Need help finding and securing a federal grant or loan? Trying to make sense of the budget and appropriations process? Wondering how to create a grassroots plan that keeps your advocates motivated?

Well, look no further than our Advocacy Classroom CD-Rom series. Taken from live workshops in DC, these CD's offer the educational content without having to leave your desk.

TOPICS

"Fertilize Your Grassroots: Identifying, Motivating, Activating and Institutionalizing Grassroots Advocacy"

"Show Me the Money: Researching, Tracking (and Getting) Federal Grants and Loans"

"The Budget & Appropriations Process: Making Sense of the Dollars & Cents"

"Legislative Procedure & You - Part 1: Getting to Know the Process"

"Legislative Procedure & You - Part 2: Legislative Process 401"

"A New Year, A New Session, A New Perspective: Organizing Your Grassroots & GR Efforts for 2004"

"Grassroots Survivor: Keeping Your Grassroots Engaged Through the Conventions, Elections and Start of a New Congress"

And click here to see reviews of the live workshops.

Content Details of CD-Roms

Fertilize Your Grassroots: Identifying, Motivating, Activating and Institutionalizing Grassroots Advocacy

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AGENDA

Introduction / Overview:

• What are the "grassroots"?
• Why are they important?
• Interactive exercise in "thinking outside the box" about grassroots coalitions

Components of a Grassroots Organization

• The Who (individual advocates, coalitions - your "partners")
• The Where (connecting advocates with decision makers)
• The What (what's the message?)
• The How (organizational/institutional structures for working with grassroots partners)
  

Motivating and Activating the Grassroots

• How and when are they most effective?
• Eliminating barriers
• Motivating grassroots members to take meaningful actions

Tools and techniques for activation: from the ridiculous to the sublime

Case Studies: Stories of success from the real world

Campaign Development Exercise: Participants will, through breakout groups, develop a grassroots campaign around an exciting "secret" issue (to be revealed at the workshop!)

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Show Me the Money: Researching, Tracking (and Getting) Federal Grants and Loans

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AGENDA

Introduction: Interactive Exercise with the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Online.

Overview of Federal Grant-Making Process

• Grants vs. Loans
• Specific kinds of grants (i.e., formula vs. discretionary)
• How to Keep Track

What Funders Want from Fundees:

• How to write a good proposal
• What funders in general want
• What the feds in particular are looking for
• General fundraising resources

Sweetening the Pot: Or, How to Make Your Ideas Stand Out:

• Getting elected officials involved
• Building local support
• Coalition efforts

Case Studies: Stories of success from the real world

Proposal / Idea Development Exercise: Participants will, through breakout groups, develop funding proposals around a specific idea.

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The Budget & Appropriations Process: Making Sense of the Dollars & Cents

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Are you...

Baffled by the budget and appropriations process?

Concerned about whether federal programs you care about will continue to be funded (and what role your organization can play in keeping the dollars flowing?)

Can't tell the difference between a reconciliation, a resolution and an omnibus whosi-whatsit?

Looking to connect with others in the same boat?

The Advocacy Classroom can help!

This workshop can help you:

• Master the basics of how the Congressional budget and appropriations process works and learn key terms
• Experience first-hand how difficult it is to put together a "federal" budget
• Discover the "points of influence," - at what point your organization can expect to have the most influence over policy makers and their staff
• Uncover hidden online resources to make your job easier
• Get advice and tips on creating a successful strategic plan for the next budget and appropriations cycle
  

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Legislative Process 101 - Getting to Know the Process

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AGENDA

Schoolhouse Rock and You: How a Bill Becomes a Law: A brief overview of the process, including:

• What they didn't tell you on Schoolhouse Rock
• The steps of the process
• Resources for finding out more

The three main categories of legislation and why they matter:

• Authorization bills
• Appropriations bills
• The budget process

Key themes for effective advocacy at the federal level

• Why advocacy is essential
• Quick and easy ways to keep track of what’s going on
• Moving bills are powerful
• Non controversial bills are powerful
• The process is long, confusing and inefficient

Conclusion: Why Congress is so Darned Inefficient

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Legislative Process 401

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AGENDA

Key Advanced Themes of the Legislative Process

Introducing legislation

• Where ideas come from
• Things to consider (referral, timing, parliamentarian, etc.)

Committee process

• Hearings
• Markups
• Reports

  House Rules Committee

  Senate “Unanimous Consent”

  House and Senate floor procedure

  Legislative History (What is it and How do I get me some)

  Conference Committees and Amendments Between the Houses

Quirks, oddities, and downright weird things to remember

Budget process: Timelines, deadlines, key legislation

Appropriations: How it’s vastly different from everything we’ve said before

Structures of Rules: Why they matter, how to interpret

Language, language, language: Why it’s location is important and how to get it placed (rules of construction)

Five Things Your Political Science Teacher Never Told You

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A New Year, A New Session, A New Perspective: Organizing Your Grassroots & GR Efforts

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AGENDA

Introduction/Overview

• Figuring Out Your Policy Priorities
• Building upon 2003 issues (assessing wins and losses)
• Working with you board / membership / legislative committee to fine tune existing priorities and develop new ones
• Reaching consensus on what’s important

The Congressional Calendar: What Should You Be Doing When?

• Timing of the budget and appropriations process
• Hearings, Markups and other crazy stuff that goes on
• District work periods and how to take advantage of them

Having the Tools in Place: Grassroots, Grasstops and PACs

• Assessing your current grassroots situation: 10 simple steps to improve your grassroots
• Why a PAC is more important than ever
• Utilizing your key contact effectively

Policy Planning Exercise: Participants will, through breakout groups, develop their own plansfor 2004.

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Grassroots Survivor: Keeping Your Grassroots Engaged Through the Conventions, Elections and Start of a New Congress

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AGENDA

Introduction / Overview: Identify the key factors impacting your relationship with your grassroots – especially now!Grassroos Philosophy

• Different types of grassroots audiences and how to approach them
• Perspectives on the “harassment factor”
• Defining victory and building a long tem outlook

Tips and Techniques for Motivating in Difficult Times (Or, How to Avoid Being Voted Off the Island)

• What are the barriers for participation, especially during campaign season? How do we overcome them?
• Shifting focus: Asking for grassroots involvement in new arenas (it’s not just about the legislature – especially during campaign season)
• Share YOUR best ideas for rousing grassroots in difficult times
• Putting out fires: How to put out end of session legislative fires, without letting your grassroots get burned
• The Top Ten List – Ten “action ideas” for inspiring you and your grassroots

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REVIEWS

Comments from workshop participants

"Above and beyond what I expected"

"It was great!"

"Fabulous!!!"

"Very Worthwhile"

"Really helpful. Gave order to some of my ideas and gave me new ideas too!"

"It was terrific!"

"Well done!"

"Wow what a value - really - lots of good ideas and discussion - thanks so much!"

"Great workshop! Reinforced what we knew and gave a lot of good tips!"

"Good overview, good tips"

"Very informative and helpful"

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CD Purchase

You can purchase a CD-Rom with all the materials for $30. But why stop there when you can buy all 8 for just $200.

Order today! We accept Mastercard and Visa. If you'd like to pay by check, please contact Ciny Klein at 202-244-4866 or info@advocacyguru.com for an order form.