The holiday season brings neighbors together and creates a natural opportunity to bring elected officials to communities they represent through CAI’s Constituents in Your Communities campaign.
CAI’s Constituents in Your Communities campaign brings advocacy closer to home. This time of year, communities nationwide are planning their fall and winter holiday events including:
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- Thanksgiving potlucks, community meals, and canned food drives.
- Holiday events including tree lightings, cookie decorating parties, baking competitions, ugly sweater parties, menorah lightings, photos with Santa, gift exchanges, etc.
- Multicultural events to celebrate your diverse community.
- New Year’s parties or brunches.
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Inviting elected officials to these events is an easy way to build critical relationships, help them understand the benefits of community association living, and spread the word about CAI and its myriad of resources. These gatherings give elected officials and their staff a chance to get to know your association, experience its unique culture, and learn more about the community association industry and the issues affecting it. These interactions can lead to cultivating allies and connections in state legislatures, a key component to successful advocacy.
Your Power as a Constituent and an Advocate
The Nov. 3 election serves as a timely reminder that legislators respond to constituent pressure for one major reason: constituents vote. Direct constituent interactions have more influence on lawmakers’ decisions than any other advocacy strategy. One-on-one conversations between lawmakers and constituents are a tried-and-true way to affect change.
Benefits To Hosting a Legislator at Community Events
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- Build relationships with lawmakers who make decisions affecting community associations.
- Share your story firsthand and help policymakers understand the value of community association living.
- Strengthen CAI’s advocacy by establishing trusted connections with legislators and their staff.
- Elevate your event and community through legislator participation and opportunities for added visibility.
- CAI makes it easy by handling legislator outreach and helping you prepare for a successful visit.
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Tips for Success
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- Plan Ahead. Elected officials are busy and have appointments booked back-to-back weeks in advance. Let us know about events as soon as they are scheduled to maximize your chances of being added to their schedule.
- Do What Works for Your Event. Elected officials can play many different roles depending on the purpose of and agenda for the event. They can simply attend with their staff members and/or families (if appropriate) to mingle with community members. They also can play a more active role such as:
- Serve or prepare food or drinks during a potluck, brunch, or BBQ event.
- Judge at a competition-based event.
- Greet attendees at a registration table.
- Make a speech and/or take photos with attendees
- …and more.
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Has a legislator attended an event hosted by your community or CAI chapter in the past? Email government@caionline.org to share your experiences. With your permission, CAI will share stories and photos with other advocates to set an example and build excitement for these opportunities for connection.
Have questions or requests regarding inviting elected officials to your community activities? CAI is here to help. Send us an email at government@caionline.org.
