Mobilizing for Action

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Mobilizing for Action

• March 23, 2005
• Primer on Being an Effective Ed Tech Advocate
• Lisa A. Woodard
• Alabama Supercomputer Program
• lwoodard_at_asc.edu

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Neither liberty or property is safe when the
legislature is in session.

• Edmund Burke (1729-1797)
• British statesman and orator

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Targeted Officials

• 10-20 of elected officials are your target
• 70 of winning them over takes place prior to
  meeting them in the state capital

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Why would a lawmaker give you his/her vote?
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Relationships should be established

• Start early
• Meet with elected officials in the district
• Talk with them about what you are doing with
  technology before you ask them for anything
• Develop trust
• Doesnt happen overnight
• Built on honesty and accuracy
• Establish yourself as credible
• Knowing influences on legislators
• Familiarity with formal processes
• Abiding by the rules

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Educate Legislators about

• Yourself
• Your group
• Your issues
• Need
• Politics surrounding your issue
• Where the problems are
• How your idea is good for
• Lawmaker
• District
• State

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You are the message

• Likeability is first
• Empathize with your audience.
• Tell a story people can relate to.
• Offer to be a useful resource.

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Facts dont vote.

• Favorable material facts are basic.
• Material facts alone seldom get votes.
• Political facts are essential.

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Meeting with Elected Officials

• Find champions and supporters.
• Enlist advocates.
• Build support.
• Reduce opposition.

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Remember

• Communications are 70-90 non-verbal
• Conviction is demonstrated through appearance,
  eye contact, body language, attitude, and tone
• communicate more than words
• Focus is on lawmakers needs not yours
• Show how your ideas advance his/her agenda

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10- minute talk

• Pre- and early session
• Schedule an appointment
• Speak at a moderate pace
• Use a convenient location
• Provide supporting information

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10-minute Checklist

• Introduce self and issue
• Mention home
• Identify supporting constituents
• Identify supporting legislators
• Identify supporting special interests
• Mention bills factual base

• Provide reasons to support
• Disclose opponents and their positions
• Ask if more information is needed
• Say thank you and leave information

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Follow Up

• Hand write a short note
• Visit with select legislators
• Continue to update legislators
• Inform them when your bill is coming up in
  committee and on the floor
• Drop by to say hello while respecting their
  time
• Notify the groups you are working with
• Legislative Visit Report Form

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Elevator speech

• 2-3 minutes
• Basic information that can be shared quickly and
  comfortably
• Must relate to elected officials consituency

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Politics changes promises February isnt May

• No permanent friends
• No permanent enemies

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Most successful advocacy campaigns are like an
iceberg90 is below the surface.
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A Five Step Approach

• Objective
• Target Group
• Strategies
• Communication Tools
• Evaluation

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State Advocacy

• Learn strategy
• Experience is the best teacher
• Concentrate on learning the legislative
  environment
• Learn committee and floor procedures first
• Use the rules wisely
• Mistakes happen
• Know whenand whoto ask for advice
• Get help
• Know that most legislative work is done by
  consensus

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Public Relations Marketing

• Getting your message across
• Who you are
• What you do
• When and where you do it
• For Whom

• Finding out what the customer needs
• Who they are
• What they need
• How, where and when can we best deliver it to
  them

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Influencing Public Policy

• Elected officials make different decisions when
  watched by the affected constituency
• Get the right information to the right person at
  the right time.

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Politics is like football. If you see daylight,
go through the hole.

• John F. Kennedy

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Potential Legislative Meeting Scenarios
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Scenario 1 Polite, Non-Committal

• The legislator or staff member listens to what
  you have to say, and may ask a few questions but
  for the most part does not give a clear
  indication of where he or she stands on the issue
  and does not commit to taking any particular
  action.

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What Should You Do?

• Ask if there are questions you can answer or if
  additional information is needed
• Try to get a sense of concerns
• Ask if they have been contacted by anyone opposed
  to your position
• Establish your reputation
• Tell them you will follow up with them in the
  near future to find out their position

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Scenario 2 I agree completely

• Either before the meeting is arranged, or during
  the meeting itself, you learn that the member
  strongly supports your position. If fact,
  although you have come prepared with materials,
  you learn that they arent needed.

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What do you do?

• Be respectful of their time, thank them
• Ask them what they are hearing about your issue
• Ask them what else they think should be done to
  broaden support for your issue

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Scenario 3 I disagree

• In many cases, members who disagree with you will
  remain non-committal for as long as possible, but
  in some cases, they will tell you directly that
  they are opposed.

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What do you do?

• Listen to their comments or ask questions to
  determine why they are opposed
• Respond to their concerns
• Ask if they will stay neutral
• Ask if there is specific information that would
  lead the member to change his position
• If you find the situation becoming hostile,
  remain professional, answer questions, and try to
  end the meeting as quickly as possible

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In Conclusion

• People think it is easy for legislators to go
  into session and just do whats right.
• Remember---a battle was fought and political
  blood was shed by someone for every line in the
  budget bills.
• Passing laws and budgets is not easy.

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I am hurt, but I'm not deadI am wounded, but I'm
not slainI'll lay me down and bleed awhileThen
rise to fight again. -- Old Scottish Proverb
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Questions?

• Lisa A. Woodard
• lwoodard_at_asc.edu
• 334-832-2405