One last chance to participate in a "1% Solution" Introductory call - 8/31/06

Thu Aug 31 17:00:50 EDT 2006

I know many of you have been away and missed these call dates.  See archive
for earlier posts if you have questions.  - diane

The 1% Solution--How to get State TANF funds for your heathy marriage
initiative.

FAMLI is hosting one final introductory conference call for those of you who
could not participate in the August calls.

Date:  Sept. 5 Time:  2:00 PM EST Register at www.famlil.us to be notified
of the toll free phone number and the access code.

Here is the agenda for the 8-Part series of conference calls.

1.  Organize a State Healthy Marriage Coalition
Create a state-wide organization that brings together every group in your
state working on marriage strengthening.  Create a steering committee of
5-10 people.  You will need a paper and email letterhead.  Over the next
year, your state-wide organization will need its own web-site.  This is the
critical first step needed to unite everyone in the marriage movement and
present a united organization when dealing with opinion leaders, elected,
and appointed government officials.

2. Develop Marketing Materials
Using materials available on the www.famli.us web-site, create your own
branded package of materials to distribute to elected and appointed
officials.  You do not need to reinvent the wheel.  We have professional
materials available for you to download and create your own packet with 6-8
pages of inserts. 

You will need to craft a one-page analysis of your state's demographics on
marriage, divorce and out-of-wedlock births.

3. Build Political Alliances
There are many religious and community groups that will be natural partners.
Your state coalition should build alliances with Black and Hispanic faith
and community-based groups.  You should reach out to local Catholic Dioceses
and to the Evangelical community.  Moslem and Orthodox Jewish groups will
also be natural allies.

4.  Find a Horse to Ride
You must identify one or several key state legislators who will promote your
request to get 1% of TANF funding for marriage strengthening grants.

5. Build Relationships with Elected Officials
After you identify your key elected and appointed allies, you will need to
build strong, long-term relationships with these officials.  It may be that
one or two state legislators can carry the water for your coalition.  But
having ties to multiple officials will make it easier for your elected
champions to promote the 1% Solution.

6.  Develop a Strategy
Getting 1% of TANF money for marriage strengthening will not be the same in
any two states.  Every approach will differ.  You will need to spend time
with your elected leaders and work out a strategy that will help him or her
to help you. 

7. Create a Grassroots Network
Together with your allies, you must develop a grassroots network that can
communicate effectively with elected officials, as well as with the public.
You will want a web-site, a blog, a listserve, a telephone network and a lot
of volunteers to make this successful.  You will want to have a list of
friendly religious leaders, a list of marriage service providers, a list of
community organizations, among others.  This network will give you the
capacity to get state funding for marriage and to influence politicians and
media elites as well.

8. Learn How to Raise Campaign Funds
Finally, you will want the ability to support some elected officials with
campaign contributions, receptions, dinners, media events, volunteers, and
all the things it takes to get elected.  You will find that some individuals
and organizations in your network already know some elected officials and
have political skills that you don't possess.

WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW?

1.  Become part of your State's Steering Committee.  Send famli an email and
we will tell you who is helping organize in your state.

2. Get other people to sign up for the famli listserve so they will
participate in our conference calls.  Send them a note with the www.famli.us
site.  Everyone who works in the marriage movement should be on this list.

3. Make sure you participate in one phone call every three weeks.  We will
have the same call with 10 different states, repeated three times over a
three week period.  Each call will take place at 2:00 PM EST on Tuesdays.
These calls will each cover one item on the agenda.  We will have guest
speakers on as well.  Everyone on the famli listserve will be notified of
each call.

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http://www.smartmarriages.com
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diane at smartmarriages.com