NARP Advocacy Training: Getting Your Elected Officials On Board

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NARP Advocacy Training Getting Your Elected
Officials On Board!

• A Presentation for the National Association of
  Railroad Passengers
• Presenter Stephanie Vance

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Topics

• What Influences Elected Officials
• Tips and Techniques for Breaking Through the
  Chaos
• The Top Ten List of Things Elected Officials and
  Staff Hate to Hear
• Why it Feels Like NOTHINGS Happening
• Building a Plan for at Home

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Is Government Broken?

• Number of bills introduced in a Congressional
  session
• Percentage of bills that pass
• Number of bills related to the renaming of post
  offices and federal buildings
• Number of bills introduced containing the word
  rail
• Average time for a meeting with an elected
  official

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Factors that Influence Elected Officials

• What factors do YOU think influence an elected
  official?

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Potential Factors

• Friends
• Staff
• Jobs / Development Issues in Their Districts
• The Media
• Money?
• The Message
• Their Own Principles
• Good Public Service

• MOST IMPORTANT
• Their Constituents
• Representative Democracy reflects and amplifies
  the POWER of the Grassroots

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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?

• You must Make the Ask
• Dont eliminate Amtrak funding!

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Creative Things to Ask For

• Newsletter Article
• Congressional Record statement
• One minute or five minute speech on the floor
• Site visit
• Website statement

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Who Should You Ask?

• Key Questions
• 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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How Should you Follow-Up?

• The single most important factor in effective
  advocacy?
• FOLLOW-UP!

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The Top Ten List What Staff Elected Officials
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 bill number 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 youre telling me cant be right. I
  heard Dr. Laura (or any other talk show host) say
  otherwise.
• 2. What do you mean we have to stand in the
  hall?

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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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Now its your turn

• Key Message Point 1 ________________________
• Key Message Point 2 ________________________
• Key Message Point 3 ________________________
• Who will say what, when?

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Role Playing

• Nows our opportunity to practice!

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A Word of Caution

• 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 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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Ideas for an Ongoing Relationship Come up with
your OWN plan

• Ask members to
• Meet in the district
• Visit a railroad facility
• Write an article
• Demonstrate ongoing support through
• Letters
• Votes
• Legislation

• You should
• Attend fundraisers
• Give recognition awards
• Thank your lawmakers
• Learn as MUCH as you can
• Train and organize your grassroots
• Keep track of important data about your community

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Lets Build a Plan!

• Break into groups and develop a local advocacy
  plan that incorporates the following elements
• What three relationship building asks will you
  ask for over the year?
• How will you identify other advocates (as well as
  train them?)
• How are you going to ask? Remember the need to
  develop personal, thoughtful, relevant messages.
  Will you have a lobby day? A website? A
  letter-writing campaign? All of the above?
• How will you keep the pressure on? Will you plan
  events around holidays? Media?
• How will you measure success?

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Chocolate CHIP Government Relations Plan

• What three relationship building asks will you
  ask for over the year?
• Who are the key players, both in Congress and as
  coalition partners? How will you identify them?
  How will you build grassroots support?
• How are you going to ask? Remember the need to
  develop personal, thoughtful, relevant messages.
  Will you have a lobby day? A website? A
  letter-writing campaign? All of the above?
• How will you keep the pressure on? Will you plan
  events around holidays? Media?

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Go Forth and Advocate!

• Persistence is Key

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Contact Information

• 4000 Albemarle St., NW
• Ste. 302
• Washington, DC 20007
• [phone]
• www.advocacyguru.com
• Vance_at_advocacyguru.com