Biking & Walking to the State House:Organizing State Summits
Alliance for Biking & Walking Mutual Aid CallWednesday, January 22, 2014
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More and more advocates across the United States are organizing statewide bike and/or walk summits to push active transportation forward at the state level. On this call, we heard from advocates and experts in the field about best practices and tips on how to organize an effective summit.
Recap: Advice from Jason Jordan Principal Partner, Advocacy Associates and Center for Transportation Excellence
Reasons to have a State Bike/Walk Summit:
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Change / advance a political agenda by directly engaging with elected officials.
Summits are always political.
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Build relationships with constituents, partners, and elected officials.
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Set the stage for building year-long relationships with elected officials.
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Build credibility of your organization.
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Build visibility of your issue and leverage your work by involving alliances.
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Educate, celebrate, motivate.
How to Make the Most Impact:
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Identify a timely ask.
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Develop an outreach and communications plan.
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Build district-based constituencies.
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Drive points home through storytelling, messaging, and branding.
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Influence other organizations in addition to the legislature.
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Organize an event that reinforces your goals and strategic tactics.
How to Build Political Influence Into Your Summit:
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Te legislative game is always based around geography: Use constituents as the connections and focus on district-based influence.
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Make the schedule and office meetings as easy as possible for the participants.
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Prepare and train advocates with materials, logistics, tell them what to expect, and how to prepare their story.
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Develop and communicate a specific ask.
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Raise visibility through shirts, buttons, etc.
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Hold a celebration and time to debrief.
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Build in a follow-up/ report-back mechanism to identify champions and challenges.
 
Biking & Walking to the State House:Organizing State Summits
Alliance for Biking & Walking Mutual Aid CallWednesday, January 22, 2014
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Summit Basics:
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State Summits are a central part of what you have to do as an advocacy organization, even if you start small.
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Te key is politics. If you aren’t doing politics, then you’re not doing your job.
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Organize an
annual
Summit – if you don’t come back, you fall off the radar.
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When? When your legislature is in session!
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Where? In the state capitol.
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Bring legislatures to the event to speak or take the Summit participants to the capitol.
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Involve your state DO.
Walkable Bikeable Delaware Summit:
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2 years old.
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Governor Markell has attended and spoken at both summits and has adopted its “
Walkable Bikeable Delaware
” language, including in last two State of the State speeches.
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State House Majority Leader gave a quote on the state summit.
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Just added the American Heart Association (AHA) to the Summit as a partner and co-host—not just a financial sponsor. AHA has many other items besides walking / cycling on their agenda, but at least for 2014, the Walkable Bikeable Delaware Summit is AHA’s advocacy / lobby day in our state capitol.
Recap: Advice from James Wilson Executive Director, Bike Delaware
Tips for Organizing your First Summit:
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Involve your DO. Invite them to attend and have them lead break-out sessions.
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Make sure you have an ask.
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Put a planning committee together! Include people who have attended the National Summit if possible. Meet frequently and start planning at least 3-4 months in advance.
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Utilize online registration.
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Utilize your Board and/or volunteers.
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Make accommodations beyond what you expect.
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Plan a budget; add a contingency fee. It’s more important to get lots of people than to make lots of money.
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ap into resources within your state – there is a lot of expertise and knowledge.
Recap: Advice from Melinda Barnes Executive Director, Bike Walk Montana
 
Biking & Walking to the State House:Organizing State Summits
Alliance for Biking & Walking Mutual Aid CallWednesday, January 22, 2014
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Have a survey at the end of the day. Ask for a short testimony that you can use for promoting the next summit.
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Schedule time for networking.
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Have a ‘sharing table’ where people can bring information (trail maps, etc.) from their own community or organization to share.
First Montana Bike-Walk Summit (2013) and Lessons Learned:
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In Montana, the Legislature meets every 2 years. Te Summit will be in the capitol on those years. On off-years, it will move to different cities around the states.
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Draw upon the community where it’s being held for sponsorships; tap into resources within that community.
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ry to incorporate mobile sessions to showcase good things in the community.
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Lt. Governor was the keynote speaker in 2013.
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Had 100 people attend $45 for members; $50 non-members. Utilize an early-bird rate and cut-off to encourage people to register in advance.
Balancing the Bike / Walk Agenda:
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If you have two tracks, don’t make both sessions related to biking.
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Have sessions on multi-use trails.
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Bring people in to talk about American with Disability Act (ADA) issues.
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Have walking experts or initiatives: Safe Routes to Schools; prescription trails; walking advocates; health professionals.
Tying your State Summit into the National Bike Summit and Getting the Most out of the National Bike Summit:
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Research the background of the legislators you are meeting with. Find out what interests them.
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Collect local stories.
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Get support and testimonials from mayors. Invite them to the State and National Summits.
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If you have time, schedule a meeting with your Governor’s lobbyist in DC.
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alk about your State Summit when meeting with your federal legislator (and vice versa).
Recap: Advice from Caron Whitaker Vice President of Government Relations, League of American Bicyclists
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