GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY TRAINING & LOBBY DAY

February 1 - 2, 2009 · Washington, DC

10 Follow-up Actions
We have a long way to go, so let’s keep our momentum!

Interfaith Peace-Builders is extremely proud of the more than 170 people who came together from 26 states and the District of Columbia last weekend for our first Grassroots Advocacy Training and Lobby Day. Each of you who brought your amazing energy and determination to see change made the event a success. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your work!

As we all know, however, two days alone cannot make the change we need to see on this issue. We must keep up the pressure to demand a change in US policy so that the conditions for a just and equitable peace will be met in Israel/Palestine. All of us need to take further action. We have suggested 10 actions below to help guide your follow-up work.

We really appreciate your attention to these details and encourage all of you to continue these efforts and stay in touch.

10 Follow-Up Actions:

1. Send a thank you letter to the congressional staffer(s) you met with on Monday, February 2. Restate your “asks” and request a report. If you don’t hear back, call to follow-up directly. Click here for a template thank you letter that you can personalize and send. Don’t wait too long, send it this week!
2. Personalize and send a press release to your local media this week. Click here to copy and personalize a draft press release. Click here for tips and resources for working with your local media. Send this soon to catch the news cycle!
3. Request a meeting with your Representative/Senators in the local District Offices. Use that meeting to push your demands further and build lasting relationships with your representatives’ staff. Click here to download and print the Congressional Engagement Packet to take with you. Click here to find contact information for local district offices and click here for a template constituent meeting request you can personalize and send (if you need tips on how to pursue your meeting click here).
4. Fill out and send in a Congressional Meeting Evaluation Form for every meeting you have. This will help us evaluate our mutual successes and consolidate our gains. Click here to download an evaluation form.
5. Organize a “Report Back from Washington” to update your community about your work and recruit more constituents to join you at meetings in your district office. Hold a public event, a series of house parties, or even a conference call. Tell us when you plan your event; we will invite our contacts in your area.
6. Become a local organizer for the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation's End Military Aid or Hang Up on Motorola campaigns. Sign up to receive and organizer’s packet for the Military Aid Campaign here and for the Hang Up on Motorola Campaign here.
7. Join an Interfaith Peace-Builders delegation. The transformative experience of an IFPB delegation will enrich your understanding of the conflict as you meet courageous Israelis and Palestinians working for peace and justice and witness the current realities of life in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. Delegations are scheduled for May, July and November 2009. Click here for more information and an application.
8. Invite an Interfaith Peace-Builders representative to speak in your community. IFPB staff, board and our network of over 400 returned delegates are eager to share their experiences. Contact us and we will work with you to provide a speaker for your event.
9. Share Interfaith Peace-Builders with your friends and family. Our work depends on grassroots networks of supporters to succeed. If you can’t join a delegation, please spread the word to others and encourage them to apply.
10. Donate to Interfaith Peace-Builders. Programs like the Grassroots Advocacy Training and Lobby Day take a great deal of time and resources. There is nothing we would like to do more than to continue to provide this type of programming. Nothing is possible, however, without the support of people like you. Please consider donating today at www.ifpb.org/donation.

We have asked workshop leaders for any materials they would like to share from their workshops and we will distribute those materials when available.

Again, we thank you for your great work. It was inspiring to be with you all during the Grassroots Advocacy Training and Lobby Day and it is even more inspiring to know that each of you are continuing our efforts in your own communities. Please keep us posted on your follow-up efforts and send us reports of any additional meetings, events and media appearances.

We will stay in touch and hope to see you all again next time!

In peace and solidarity,

Jake, Mike and Joe
Interfaith Peace-Builders

REGISTER TODAY TO GAIN IMPORTANT SKILLS FOR YOUR ACTIVISM & MAKE AN IMPACT IN THE NEW CONGRESS!

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