Montana Initial Organizing Conference Call Agenda

Tuesday, June 26th at 4:00PM ET
Call-in Number: (530) 881-1400
Participant Access Code: 978895

• Welcome message
  • Introduction and explanation of conference call Q & A
  • Thank you for joining us for this historic event. The inaugural Secular Coalition for Montana monthly conference call!
  • Background about me
  • Despite the fact that there are tens of millions of nontheistic Americans, we remain one of the most marginalized groups in the country.
  • The Secular Coalition for America is working to make sure that we are heard on Capitol Hill. We fight in Washington DC against religious privileging on a federal level, yet some of the most egregious violations of separation of church and state are being promoted and passed at a state level.
  • The Secular Coalition for America is forming state chapters across the country. Our chapters will bring together secular Americans in each state to influence government officials, legislation, and regulations.
  • Our first step in forming these chapters is our monthly conference calls.
• Goals/Stages of Chapter Development
  • Development Stage
    • Focus on setting up the structure, identifying leadership, identifying how the legislature in Montana operates and the best ways to meet the needs of the Secular Coalition for Montana
    • On these initial calls we will be discussing the mission, purpose, and goals of the SCA chapters, the resources SCA can provide to SCA Chapters, the secular lobbying needs of your state, and the organizational structures of the chapters including leadership positions. No one is required to speak up, but there will be opportunities to do so.
  • Official recognition
    • Once your state chapter is organized, the leadership and a representative of the SCA will sign a memo of understanding officially recognizing the Secular Coalition for Montana and giving the group access to our resources (to be discussed in more depth later)
    • Future monthly calls will become a way to educate and inform. They will focus on identifying and tracking legislation and regulations that affect the secular nature of state or local governance, or affect nontheists; and coordinate grassroots and in person lobbying efforts
• SCA Chapter Model
  • A Secular Coalition for America state chapter is unlike any other nontheistic state organization -- it brings together interested organizations and individuals for the exclusive purpose of lobbying government officials. 
  • Past efforts to establish state chapters
    • More support for state volunteers by making it easier and more efficient
    • Past funding challenges
  • New chapters are under the umbrella of the national organization
    • Part of the Secular Coalition for America 
    • Under our C4 tax exemption
    • Full C4 lobbying privileges
  • Mission and Purpose of the Chapters
    • Mission - The Secular Coalition for Montana and the Secular Coalition for America share the common mission to increase the visibility of and respect for nontheistic viewpoints in the United States, and to protect and strengthen the secular character of our government as the best guarantee of freedom for all. 
    • Purpose - to accomplish its mission through cooperation between local groups and coordinated state lobbying activities
  • Coalition Style
    • Narrow mission and purpose
    • We are the diplomats of the secular movement
  • Coalition members
    • Every person and organization that can fully support our mission we invite to be a part of the Secular Coalition for Montana, which is just a show of support for the lobbying activities of the coalition
• Executive Committee
  • No set number of members, looking for special skills or desire to get involved
  • Opportunities available: communicate with national, network with local groups, monitor legislation, conduct lobbying visits, mobilize grassroots, IT knowledge
  • Potential roles: Co-chairs, communication chair, legislative chair
  • Lobbying Rules for Montana:
    • LOBBYING: the practice of promoting or opposing the introduction or enactment of legislation before the legislature or the members of the legislature.
    • LOBBYIST: One who takes part in the above practice and who earns more than approx. $2,400 in value
    • Registration: Lobbyists have to register, costs $150 and licenses expire on December 31 of each even-numbered year 
• Legislation/Regulation Update
  • Governor
    • Brian Schweitzer, Democrat elected in 2004; Montana governors can only serve 2 terms in any 16 year span.
  • Montana State Legislature
    • Full title: The Montana State Legislature
    • Montana meets every other year for 90 days excepting special sessions. There are no sessions in 2012.
    • Senate has 50 members which serve 4 year terms (maximum of 2). Republican controlled. With 22 Democrats and 28 Republicans
    • The House of Representatives has 100 members who serve 2 year terms (maximum of 4). 32 Democrats and 68 Republicans. Republican controlled.
    • 25 seats up for election in the Senate in November 2012. All seats up for reelection in the House.
  • State Legislation
    • SR 1: A prayer will come before floor action on the senate agenda. (2011)
    • HB 153/30: Would have allowed for faith-based health-care “sharing ministries” in Montana and created a state income-tax credit for payments to a ministry or its members, which would not be regulated by the insurance commissioner. (2011) 
    • HB 227: Would have allowed daycare students to be exempt from immunizations based on religious reasons. (2011)
    • National issues sweeping the states
      • Reframing discrimination as “religious freedom” or “religious liberty”
      • Similar authorization of discrimination, this time by medical professionals with “Rights of Conscience” bills
    • Does anyone know any legislation or regulation in Montana we should be watching?
• Initial Organizing Resources
  • Coordination on Bill Tracking
    • Short term tracking through
      • Bill tracking is available (with registration) at http://leg.mt.gov/css/Sessions/62nd/pref_hlp.asp
      • Legiscan.com
    • Long term tracking plans
      • Bill tracking we pay for if not cost prohibitive (CQ)
        • Committee hearings calendar
        • Full bill text
        • Customizable reports
        • Automatic web publishing
  • Use of our logo and name Secular Coalition for Montana
  • Website
    • Pages on our secular.org website for each state
    • MT.secular.org subdomain
    • Uses our template, but you will be able to update information
    • Working to automate updates
  • Email Address for Chair/Co-Chairs
    • Chair's name at secular.org
  • Gmail Group for Leadership
    • Will have a state@secular.org email address
    • Ability to email all other state leaders at once
    • All leaders will receive general info emails at their designated personal emails
  • Facebook Page
    • Set up for each state
    • Will add leadership as admins
    • Can schedule events
  • Recorded call available for replay
• Eventual Resources
  • Promotional resources - brochures, stickers, buttons, handouts
  • Informational resources - Research, fact sheets and policy papers
  • Trainings and Guides - media and lobby trainings and guides
• National Update
  • Powerpoints
  • National Secular Calendar
  • National Secular Update Weekly Conference Call
    • Thursdays at Noon 559-726-1300 Code 199568
• Media
  • We are looking for a supporter in Montana to be our media contact
    • Press interested in our chapters would like to speak with people involved in the forming of the Secular Coalition for Montana
• Development
  • Why are we centralizing development?
• Who is not here that needs to be here?
• What we are doing until the next call:
  • Coordinating the lobbying needs of Montana with best practices in organizational development and lobbying to create the best structure for MontanaMT.secular.org
  • Comparing communications and bill tracking methods
  • Identifying leadership
• What you can do:
  • Contact us if interested in leadership
  • Contact us if interested in being media point person
  • Sign up on our website to receive info and updates
  • Check out the state chapters page for updates
  • Spread the word about the next conference call!
    • Next Conference Call Date and Time
    • July 24th, 4-5PM ET; same call in number and code
• My contact information
  • Kelly Damerow
  • Research and Advocacy Manager, Secular Coalition for America
  • Email: statechapters@secular.org
  • Phone: 202-299-1091
• Thank you!