Ohio Initial Organizing Call Agenda

Tuesday, July 19th at 2:00PM ET
Call-in Number: (530) 881-1400
Participant Access Code: 978895

• Welcome message
  • Introduction and explanation of conference call Q & A
    • Who is on the call?
      Who is not here that needs to be here? 
  • Thank you for joining us for this historic event. The inaugural Secular Coalition for Ohio monthly conference call!
  • 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 Ohio operates and the best ways to meet the needs of the Secular Coalition for Ohio
    • 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 Ohio 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. 
  • Challenges to past efforts to establish state chapters
    • Lack of support for state volunteers
      • Will provide resources to make it easier and more efficient
    • Past funding challenges
      • SCA will do all the fundraising and provide all resources the chapter needs
  • 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 - 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
    • Not a membership organization - just a show of support for the lobbying activities of the coalition
• Executive Committee
  • No set number of members or roles
    • Flexible to availability and strengths of individuals who want to get involved
    • Examples of Helpful Skills: leadership skills, familiarity with local groups, monitor legislation, conduct lobbying visits, mobilize grassroots, IT or website knowledge, social networking familiarity, comfortable speaking with press
  • Lobbying Rules for Ohio:
    • A LOBBYIST:  that triggers registration is as follows:
    • (A)  Compensation - you must receive something of value in exchange for your efforts;
    • (B) Direct Communication with office holders - may be either written or verbal and can occur in any medium;
    • (C) Amount of time for which you are paid that is spent lobbying on behalf of a specific client
    • --Legislative - 5% or more of your compensated time
    • --Executive - 25% or more of your compensated time
    • Cost: $25 fee biannually. Online Link: http://www2.jlec-olig.state.oh.us/olac/