Issue and Advocacy Training

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Issue and Advocacy Training

• A Presentation for the National Bike Summit

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Topics to Be Covered

• Working the System and Beating the Odds Tips
  and Techniques for Effective Advocacy
• Practice Makes Perfect!
• The Top 10 Things Members of Congress and Staff
  HATE to hear
• The One Little Thing That Makes ALL the
  Difference
• Why This is All So FRUSTRATING

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But First, A Short Quiz

• How many bills total are typically introduced in
  a two-year Congressional session?
• What percentage of those pass?
• What percentage of those that pass are related to
  the renaming of post offices and federal
  buildings?
• What is the average amount of time for a meeting
  with an elected official?
• Whats my point?

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Working the System and Beating the Odds

• What do you want?
• Who should you ask?
• How should you ask?
• How should you follow-up?

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What Do You Want?

• First of all Thank You!
• Then, you must Make the Ask
• Continued support for high priority projects
• Cosponsor the Bicycle Commuter Act
• Funding for Conserve by Bike
• Join the Congressional Bike Caucus
• Funding for the Rivers, Trails and Conservation
  Assistance Program

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Creative Things to Ask For

• Newsletter Article
• Congressional Record Statement
• One minute or five minute speech on the House or
  Senate floor
• Go for a Ride!
• Website statement

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Does this work?

• How many references in the Congressional Record
  to bicycling so far this Congress?

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Who Should You Ask?

• Who do they care about? Why are you relevant?
• What does the elected official care about?

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Tips on Dealing With Staff

• Talk to the Right Person
• Remember, Your Issue Is One of Many
• Staff Contact Has Advantages Over Member Contact
• Institutional Memory in an Elected Officials
  Office Can Be Short
• Expect (and Appreciate) Youth

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How Should You Ask? Developing your Message

• Know Your Facts
• Make it Your Own Message
• Be Positive
• Be Specific
• The Five Minute Rule

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Practice Makes Perfect!
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Now its your turn

• Components of the meeting
• Why are you relevant?
• Can you frame the message?
• Make the ask!
• Personal story
• Reiterate the ask
• Thanks and ask about follow up

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The Top Ten List What Congressional Staff Hate
to Hear

• 10. But I thought my appointment was with the
  Senator
• 9. Heres some reading material for you our
  300 page annual report
• 8. How much of a campaign contribution did
  your boss get to vote against (or for) this bill?
• 7. I assume you know all about HR 1234

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The Top Ten List, Continued

• 6. No, I dont have an appointment but I
  promise Ill only take ½ hour of your time.
• 5. No, I dont really need anything specific.
• 4. We have ten (or more) people in our group.
• 3. What do you mean we have to stand in the
  hall?
• 2. What youre telling me cant be right. I
  heard Jon Stewart say otherwise.

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And the number one item?

• No, I dont represent anyone from your district.
  I just thought youd be interested in what I have
  to say.

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The One Little Thing That Makes ALL the Difference

• Persistence

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Persistence

• Nothing in the world can take the place of
  Persistence. Talent will not nothing is more
  common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius
  will not unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
  Education will not the world is full of educated
  derelicts. Persistence and Determination alone
  are omnipotent. The slogan Press On, has solved
  and will always solve the problems of the human
  race.
• Calvin Coolidge

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Or, for the more Zen oriented

• Persistence can grind an iron beam down into a
  needle.

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How Can YOU Be More Persistent?

• Ask Again!
• If you get a negative answer (or more likely no
  answer) ask a different question
• Work with other groups / coalitions to gain as
  much access as possible
• Work on campaigns and support candidates

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Why is this so FRUSTRATING?

• Even if you know legislative procedure and employ
  all these tips and techniques, you may sometimes
  feel like youre getting NOWHERE.
• Dont Worry! Its not your fault. Legislative
  bodies are designed to be highly inefficient and
  frustrating

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Forging a New PathThe Constitutional Convention

• Been there, done that . . .
• Monarchy
• Articles of Confederation
• Forging a New Path Straight Down the Middle
• Shared power
• Compromise
• Citizen participation
• Favoring inaction over action

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Go Forth and Advocate!

• Take the Effective Advocacy Pledge