Acfc Manual 1

AMERICAN COALITION FOR FATHERS AND CHILDREN Developing your local shared-parenting group-- A guide and manual of best practices Edited by: John G. Maguire, ACFC Director of Communications Julie Weiss Michael McCormick, ACFC Executive Director January 2004 © Copyright 2004 American Coalition for Fathers and Children Abraham Lincoln With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed. Consequently he who molds public sentiment goes deeper than he who enacts statutes or pronounces decisions. Adlai E. Stevenson Democracy cannot be saved by supermen, but only by the unswerving devotion and goodness of millions of little men. ACFC MISSION STATEMENT We, the members of the American Coalition for Fathers and Children, hereby dedicate ourselves and our efforts to the creation of a family law system, legislative system, and public awareness which promotes equal rights for ALL parties affected by divorce, and the breakup of a family or establishment of paternity. It is our belief through our involvement and dedication, we can have a positive effect on the emotional and psychological well-being of children. We believe equal, shared parenting time or joint custody is the optimal custody situation. We believe the best parent is both biological parents. We believe grandparents should have rights and access to their grandchildren. We believe gender bias should be eliminated from family law and from future legislation. We believe BOTH biological parents should be responsible for the emotional and psychological wellbeing of their children, as well as financially responsible. We believe in the concept of fairness and equity in support for ALL families; and, that all children involved in a blended family should have equal rights, and do deserve equal rights and equal protection under the law. We believe child support orders should be reasonable, realistically reflect the cost of the children's basic needs, and reflect the relative parenting contribution of both parents in a shared parenting plan. We believe when parents are given equal rights, equal responsibility follows; when parents have equal access to their children and support levels are reasonable and reflect the true cost of raising a child, parents will comply with court orders. We believe when equity is created in our laws, the conflicts inherent in divorce situations dissolve and that, in the end, this is the greatest gift which we, as parents, could possibly bestow on our children. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ACFC sincerely thanks all the authors who contributed to the development of this manual. Their dedication and willingness to share expertise and experience will facilitate and expedite the adoption of shared parenting nationwide. ACFC particularly recognizes and thanks David Usher, Dianna Thompson, David Roberts and Ileana Basil for their long-term commitment to shared parenting, and without whose contribution this manual would not have been realized. ACFC appreciates the various articles from Martin Witbeck, Tom Rettburg, Bob Maschi, Michael Bowman, John Maguire, the Capitol Resource Institute and Michael McCormick. DEDICATION This manual is dedicated to those individuals who have demonstrated the courage, initiative and leadership necessary to bring about positive social change. ACFC thanks the editors, John G. Maguire, Julie Weiss and Michael McCormick for their effort in taking a loose collection of writings from a number of sources and turning it into the cohesive manual. ACFC particularly recognizes John Maguire for his outstanding leadership and perseverance in bringing this publication to fruition. TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION TO THE ACFC MANUAL 1 1. ORGANIZING A NEW ACFC-AFFILIATED GROUP 3 TURNING INDIVIDUAL INTEREST INTO A GROUP EFFORT 3 What things are needed to form a group? 4 Some inexpensive ways to get exposure for your first meeting 5 Your first organizational meeting 5 THE BASICS TO GET YOUR GROUP UP AND RUNNING 6 Hardware 6 Financial 6 Public Outreach 6 Communications 7 Postal Services 7 Printing 7 CHAPTER OFFICERS 7 Chapter President, Chair, Co-Chairs (Mandatory) 7 Secretary (Mandatory) 8 Treasurer (Mandatory) 8 Research and Education 8 Membership Coordinator 8 Media Contact and Spokesperson 8 Legislative Contact 9 Special Events Coordinator 9 Advertising 9 Fundraising 9 2. HOW TO DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN YOUR AFFILIATED GROUP 10 OVERVIEW 10 Why is it important to manage a group? 10 Certain techniques anyone can use to grow a group 10 High Priorities: 11 Medium Priorities: 11 Low Priority: 11 No Priority: 11 Group Goals 12 How to Prioritize Group Responsibilities 12 Group Meeting Agenda 13 HIGH PRIORITIES 13 1) Best Method for Contacting Prospective Members 13 MEDIUM PRIORITIES 15 LOW PRIORITIES 17 Dealing with difficult people 17 Where do we go from here? 18 Other organizations burden their groups with rules 18 Wish lists for groups 18 3. HOW TO HANDLE TELEPHONE INQUIRIES 20 INTRODUCTION 20 Man served with restraining order 20 Man paying child support he cannot afford 21 Father has no contact with kids 21 Men needing more than average emotional support 22 Women callers 22 Legal advice 22 Documenting the caller's info, and follow-up 23 Calls from people victimized by false allegations 23 4. MEDIA RELATIONS: IT TAKES SKILL TO GET THE WORD OUT TO THE PUBLIC 24 THE PRESS RELEASE IS THE BASIC TOOL 25 Format 25 Heading 25 Body 26 The lead paragraph 26 Send by fax, mail, or email? 