STOP DROWNING NOW CITIES: HOW TO GET LOCAL POLITICIANS ON YOUR TEAM BY DAVID GORMAN SDN BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Right now is the time to begin your journey as a drowning prevention expert. While jack o’ lanterns and turkey are immediate milestones of our march to 2022, we all know that the road to next year’s drowning fatalities is right here, right now. You can change that by getting to know your town’s civic leaders and the media. Every swim school has an essential role to promote drowning awareness and prevention their community. In addition to our day-to-day business of teaching lessons, we must think of how to engage with local civic leaders (which means government, non-profit and faith-based leaders) as well as the local media (news channels, local parents’ groups, influencers and bloggers) Drownings only get attention when someone – especially a child – dies. If you are reading these words, you have correctly felt that leaders and the media should have been on the drowning prevention case long before a death. We can make this happen. The way we do it is educating decision-makers and influencers. We alert them to be aware that a drowning fatality will come next year and they should be prepared. When a drowning eventually occurs, they are prepared to amplify the importance of drowning prevention and make it a public and media priority. We start the process right now. We use awareness-building and relationship-building approaches that are essential with each group. And swim schools are positioned as the experts in your communities. As Shannon Meroney and Mike Meroney of Meroney Public Affairs explained at the recent Tampa National Conference, there are two simple steps repeated over long periods of relationship building to create change. This process not only highlights your knowledge as a drowning prevention expert, but also makes you the first person that leaders think of when a drowning happens.
STEP 1: FORM RELATIONSHIPS WITH LEGISLATORS AND THEIR STAFF. It all starts with the relationship. Remember: “all politics are local.” Not only is it crucial to establish (deeper) relationships with lawmakers, but we must remember they are our neighbors, attend our churches, have children or grandchildren in our schools, and participate in our community events. There should be “local touches” like inviting them to your schools’ events. With the media, relationships are even more important. We have to make it so easy for a reporter. When a story breaks, you want to be the first person they call for knowledge and advice. STEP 2: ADVOCATE FOR OUR PROFESSION, OUR STUDENTS AND FOR DROWNING PREVENTION ITSELF THROUGH THE RELATIONSHIPS. The decisions made by any local council or legislative body directly affects the health of communities, the business of swim schools, and the future of the individuals for whom we provide services. Similarly whatever the media chooses to report affects the awareness and priorities of the public. We see this happening around us literally every day. If we don’t show up and speak up, other groups or advocates will speak for us. Or in the case of drowning – no one will at all. Leaders and the media’s priorities on drowning prevention depend on our ability to raise awareness and influence the process. This means phone calls, letters, e-mails, text messages and visits in-person. Your civic leader and media professional cares what you think; they serve you. They need you as a touchstone for what the public needs. You will not only help them stand out for a positive change, you will also help them help others save a life from drowning.
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