The Episcopal New Yorker Spring 2013 : Page 6

Public Policy Network Raising Our Voices in Albany – the New York Episcopal Public Policy Network Goes Online By Nicholas Richardson W hile the New York State Episcopal Public Policy Network has existed for many years, ably represented in Albany by its director, the experienced lobbyist Demi McGuire, there has until now been no mechanism at the state level like that of the national EPPN, whereby New York’s dioceses—individually or to-gether—could alert their members online to upcoming legislation and en-able them to communicate directly with their elected representatives. In 2012, the six Episcopal dioceses of New York, on the initiative of the Diocese of New York, decided to take action to change this by acquiring a license to use a well-proven online advocacy, communication and fundraising tool called “Salsa.” This plat-form works in a way that will be familiar to many readers: Organizations use Salsa to send “action alert” emails on specific topics, with links to “action pages” from which re-cipients can in turn send emails to their legislators (who are identified automatically based on the sender’s zip code and street address), urging them to take a specified action. (Salsa also has an online petition feature, which was given a successful “soft launch” in Decem-ber with the posting by the Diocese of New York of a petition to ban assault weapons and large magazine clips.) A critical Salsa capability is that it enables dioceses to act together as the State EPPN, in smaller groups, or individually. “The dioceses of Long Island and New York might, for example, want to raise issues that are of specific interest to residents of New York City, but would be irrelevant to people elsewhere in the state,” explains the Diocese of New York’s Archdeacon for Mission, the Ven. William C. Parnell. “Salsa makes that pos-sible. It enables each diocese to act autonomously, with its own mailing list, and thus keeps control at the diocesan level.” In an environment in which dioceses are not always in agreement, and where po-sitions on public policy are determined by resolutions in diocesan conventions, this flexibility is essential. “We come together as the New York State (continued on page 34)

Public Policy Network

Nicholas Richardson

Raising Our Voices in Albany – the New York Episcopal Public Policy Network Goes Online<br /> <br /> While the New York State Episcopal Public Policy Network has existed for many years, ably represented in Albany by its director, the experienced lobbyist Demi McGuire, there has until now been no mechanism at the state level like that of the national EPPN, whereby New York’s dioceses—individually or together— could alert their members online to upcoming legislation and enable them to communicate directly with their elected representatives.<br /> <br /> In 2012, the six Episcopal dioceses of New York, on the initiative of the Diocese of New York, decided to take action to change this by acquiring a license to use a wellproven online advocacy, communication and fundraising tool called “Salsa.” This platform works in a way that will be familiar to many readers: Organizations use Salsa to send “action alert” emails on specific topics, with links to “action pages” from which recipients can in turn send emails to their legislators (who are identified automatically based on the sender’s zip code and street address), urging them to take a specified action. (Salsa also has an online petition feature, which was given a successful “soft launch” in December with the posting by the Diocese of New York of a petition to ban assault weapons and large magazine clips.)<br /> <br /> A critical Salsa capability is that it enables dioceses to act together as the State EPPN, in smaller groups, or individually. “The dioceses of Long Island and New York might, for example, want to raise issues that are of specific interest to residents of New York City, but would be irrelevant to people elsewhere in the state,” explains the Diocese of New York’s Archdeacon for Mission, the Ven. William C. Parnell. “Salsa makes that possible. It enables each diocese to act autonomously, with its own mailing list, and thus keeps control at the diocesan level.” <br /> <br /> In an environment in which dioceses are not always in agreement, and where positions on public policy are determined by resolutions in diocesan conventions, this flexibility is essential. “We come together as the New York State public Policy Network when there is broad agreement about what should be done,” says Parnell, “but at the same time dioceses are not impeded from taking action individually under their own banners when others do not agree or are not ready to offer a public position on something.” <br /> <br /> If you were a recipient of the diocesan Online News as of late 2012, or if you signed the online petition to ban assault weapons, you are already signed up for Episcopal Public Policy Network alerts and other communications. If you are not signed up and you wish to join, if you wish to unsubscribe, or if you wish to change your preferences, please go to www.dioceseny.org > Christian Life > Public Policy Network and click on the appropriate link.<br /> <br /> “Our intention is not just to send out occasional emails urging people to contact their legislators, but to use this platform, and a new www.eppn-ny.org website that will also go live shortly, as a means to make available educational resources that can be used at every level from state down to individual parishioners, and to create a climate of conversation that will help people shape their opinions.” said Parnell. “In different corners of our state, people have done remarkable work that has all too often stayed within diocesan boundaries. There’s a rich seam of experience out there waiting to be tapped.”

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