How to guide on legislative outreach for California DECA chapters. Resource created by California DECA Team 63 www.californiadeca.org

1. Legislative Outreach
Gain support for DECA and Career
and Technical Education

2. WHY OUTREACH TO LEGISLATORS?
• LEGISLATORS CAN SERVE AS PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS FOR
YOUR CHAPTER
• LEGISLATORS CAN HELP PASS BILLS IN SUPPORT OF CAREER
AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
• LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT CAN INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT
DECA IN YOUR COMMUNITY
• LEGISLATORS CAN PROVIDE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
AND CHANCES TO SPEAK TO PROFESSIONALS ABOUT DECA
• LEGISLATORS CAN SUPPORT YOUR CHAPTER AND GIVE YOU
MORE CREDIBILITY IN YOUR COMMUNITY

3. 4 GREAT IDEAS FOR LEGISLATIVE
OUTREACH
• SEND AN EMAIL TO YOUR LEGISLATOR’S
RECEPTIONIST OR LEGISLATIVE AIDE OR
SCHEDULER
• CALL THE LEGISLATOR’S DISTRICT OFFICE TO
SET UP A MEETING
• ATTEND A COMMUNITY EVENT THAT SUPPORTS
EDUCATION OR BUSINESS WHERE LEGISLATORS
MIGHT BE IN ATTENDANCE
• PRESENT AT A CITY COUNCIL OR CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE MEETING

4. IDEA #1: SENDING A
LEGISLATIVE EMAIL
STEP #1: CHECK YOUR LEGISLATOR’S WEBSITE FOR THE EMAIL OF EITHER THE
LEGISLATIVE AIDE OR SCHEDULER OR RECEPTIONIST
STEP #2: MAKE SURE YOUR EMAIL HIGHLIGHTS DECA, CALIFORNIA DECA
AND KEY CHAPTER FACTS
STEP #3: DETAIL THE NEXT STEP YOU OR YOUR LEGISLATOR NEEDS TO TAKE AT
THE END OF THE EMAIL, E.G. IF YOU NEED TO SCHEDULE A MEETING
STEP #4: HAVE SOME OF YOUR CHAPTER OFFICERS AND ADVISOR READ IT
TO MAKE SURE IT REFLECTS THE AMBITIONS OF YOUR CHAPTER
STEP #5: ALWAYS FOLLOW UP WITH A PHONE CALL OR ADDITIONAL EMAIL
A SAMPLE LEGISLATIVE EMAIL IS LOCATED IN RESOURCES AT
WWW.CALIFORNIADECA.ORG

5. IDEA #2: PHONE CALL TO
SET UP A MEETING
A S A M P L E P H O N E S C R I P T I S L O C A T E D I N R E S O U R C E S A T
W W W . C A L I F O R N I A D E C A . O R G
STEP #1: LOCATE THE PHONE NUMBER; THE PHONE NUMBER
FOR THE MAIN OFFICE IS LOCATED ON THE LEGISLATOR’S
WEBSITE
STEP #2: MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE
SAYING/ASKING BEFORE YOU MAKE THE CALL
STEP #3: BE PROFESSIONAL AND TAKE NOTES DURING THE
CALL
STEP #4: TRY TO SCHEDULE A VISIT WITH YOUR LEGISLATOR,
USUALLY THEY ASK YOU TO FOLLOW UP WITH AN EMAIL
(REFER TO THE PREVIOUS SLIDE)

6. IDEA #3: ATTENDING A
COMMUNITY EVENT
STEP #1: RESEARCH COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT SUPPORT EDUCATION OR
BUSINESS, LEGISLATORS ARE USUALLY PRESENT AT THESE TYPES OF EVENTS
STEP #2: PRACTICE AND DEVELOP AN ELEVATOR PITCH THAT YOU WILL
USE WHEN SPEAKING TO THE PROFESSIONALS AND LEGISLATORS YOU
MEET ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
AND DECA
STEP #3: ATTEND THE EVENT WITH SOME CHAPTER OFFICERS OR MEMBERS
STEP #4: BE PROFESSIONAL AND READY TO NETWORK AT THE EVENT

7. STEP #5: STRIKE UP A CONVERSATION WITH ANY LEGISLATORS
OR CITY OFFICIALS AND GET THEIR BUSINESS CARD FOR FUTURE
CONTACT
STEP #6: FOLLOW UP THE LEGISLATOR OR CITY OFFICIAL BY
EMAIL OR PHONE CALL! INFORM THEM OF OPPORTUNITIES TO
SUPPORT DECA AND ARRANGE A DISTRICT MEETING
IDEA #3 (CONT.)
A S A M P L E E L E V A T O R P I T C H I S L O C A T E D I N R E S O U R C E S A T
W W W . C A L I F O R N I A D E C A . O R G

