Make Your Voice Heard Lobbying Tips for Advocates

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Make Your Voice HeardLobbying Tips for Advocates
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Do What Works!
97 percent of Congressional staff say that
in-person issues visits from Constituents
influence policymakers, with 46 percent
reporting it has a lot of influence. (Source
poll of more than 250 congressional staff by the
Congressional Management Foundation)
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Preparing for Advocacy Day

• Remind yourself why youre there
• Remind yourself that most paid lobbyists are
  coming in representing their own interests NOT
  YOU
• Remind yourself that youre doing this work
  because you care about the well-being of others
• Remind yourself that you are taking your time and
  your money to travel across the country to lobby
  Congress about poverty WHO DOES THAT? (hint
  YOU)
• Remind yourself that youre not only
• helping people, youre strengthening
• democracy itself

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Preparing for Advocacy Day

• Its OK to feel scared

Before
After
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Preparing for a Meeting

• Know What Youre Talking About
• Know your issue, legislation, and position
• Know Who Youre Talking To
• Know some background about your legislator
  (committee assignments, voting record, etc.)
• Go to http//capwiz.com/results/dbq/officials/
• Outline your agenda
• Assign roles facilitator, issue person(s),
  storyteller, note-taker, and follow-up person
• Choose issues that will get priority should
  have learned this on your lobby prep calls
• Write out what you plan to say
• Practice, practice, practice role play!
• Have Your Leave Behind Info Available

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Conducting a Meeting

• Have a conversation build a relationship
• Find ways to connect (common interest,
  background, etc.)
• Look them in the eye
• Tell stories stories at 22 times more memorable
  than facts alone
• Focus on solutions more than the problem
• Ask and Listen
• Dont be afraid to ask them questions
• Actively listen to what they are saying
• Take good notes for follow-up
• Be polite, respectful, and bold
• Be confident in your request and ask
• for specifics
• Keep conversation on track
• Ask for a picture

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After the Meeting Follow up!

• Get a Meeting
• If you didnt get a face-to- face meeting,
• schedule one for back home while in
• their office
• Follow-up Two Times
• Follow up One Within a day or two of your
• meeting, send a
• Thank you note (can be hand-written
• or e-mail)
• Reiteration of your request
• Any supplemental information you want to include
  (be brief)
• Follow Up Two Within a week of your meeting
• Check in with specific aide on the status of your
  request
• Check in with scheduler about meeting request (if
  it did not get set when in DC)

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• Most of All HAVE FUN!