The Question

Date: Fri, 05 Oct 2007 09:26:16 -0700 (PDT)
From: Michele Wheeler <brwa_wi@yahoo.com>
Subject: [volmonitor] Advocacy Rules of engagement

Hi there folks,
Our organization has traditionally steered clear of an advocacy role as we've
been building relationships with our largely rural residents. But we are now
revisiting this stance.

Do any of you have a set of guidelines, criteria or a written/generally
understood policy for when, how, what issues with respect to advocacy in your
organization?

Thanks,
Michele

Responses

Date: Fri, 05 Oct 2007 12:56:45 -0400 (EDT)
From: F5creeks@aol.com
Subject: Re: [volmonitor] Advocacy Rules of engagement

Friends of Five Creeks, an 11-year-old group that does mostly hands-on restoration, requires
that advocacy be directly related to "our" watersheds, consensus of our board (or members at a meeting, but this time never works out) before taking controversial stands, and approval of letters or public statements if time allows -- otherwise prompt notice to the board. Also, only one spokesperson/letter writer unless delegated. None of "directly related," "controversial" or "consensus" is defined in our bylaws, but this has worked well for us in keeping our organization harmonious and allowing us to take stands on important issues, including broad ones, without veering too far off course or getting distracted.

Susan Schwartz, president
Friends of Five Creeks

Date: Fri, 05 Oct 2007 14:40:05 -0400
From: Nancy Hadley <hadleyn@dnr.sc.gov>

What type of organization do you have? Is it private, state, what?

Nancy Hadley
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
SCORE program
PO Box 12559
217 Fort Johnson Road
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 953-9841
http://score.dnr.sc.gov

Date: Tue, 09 Oct 2007 07:44:38 -0700 (PDT)
From: Michele Wheeler <brwa_wi@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [volmonitor] Advocacy Rules of engagement
To: Volunteer water monitoring <volmonitor@lists.epa.gov>

We're a non-profit 501 c3

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