However if you take one moment to think about who actually runs government policy, it is people who are involved in different organizations around the community. Finding ways to bring other organizations in to your vision is a great way to advance your policy with leaders current and future.
This is a natural for any organization. Every community leader is involved. Every community leader. Getting involved is important, but even more important is working with them. Often they are looking for information to present to their members, your public presentations on your policies are an easy fit. Even better teaching others how you came to your "economic impact" information about what you do. Co sponsoring events elevates them and you.
Candidate school, about our industry school, meet our leaders event. All things that someone who wants to be involved would come to. Then target your invite list to current and future elected officials. Bring them in and teach them what you need them to know. Listed in there is a candidate school, maybe you partner with business groups and offer one to candidates for free. You have a captive audience of leaders to learn about you.
Most communities offer a class of "Leadership (insert community here)" which is supposed to be the key individuals running organizations, getting involved with the community, and likely to become elected officials. Often the Chamber of Commerce is involved. Often people from other important groups you wouldn't have access to are involved. They are always looking for important content. Having a part where you present the important impacts of your organization to the community goes a long way, and you could begin to educate future leaders on your issues.
You'd be surprised how many elected officials serve as adjunct professors at local colleges and universities. You'd also be surprised how many important public studies are handled by college and university departments. Building relationships at the college and university faculty and administration level, you would be able to shape your relationship in the community beyond what you would otherwise.
Yeah, I know, what does the PTA have to do with your organization? More people run for local office out of the local PTAs and School Boards than anywhere else. So what can you do with them? Sponsor their upcoming events:
- It may be as simple as providing gift cards for their raffles
- You might be able to develop an educational field trip for the schools to your site
- You might be able to offer older computers/ materials/ tools/ whatever machinery you have available to the school
Building those relationships and promoting the value of your organization is incredibly important.
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