This year for the first time we would like to invite all land trusts to build/establish relationships with their legislators.   We hope that this will become something VaULT members do as a group every year.   

Establishing relationships with your elected officials outside of session is one of the most effective things we can do as a community.

Now is the time to talk to legislators.  The General Assembly Session is too late.  By then legislation has already been introduced and budget amendments have already been submitted.  The week of October 3^rd (or as close to it as possible) is the week we are inviting all members to meet with their legislators.   We are trying to have these meetings across the state in the same time period for the most impact.  If a meeting is not possible, we encourage you to write your legislator a personal note about your work and the value of land conservation.

Please talk to your legislators about the work your organization does and the value of protecting land.  Show them a piece of property your organization has helped preserve.   VaULT members are doing amazing work.  We need to make sure legislators know about that work. 

We are not asking you to lobby.  Once you start talking about specific legislation or asking a legislator to take a position that is lobbying.  We are asking you to build or establish relationships.

Many of you have well-established relationships with your elected officials.  A few simple things to do if you have not already:

• Put them on your newsletter/email list
• Invite them to your annual meeting
• Invite them to an awards celebration or a ribbon cutting event
• Encourage your board members to meet with them
• Highlight a piece of property that protects water or where there is public access

Attached is a one-pager with some background information.  Please feel free to localize to make even more relevant.

Please let us know about any feedback you receive.

Questions:  Missy Neff-Gould, 804-833-6157, missy.neffgould@tnc.org or Ellen Shepard, 540-529-1595, ellenshepard@yahoo.com

The post Creating Collective Action to Build Profile of Land Conservation  appeared first on Virginia United Land Trusts.