Title: Colorado SML Strategy
Original CoS Document (slug): colorado-sml-strategy
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Created: 2023-06-29 12:43:57
Updated: 2023-07-05 19:54:07
Published: 2023-06-29 02:00:00
Converted: 2025-04-14T20:33:14.435322945
1. The SML's focus is on all Colorado media outside of COS internal media (our internal media is Citizen Builder's blogs, email blasts, text blasts, state blog, COS events/booths, and the social media sites).
2. The SML builds media contact information in general.
3. The SML builds personal relationships statewide, creating reliable media sources and a good reputation for being professional.
4. Arrange and seek positive exposure (through established sources) for COSA, for education and for our events.
5. Create/work towards a three-tier interview system:
1) Arrange interviews for informed COS leaders and volunteers that are approved by the State Director, Laura Neimeister.
2) When well-educated with COSA, our values, our established strategy, then the LMS can arrange interviews for himself.
3) When the experience is established, the LMS can conduct training for others on how to do good interviews.
Tier 1 will take the time necessary in order to develop the SML into an effective state leader that gets COSA in Colorado results, especially going into the 2024 elections that will have the greatest effect in our state’s ability to be among the 34 states that trigger a Convention of States. This is the long term goal that could change the game.
Tier 1
The SML practices professional, non-partisan interaction with Colorado external media with an understanding of Convention of States and our non-profit legal requirements. Find legitimate connections of current events in the state and nationally that ties in with the three objectives in our resolution: proposing term limits on US Congress, the US Supreme Court and federal officials, Impose fiscal restraints on federal spending, reduce the size and power of the federal government. You will also learn how to highlight the current activities by leaders, regional captains and district captains in the state when applicable to the region of the media you’re reaching out to.
The SML builds a generic list of media across the state but also builds a list of contacts that are more realistic opportunities who would want to partner with our objectives. Even finding the first one will be a phenomenal accomplishment.
The SML works on building professional media contacts/relationships in the state.
The SML attempts to get our COSA PSA (public service announcements) on the air. This is more of a challenge to develop skills on not only what works to get responses from media outlets in radio but also to find any contacts that are willing to work with the SML in the future. Getting actual airtime for PSAs is like selling insurance to an insurance agent - it creates skills that will develop the SML into a seasoned asset to COS in Colorado.
Interviews during Tier 1 will get scheduled to be done by current, established leadership or any volunteers approved by State Director Laura Neimeister. The SML will not advance to doing interviews until the State Director and State Communications Coordinator advance the SML to Tier 2, given experience and a proven understanding of the extensive COS Constitutional requirements and non-profit legal requirements.
The SML will attend the weekly state leadership meeting on Free Conference Call on Mondays at 6pm. Also, although not required regularly, can attend statewide meetings bi-weekly on Mondays at 7pm. This exposure to Colorado COS's people, the state strategy, legislative goals, and current events is necessary in order to get the right message out to Colorado.
The weekly time spent will vary. We're looking for time spent over the period of weeks, not a single week. Also, the SML has personal obligations and activities that will always have priority, just like the rest of us. We are, after all, volunteers and we don't want to get overwhelmed or feel defeated. If you feel overwhelmed, express this to leadership and ask for help when needed.
Tier 2
The SML has advanced to scheduling himself for interviews in addition to all Tier 1 duties.
Tier 3
The SML has advanced to training other COS volunteers who would like to give interviews (an opportunity for volunteers in other regions to be able to physically go to radio stations to do interviews where leadership can’t access). Volunteers can learn strategically from the SML who has developed skills on how to do great interviews.