CST) - Date of any Alternate Procedure Presentation To
Staff (Include Name, Title) Misc. Info Comments
25Grassroots LA National Summary Reports(One for
each of four Services Presentations)
- Region and Region VPs Name
- Last Region Report DATE
- NUMBER OF MOCS assigned to Region
- MOCs Assigned to NLUS Member
- First Contact made with MOC
- of MOCs given the Presentation
- New MOC Visits since last report
- NEW MOC Visits Year to Date
26What NL LAs Means to our Maritime Services
- The Maritime Services Chiefs have publicly
acknowledged the importance and expressed
appreciation for our grassroots support. - Members of Congress have directly referenced
content in our presentations in public
statements. - our message is having a positive impact
- Our message can advocate for vital resources
important to prudent national defense when the
Services must work within approved budget
submissions.
27Back-up Slides
28Next Step Priorities (Established at last LA
Committee Meeting)
- Fill vacant RVP positions NLT Nov 1
- Build Region Legislative Affairs Plans for
success in 2013 Initial Workshop today - Recruit more council-level volunteers
- Complete assignment of all Members of Congress to
volunteer Navy League members NLT Jan 15 - Build new A-Teams where RP and RVP need to use
Alternate Procedures NLT Feb 15
29Other Legislative Affairs Coordination
- NLUS Maritime Policy Statement is our core
message - Legislative Affairs Advisory Board
- Chairman Sheila McNeill
- Pizza Briefs
- This series of Navy League supported
presentations is the cornerstone of our
information dissemination to the majority of
Congressional offices. Grassroots Navy League
efforts to spread that message are a crucial
element in ensuring your Navy remains at the
forefront - CAPT Andy "Slim" Whitson
- Director, Navy House Liaison
- Given the many demands on the schedules
of Congressional staff, the support of the Navy
League is vital in ensuring that target audience
is present to receive the Navy message. - LT Jonathan G. Wachtel, Navy
Liaison Officer, - Office of Legislative
Affairs, U. S. House of Representatives
30Best Practices for Region Success
- Active involvement by each Region President
- Assignment of a highly regarded leader as the RVP
who is willing and able to spend the needed time
each week - Clearly assign accountability to Area or Council
officers for making the MOC visits - Use of A-Teams and alternative guidelines, if
Areas or Councils are either unable or unwilling
to make the visits - Rigorous monthly follow-up by the RVP with those
assigned for making visits - Ensure that personnel assigned to make visits
have had needed Grassroots training - Complete needed region grassroots reports
monthly send them to region officers to keep
everyone on track - Keep region leaders apprised of key legislative
affairs matters
31Brief Overview of Program History
- Initiated in 2004
- Prior to this initiative, only 15 of councils
were actively involved with legislative affairs - Now 47 of councils have been involved
- 403 total MOC Visits to date
- Goal is 60 minimum MOC contact
- Revisit annually not less than every 2 years
- 185 MOCs in 212 Congress visited (35)
- 301 NLUS Presentations to MOCs in 212th Congress
32Grassroots Organization Chart
33Navy League of the United StatesAny Standing
Committee NVP
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34Navy League of the United StatesAny Working
Committee NVP
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