Grass Roots Advocacy Lives On in CCB Governmental Affairs
by Alice Turner and Ardis Bazyn, Co-Chairs of CCB Governmental Affairs Committee
As many of us know, when our CCB Convention and Conference is held in the Sacramento area, Jeff Thom, CCB Governmental Affairs (GA) Director, and GA Committee members plan and execute a "Capital Day." This endeavor is the basis of the mission of the California Council of the Blind to make our voices heard in the legislative arena. When we learned that we were not returning to Sacramento in 2019, Jeff proposed a solution: District Days. The concept was voiced on many occasions by Roger Petersen long-term leader in CCB and a founding member of the Silicon Valley Council of the Blind. The goal is to prepare members who are interested in visiting their local Assembly Persons and Senators in their respective offices. The visits are designed to let our own representatives know what is important to us as members of CCB and as constituents who live in their voting districts.
CCB Governmental Affairs Committee members voted with a resounding "yes" to launch this process at the end of April and beginning of May, 2019. A task team was formed under the leadership of Alice Turner and Ardis Bazyn, and we were on our way.
The building blocks for putting this plan in motion are the same as preparing for Capital Day: identify the imperatives that are most important or timely for CCB and our members, summarize the information in separate documents, reach out to the offices to schedule appointments with representatives, attend practice calls, and finally meet with Assembly members, Senators or their designated staff.
For 2019, it was the perfect opportunity to engage the Chapter Legislative Liaisons and CCB members interested in meeting with their local representatives when they are in their offices, rather than at the State Capital. The members of the Governmental affairs Committee supported their chapters and respective affiliates by encouraging members to partner with them and "buddy up" to plan and attend the meetings. The power of these individual meetings goes way beyond the one-time meeting at the Capital.
Imperatives for 2019 District Days
Jeff Thom identifies for CCB the imperatives for us when we visit the Capital for Capital Days, as he did for District Days. The selection is based on knowing what issues we have the best chance of moving through the legislative process in this current year, and laying the ground work for the year to come. Also, specifically for local visits, it is important that the imperatives address the variety of issues and passions of our CCB members, and balance those with time for a meeting. It is a recipe that Jeff knows very well, and Governmental Affairs Committee members provide input and learn from each other.
The imperatives for District Day included AB169 (Lackey): Attacks on service animals; AB947 (Quirk-Silva): Special Education Legislation; AB1286 (Muratsuchi): Electric scooters and similar vehicles; and AB1434 (Kalra): SSI/SSP benefits. Jeff and Sylvia Reese, Assistant Governmental Affairs Director, worked on writing the issue summaries and talking points, and these are referred to as "leave behinds". When we visit with our representatives in their local or Capital offices, it is important that the documents are clear and include who to contact for more information. Nicole Pacheco, CCB Office Manager, prepared the documents for us and electronic copies were sent out to all who expressed interest in visiting their local representatives. We were also prepared to send out hard copies if anyone needed that support. We sent the documents to anyone who just wanted to learn more this year, and participate next time, or more importantly refer to the summaries to make appointments in the near future.
Practice Makes Perfect
30 CCB members attended the planned practice calls, conducted by Jeff Thom and Sylvia Reese, who served as "Senator Reese" during the calls. The members on the calls had a chance to practice as they discussed the issues that were of most importance to them individually. These "mock presentations" helped everyone learn that speaking about what is important to us as voters is not too difficult. It is blending the facts from the imperative points and putting the issue in your own words. As Jeff Thom commented on the calls, "Remember, whomever you are meeting with, staffer or Assembly person or Senator, they want to meet you and learn what is important to you."
We had the chance to learn from members who have participated in Capital Days as well as visits with their own local representatives. It was wonderful hearing Connie Bateman speak about AB947 - Special Education Legislation. Connie and other members on the calls who are grounded in their experience with the education of youth who are visually impaired, were compelling and inspirational, because they explained the points from their own perspective as educators. Hearing Diane Deutsch, Co-Chair of GSGDHI Advocacy Committee, present in her practice session AB169, Attacks on service animals, in her own words was motivating for all on the call, as this issue is near and dear to Diane's heart.
Follow-up: Next Steps and Celebration
CCB members who visited with their representatives were sent an email to gather feedback about their visits. The feedback focused on the results of their meetings so we can learn who are our "allies", as well as what was helpful for them this year.
Andy Baracco, Governmental Affairs Committee member, and Bob Acosta partnered up and wrote to us in their email: "we met with staffers who were polite and treated us well.
"They showed interest in our organization, and the issues that we presented. In both cases we gave brief presentations on the four bills that comprise our legislative agenda.
"They expressed support for our position on all issues, but both expressed interest in what we said about AB1286 and said that we were the first persons to express concern about the issue of scooter safety, even though they actually shared that concern personally."
Warren Cushman also wrote: I believe that this District Day approach worked well. I would recommend it again." Many suggested that we rename the initiative "District Weeks" as appointments may be made over a period of a few weeks.
So why celebrate? We know that results are two-fold: passing of the bills and knowing you can reach out to your representatives again as they have now met you. Both of these results are important to CCB. When our legislators have a question about an issue pertaining to the rights of individuals who are blind or visually impaired, they now can look to the person in their district for answers or feedback.
Thank You!
Thank you to all who participated in District Days and we know the work is only beginning for this year. So at your next chapter meeting or affiliate call, ask a fellow member who joined this year about what they learned and continue supporting each other in the months ahead. Celebrate accomplishments along the way as CCB members, and we will make an impact both locally and in the halls of the State and National Capitals.
