I have had several volunteers say that Advocacy ideas are hard to come by... What ideas do you have? Here are a few that other volunteers have shared:
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Have Celebration on the Hill Ambassadors(s) & Survivors impacted by advocacy/gov’t relations attend Relay For Life events and speak – Have COTH ambassadors speak about their firsthand experience with Advocacy and its impact on them Have survivor speak or talk about Advocacy/Government relations and the critical role everyone plays in securing the passage of cancer related legislation
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Have a designated Advocacy/Government Relations Relay For Life Team – This team can focus on leading the advocacy activities at your event, reducing the stress on your committee! Have them hand out flyers, publicize the next Celebration on The Hill, work with Celebration on the Hill Ambassadors who are at the event, etc.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Have Advocacy Volunteers equipped!! – Give them scripts, buttons, pens, clipboards, copies of Advocacy brochures, Action Alerts, T-shirt and Uncle Sam’s hat “canvas” people at Relay to sign up for various advocacy activities during and after the Relay.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Set up an Advocacy/Government Relations Booth – Do this in conjunction with the Cancer Control Shop/Booth and/or Registration Table.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Utilize “Picture A Cure” with Relayers – Have them create and send their message to elected officials at the local, state and federal level about the need for support and passage of specific cancer related needs and legislation by setting it up next to the registration table.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Advocacy/Government Relations Public Service Announcements – Do this before during and after the Relay For Life Event. Utilize an Advocacy Theme throughout the Relay For Life Event by having games and public service announcements throughout Relay
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Set up a call booth to call State and Federal legislators – This will allow your Relayers to voice their stories and concerns on cancer and cancer related issues
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->ACS Legislative Alerts - Provide and distribute ACS Legislative Alerts to participants
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->State and Federal Lobby Day Sign-Up - Encourage and sign participants up to participate in State and Federal Lobby Days
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Advocacy Computer Stations - Set up Advocacy computer station for Relayers to send emails to elected officials at the local, state and federal levels
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Encourage participation of elected officials – Include those at the local, state and federal level by inviting and recognizing those in attendance to the Relay For Life event
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Team Captain’s Meeting Advocacy/Gov’t Relations Presentation - Have at a minimum ONE Advocacy/Government Relations Presentation at Team Captain’s Meetings
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Recruit Grass Roots Volunteers – utilize the ACS Action Network through each team captain assisting in the sign up of each team member
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Hang Advocacy/Government Relations Banners and Legislative Messages around the walking area of the Relay
Ramesh Moorthy
webmaster, http://www.acsrelay.org
Volunteer, Baltimore, MD
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November 27, 2006 - 4:34am
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PROMOTING ADVOCACY AT RELAY - MARYLAND BEST PRACTICES
Advocacy at Relay
Ideas for Advocacy Activities and ACS CAN Membership Recruitment
Kickoff Meetings
Attend Kickoff meetings to recruit or renew ACS CAN members and to collect, Picture A Cure stories and petitions. Present information an or set up a table. Use Hope Car Magnet as an incentive for those who give at $20 level. Show 25th Hour Video.
Committee Meetings
Attend Committee Meetings and challenge every committee member and team captain to join or renew ACS CAN membership, fill out a Picture A Cure and sign a petition. Show 25th hour video.
Survivor Receptions
Work with Survivor Chair (if one is available, if not then Mission Staff person) and ask to share information at the Survivor Reception. Say a few words at the reception and ask survivors to either fill out a Picture A Cure or a petition. Place petitions at tables or walk around with clip boards.
Recipe For a A Cure!
Wear relay advocacy apron and Chef’s hat and walk around with clip boards and petitions. Place completed petitions into drawing for a cookbook. Give Relay recipe cards as thank you.
Jail and Bail
Arrest individuals and send them to jail. To get out of jail, participants need to pay a minimum of $10.00. If you do this activity, we can supply you with some Car Magnets. For those who pay $20, receive a Hope car magnet.
Basket Drawing
1 ticket = 1 Petition Signed
5 tickets = 1 ACS CAN Membership
10 tickets = 2 ACS CAN Memberships
Hold drawing sometime in evening, at midnight or at Closing Ceremony of Relay. Basket can include donated items from Tastefully Simple, for Martins, Pampered Chef & Garden Party and gift cards . May include a nice kitchen towel, dish cloth & pot holder. Sell tickets at Committee, team captain meetings and event.
Wear Fun Hats
Wear a fun or silly hat and walk around with clipboard and petitions.
Wear Sandwich Board Signs
Wear Sandwich board signs or clip signs to your shirt that urge participants to fill out petitions. Message could read “Help Marylanders receive life-saving treatments for Cancer!” Sign Petition Now!
Dress Up As a Clown or another Costume.
Wear a Clown Costume or another Costume and walk around with clipboards and petitions. Do face painting.
Set Up a Table
Have a table at local hospitals, volunteer and health fairs, shopping centers or other community events to recruit ACS CAN members and collect petitions.
Relay Fundraisers
Have information about ACS CAN membership and petition at Relay Fundraisers- car washes, bake sales, yard sales etc. Talk with committee to learn about these opportunities.
Team Contest:
Have a contest to see which team can raise the most CAN memberships for a $50.00 donation to their team.
Fun Facts around the Track
Have Fun Facts on foam boards posted around the track. We could use these every year. Ex. Men are not excluded from getting Breast Cancer and show the percentage of men with breast cancer.
Advocacy Skit Contest:
This would be a team event. They would take and choose a type of cancer
do a skit about it and the Survivors would judge which one they feel should
win a prize.
Ways to recruit others to assist with advocacy activities
Engage Youth Groups
Recruit Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts or another youth group to assist with advocacy activities.
College Students
Invite college students possibly from a fraternity or sorority to assist with advocacy activities.
ACS Scholarship Recipients
Talk with Relay Committee to learn about scholarship recipients who may be involved with Relay and want to help with advocacy.
Researchers
Work with committee to identify Researchers who may be interested in helping with advocacy activities.
For more information: Please contact your Advocacy Chair for your Relay For Life event or email: sherry.mccammon@cancer.org
Joined: 2006-08-08