Newly appointed Legislative Committee Chair Stella Edwards spoke eloquently in her introductory letter about the need for PTA leaders and members to come together and effectively advocate for the mission of the PTA. In keeping with the spirit of Ms. Edwards’ call to action, it is important to take advantage of the many opportunities for advocacy. PTA members should look for ways to “Take Action.” One important way for members to Take Action is to establish and maintain relationships with their elected leaders, including their Members of Congress.
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While it may seem like August is not the “right” time to reach out to Members of Congress because they are not in Washington, it actually presents PTA members with a wonderful opportunity to form a relationship with their government leaders right at home.National PTA, as the largest child advocacy organization in the country, has a unique ability to reach out to Congress to promote its goals, but it takes the assistance of all our members to make a true impact. |
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Utilizing Congressional recesses to make a connection with your federal representatives in Congress can go a long way in garnering support for PTA’s legislative priorities.This August, meet with one of your legislative leaders while they are on August recess. Meeting with Congressional members in their district offices presents an occasion for both state leaders and local PTA members to establish themselves as a knowledgeable local voice for parents, teachers, and children. |
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If you cannot set up a meeting with your member, attending a town hall meeting is another great way to make a connection with your elected official. If you’re a new PTA leader, it gives you a chance to introduce yourself and PTA and establish a relationship right from the start.National PTA offers its leaders and members many resources for providing effective advocacy. You can visit our advocacy page to find information on PTA’s federal public policy. |
The advocacy website has resources related to the Common Core standards, including an advocacy training link and articles of interest, and the Government Affairs department has prepared an advocacy toolkit to help members and state leaders maximize their local grassroots organizing efforts. Be sure to subscribe to our PTA Takes Actionnewsletter and our action alerts! Also check back on this blog every Thursday for great ideas on building grassroots support for our PTA priorities. Feel free to reach out to National PTA’s Advocacy Coordinator, Erica Lue, with any questions or to get some advocacy tips for your local or state PTA, at elue@pta.org.
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