27 Phone call follow-up is crucial 27 Tasks on the day of the event 27 Three more ideas about releases 28 KNOW WHAT NEWS IS , SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND REPORTERS 29 TV news vs. newspaper 29 How a reporter gathers it 29 What reporters and editors think news is 30 How to craft your idea to make it more interesting to an editor 31 FULL COURT PRESS: DOING MEDIA RELATIONS ACROSS A WHOLE STATE 32 Get organized by gathering a "media team,” and picking a team leader 32 Think about multiple "publics" the way a professional media person does 33 Avoid the classic blunders in press relations 33 17 Things to do 34 Ambitious project: get the funding for a staffed statewide fatherhood news bureau 36 5. LOBBYING TO INFLUENCE LEGISLATION IN YOUR STATE 38 STRUCTURE OF THE LEGISLATURE 38 HOW TO CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR 40 You can make an organized "telephone tree'' in your community or state 40 DEAR MR. POLITICIAN: 41 Hit the target 41 Personal touch 41 Following up 42 HOW TO WRITE TO YOUR LEGISLATOR 42 When writing letters, keep in mind the following 42 A GOOD FORMAT FOR LETTERS INCLUDES: 43 PROPERLY ADDRESSING YOUR REPRESENTATIVES 44 GETTING A COPY OF A BILL 44 TIPS ON VISITING WITH YOUR LEGISLATOR 45 Take a walk through the halls of your state capitol, and try out some of these ideas 45 COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS 45 WRITING A LETTER TO THE EDITOR 47 When writing letters to the editor, keep in mind the following: 47 HOW TO CALL A RADIO TALK SHOW 48 HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMITTEE TESTIMONY 49 GLOSSARY OF LEGISLATIVE TERMS 50 6. STOPPING BAD LEGISLATION IN YOUR STATE 61 ADJUST YOUR ATTITUDE: 61 HAVE YOUR KEY PEOPLE DO LETTER AND PHONE LOBBYING 62 THE GROUP MEMBER’S ROLE 64 WORKING THE MEDIA 65 WORKING THE INTERNET 65 DEMONSTRATIONS 66 7. SUGGESTIONS FOR SUCCESSFUL DEMONSTRATING AND LEAFLETING 67 WE DEMONSTRATE EITHER TO PROTEST AN ISSUE OR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION 67 Protesting an Issue 67 THE INFORMATIONAL PICKET 68 CHOOSING A GOOD ISSUE 68 Negotiate with your Adversary 69 Carrying Signs 69 Tips on Sign Content: 70 How To Demonstrate 70 Handouts 71 Interview Tips 71 Scheduling Your Demonstration 72 Press Releases 72 Notice to Police 72 Philosophy 73 8. DEALING EFFECTIVELY WITH THE COURT SYSTEM 74 INTRODUCTION 74 Strategy Timeline 74 Develop Data on Judicial Behavior 75 Learn Practice of Law 75 Narrow Your Issues 75 Understand What Judges Do and How To Change Them 76 Demonstrate and Leaflet 77 Demonstrating 78 Leafleting 78 Designing a successful leaflet: 78 Framing the Leaflet Discussion - Strategy is as Important as Content 79 Finding Friends in the Courthouse 79 Pursuing the Bar 80 Supreme Courts 81 9. THE BENEFITS OF AFFILIATION WITH ACFC 82 PERSPECTIVE ON THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM 82 CROSS FERTILIZATION OF IDEAS 83 MEDIA REPRESENTATION AND A RECOGNIZED “BRAND” 83 GROWING YOUR LOCAL AFFILIATE 83 ACCESS TO QUALITY RESOURCES 84 10. RAISING FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR YOUR GROUP 85 PEOPLE WANT YOU TO SUCCEED 85 APPROACHING THE INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTOR 86 HAVE A PLAN AND KEEP ASKING 87 SMALL GIFTS COUNT, TOO 88 SOME AFTERTHOUGHTS ON FUND-RAISING OPPORTUNITIES 89 KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH YOUR MEMBERS HELPS BRING IN FUNDS 91 11. TIPS ON A SUCCESSFUL ORGANIZATION 93 MANAGING A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION 93 THE PRINCIPLE OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT 94 NON-PROFIT STATUS 94 OPEN AN OFFICE 95 CLEAR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE 95 CONSENSUS DECISION MAKING 97 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 97 ROTATION OF LEADERSHIP 98 HOW TO DO GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING AND LOBBYING 99 THE GRASSROOTS PROCESS HAS SIX STEPS 99 1. Find your members or volunteers 99 2. Train them and target their energies 99 3. Motivate them 100 4. Reward them 101 5. Keep them around 101 6 Capitalize on their work 101 HOW FATHERS CAN WORK ON POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS 102 HOW TO “SCOUT” POLITICIANS 103 WHAT TO DO DURING ELECTION CYCLES 104 OTHER IDEAS: 104 Introduction to the ACFC Manual Twenty-three million American children rarely see their fathers, and over 7 million haven’t seen their fathers in more than a year. Studies show repeatedly that the absence of a father in a child’s life is the number one predictor of delinquency, drug use, teen pregnancy, incarceration and child suicide. There is currently a myth that dads are disposable, and that Big Brother government can step in and do all that dads used to do.

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