Engaging Elected Officials

National Community Planning Month offers an excellent opportunity to engage elected officials who are currently in office, those who are up for reelection, and those who are running for office. The following pages contain a number of suggested activities as well as resources to tap.

For example, arrange to meet your congressional representatives while they are back in your state or district during the October recess. Offer to show them some planning successes in your community and discuss how they can support planning that creates communities of lasting value for all people.

Hold a legislative breakfast forum on planning for your state legislators, county commissioners, or city council members. Show them how planning addresses issues of economic development, environmental quality, and social equity in your state and community. Ask the governor, county executive, or mayor to present an award to an outstanding "citizen planner" who has made a difference by serving on a planning commission or helping shape the future of your community.

The following documents offer specific strategies for meeting with congressional and state legislators, including suggested talking points for use with Members of Congress and a feedback form to let APA's Government Affairs staff know about your meeting and any follow-up that is necessary.

• Engaging Members of Congress and State Legislators

• Arranging District Meetings with Representatives
  
  
• Sample Meeting Request Letter
  
  
• 10 Tips for Effective Advocacy Meetings

• Follow up / Report Form for Local Events or Meetings

For additional advocacy ideas and background information, see the following sections of our website:

• APA Advocate, our biweekly e-newsletter on federal legislative and public policy issues of interest to planners and communities.
  
  
• Domestic Policy Watch, our monthly examination of critical issues on the federal domestic policy agenda.
  
  
• APA's Policy Guides offer best practices recommendations for planning that can improve citizen participation, community revitalization, housing, environmental protection, disaster mitigation and recovery, and many other topics.
  
  
• APA's Legislative Action Center, where you can find contact information for Members of Congress and state legislators and send messages directly to them.
  
  
• APA's Growing Smart Legislative Guidebook offers state legislators and staff model statutory language for improving planning at state and regional levels and for giving cities and counties the tools they need to plan for the future. For information on state tools that your legislators might consider, see the Growing Smart User Guide, which is organized by community and regional needs, in such areas as agriculture, infrastructure, natural resources, housing, etc.

State and Local Proclamations

Ask your mayor, city council, or county executive to declare October Community Planning Month in your area. Ask your state legislator to pass a resolution designating it Community Planning Month in your state. Tailor these sample proclamations to suit your purposes.

Click here to download a sample proclamation