8. IDEA #4: PRESENT AT A CITY COUNCIL OR
COMMUNITY MEETING
STEP #1: CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CITY COUNCIL TO SEE
WHEN THEY HAVE MEETINGS AND WHETHER THEY HAVE
TIME FOR A PRESENTATION
STEP #2: CREATE A SHORT 5-7 MINUTE PRESENTATION
(POWERPOINT IS OPTIONAL) ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF
DECA AND HOW CITY COUNCIL AND OTHER
LEGISLATORS CAN HELP SUPPORT
STEP #3: PRACTICE THE PRESENTATION SEVERAL TIMES IN
FRONT OF YOUR ADVISOR

9. IDEA #4 (CONT.)
STEP #4: ATTEND THE EVENT IN DECA PROFESSIONAL
ALONGSIDE OTHER CHAPTER MEMBERS
STEP #5: AFTER DELIVERING YOUR PRESENTATION, MAKE
SURE YOU HAVE HANDOUTS ON THE CONGRESSIONAL
ADVISORY BOARD AND PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP TO
GIVE OUT
STEP #6: FOLLOW UP WITH CITY COUNCIL AND ANYONE
INTERESTED THROUGH PHONE CALL OR EMAIL

10. WHAT TO DO WHE N Y OU ME E T WI TH A LE G I SLATOR
STEP #1: AFTER SCHEDULING A MEETING, START DEVELOPING AN
OUTLINE OF WHAT YOU WILL BE SPEAKING ABOUT
STEP #2: RESEARCH YOUR LEGISLATOR SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE
A PERSONAL CONNECTION DURING YOUR MEETING
STEP #3: PRACTICE IN FRONT OF YOUR ADVISOR AND DIVIDE
PARTS AMONGST THOSE ATTENDING THE MEETING
STEP #4: BRING THE DECA FACT SHEET, CALIFORNIA DECA FACT
SHEET, CONGRESSIONAL ADVISORY BOARD FORM AND ANY
WRITTEN FORM WITH YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO LEAVE
WITH THE LEGISLATOR
STEP #5: ALWAYS CONFIRM WHOM YOU ARE MEETING WITH AND
ARRIVE FIVE MINUTES EARLY

11. STEP #6: BE COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT DURING THE
MEETING, YOUR CONVERSATION DOES NOT HAVE TO
FOLLOW YOUR OUTLINE EXACTLY
STEP #8: EMPHASIZE THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT TAKE-
AWAYS: THE IMPORTANCE OF FUNDING TO CAREER AND
TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, JOINING DECA’S
CONGRESSIONAL ADVISORY BOARD AND FUTURE
INVITATIONS TO CHAPTER AND REGIONAL EVENTS
STEP #9: FOLLOW UP WITH THE LEGISLATOR AND STAFF AND
REMEMBER TO INVITE THEM TO FUTURE EVENTS AND KEEP
THEM UPDATED ON CHAPTER ACCOMPLISHMENTS
WHAT TO DO WHE N Y OU ME E T
WI TH A LE G I SLATOR (CON T.)
A S A M P L E M E E T I N G O U T L I N E I S L O C A T E D I N R E S O U R C E S A T
W W W . C A L I F O R N I A D E C A . O R G

12. • REMEMBER TO ALWAYS BE CONFIDENT WHEN SPEAKING TO LEGISLATORS AND CITY
OFFICIALS
• YOU CAN FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AT HTTP://FINDYOURREP.LEGISLATURE.CA.GOV
• DON’T HESITATE TO INVITE YOUR LEGISLATOR TO CHAPTER AND DISTRICT EVENTS
• ALWAYS REMEMBER TO BE IN DECA PROFESSIONAL WHEN SPEAKING TO OR MEETING
WITH A LEGISLATOR OR A MEMBER OF THEIR STAFF
• PUBLICIZE YOUR SUCCESSES BY CREATING A PRESS RELEASE! STEPS ON HOW TO DO SO
CAN BE FOUND IN THE PRESS RELEASE SECTION OF OUR CHAPTER RESOURCE CENTER!
• INFORM THE REST OF CALIFORNIA DECA ABOUT YOUR SUCCESS BY PUBLICIZING YO UR
EFFORTS ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM. TAG US @CALIFORNIADECA OR
#CADECA
• CHECK OUT MORE HELPFUL RESOURCES AND TEMPLATES IN RESOURCES AT
WWW.CALIFORNIADECA.ORG
A FEW TIPS