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Becoming an Effective Lobbyist

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Lobbying is not just for the wealthy and powerful. ... To multiply your effectiveness, lead a lobby training and organize a group of ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Becoming an Effective Lobbyist


1
Your Country. Your Voice.
  • Becoming an Effective Lobbyist

2
You Want Me to Do WHAT?
  • All of us can and should be lobbyists for OUR
    OWN kind of change in Washington.
  • Lobbying is not just for the wealthy and
    powerful.
  • Lobbying is a way of multiplying ones power at
    the voting booth by holding U.S. decision-makers
    accountable for their actions.

3
What is Lobbying?
  • Advocating the passage or defeat of legislation
  • NOT the exclusive domain of Washington insiders
  • One of the purest forms of democracy in action

4
Why Should WE Lobby??
  • Vocal and visible constituents are the best
    counterbalance to the influence of money and
    power-brokering in politics.

Building a relationship with ones elected
leaders is just as critical as protesting and
community service when trying to change the
system.
5
Who is FCNL and what do we do?
  • The Friends Committee on National Legislation
    (FCNL) is the largest peace lobby in Washington,
    DC.
  • FCNL staff and volunteers work to advocate social
    and economic justice, peace, and good government
    in the United States Congress.

6
Why does FCNL need me?
  • Even more important than experts on the issues
    are local constituents telling a member how they
    feel about important peace and justice issues.
  • FCNL provides tools for and organizes lobbying
    campaigns with citizen lobbyists on issues such
    as U.S. withdrawal from Iraq and Nuclear
    Disarmament.

7
Think Like a Member
  • Factors in a Member of Congress Vote
  • Members viewpoint
  • What constituents think
  • Viewpoints of people the member respects
  • What other members think
  • Party position

8
Think Like an Organizer
  • Elements of a Campaign
  • Lobbying
  • Grassroots organizing
  • Media
  • What gets attention on the Hill?

9
Influences on Congressional Decision-Making
Source Congressional Management Foundation,
Communicating with Congress, 2005.
10
Think Like a Lobbyist
The Lobby Visit
11
The Lobby Visit
  • Meeting with your member of congress or staff is
    easier than you think
  • You dont need to be an expert to visit your
    Members office you are their constituent and
    YOUR VIEWS ARE IMPORTANT
  • Building a relationship increases the
    effectiveness of your message with each visit.

12
Getting In the Door
  • Good lobbying begins with access the Scheduler
    controls who will meet with the Member, and for
    how long.
  • Schedulers have to deal with hundreds of meeting
    requests fitting them in between hearings, floor
    votes, and the other daily events that take up so
    much of a Members time.

13
The Scheduler is the Key
  • Request an appointment in writing as early as
    possible.
  • Be flexible on time and place.
  • State clearly who will be attending the meeting
    and what issue you will be discussing.
  • Visit in groups of 6 or less and keeping your
    issues to one or two topics.

14
Members have Unpredictable Schedules
  • Last minute floor votes, extended committee
    meetings, and other scheduling snafus happen on
    the Hillif you end up meeting with staff,
    understand that they do most of the heavy lifting
    in a congressional office and are an essential
    audience for advocacy.

15
Do Your Homework
  • Appoint a spokesperson for your group.
  • Identify one specific aspect of your issue for
    each person in the group to highlight briefly.
  • Rehearse your presentation beforehand.
  • Practice answering questions in a simple,
    straightforward manner.
  • Find at least one issue you and your Member agree
    on and remember to thank them for their work on
    that issue.

16
During the Visit
  • The Member and their staff may be unfamiliar with
    your issue.
  • Take a few minutes to describe who you are and
    what you are seeking. Describe your ask in
    clear, non-threatening terms.
  • Keep it simple. Dont use acronyms and bill
    numbers that the Member might not know about.

17
Make a Specific Ask
  • Do you want the Member to sponsor your proposal
    or take the lead in a funding initiative?
  • Do you want the Member to cosponsor the bill or
    vote against something in Committee?
  • Ask them, specifically and directly.

18
Never Burn a Bridge!
  • Be prepared for disagreement and rejection.
  • A Member may be in opposition to your views this
    time, but could well be an important ally on
    future issues.

19
If You Dont Know, Say So
  • If youre asked a question you dont know the
    answer to, dont fudge an answer.
  • Simply state that youd like to look into the
    answer and will provide additional information
    either by phone or in writing.
  • Make it a top priority to respond as soon as
    possible after the meeting.

20
Saying See you later not Goodbye
  • Pass out a fact sheet that summarizes your key
    points, along with any supporting documentation.
  • If you are presenting a new legislative proposal,
    have a draft available.
  • Include contact information.
  • Mention how you will follow-up with the office on
    this issue will you visit again? Write a
    letter? Call before the crucial vote?

21
Follow-Up as Important as the Visit
  • Thank you notes are not just for your mother.
    Send one to your Member to build a relationship
    with that office.
  • If you promised any additional information,
    provide it.
  • If youre still waiting for a commitment, ask
    again.
  • To multiply your effectiveness, lead a lobby
    training and organize a group of other concerned
    citizens for a follow-up visit.

22
Now You Get to Do it!
  • Break into small groups
  • Choose a clerk to lead the visit
  • Following the tips discussed today, plan your
    visit
  • One or two groups will act out their visit for
    everybody.

23
Evaluating Role Plays
  • Did the group effectively convey their issue of
    concern?
  • Was there an action requested?
  • What will you remember most about this groups
    presentation?
  • What could be improved for future visits?
  • What do you think would be the end result of this
    visit?
  • What next steps would you recommend for these
    lobbyists?

24
Before and After the Visit
  • Ways to increase the strength of your visit
  • Phone Calls
  • Written Letters
  • Faxes
  • Emails
  • Resources on how to increase your effectiveness
    on these are available in FCNLs Grassroots
    Toolkit, http//www.fcnl.org/action/toolkit.htm

25
Your Country. Your Voice.
Tell us about your success! Fill out a lobby
visit report form on our website at www.fcnl.org/
If you send a digital photo of your visit to
field_at_fcnl.org well put it up on our website!
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