RESULTS

How to Set Up Face-to-Face Lobby Visits

Meredith DodsonDirector of U.S. Poverty Campaigns

RESULTS

Purpose This training is designed to:

Share tools necessary for effective advocacy Share tips on having a good advocacy meeting Demonstrate a useful exercise on speaking effectively you can use to trainothers Answer your questions

Working to create the political will to end hunger and worst aspects of poverty

Empowering individuals to have breakthroughs in exercising personal and political power

Over 30 years of advocacy experience Time tested strategies and tactics Active and engaged network that builds relationships

with legislators, media and local communities

What We Do

RESULTS Activists 800 active volunteers in about 100 communities around

the country Everyday people who want to make a difference In 2011, our activists had…

Over 250 meetings with congressional offices, including 87 face-to-face meetings with U.S. House members and 23 face-to-face meetings with U.S. Senators

215 strategic media placements, including editorials, Op-eds, and letters to the editor

Over 100 outreach and community events around the country

Why Advocacy?

We stand by as children starve by the millions because we lack the will to eliminate hunger. Yet we have found the will to develop missiles capable of flying over the polar cap and landing within a few hundred feet of their target. This is not innovation. It is a profound distortion of humanity’s purpose on earth.

– former Sen. Mark Hatfield (R-OR)

Why Advocacy? Advocacy is creating political will

Telling decision-makers what their priorities should be If we want something, we have to ask for it

Every idea must have a voice Decision-makers are not all knowing Many times, they need to be educated just like

everyone else Ultimately…it’s about change

All major changes in social or economic policy, good or bad, happened because advocates did not give up until it happened — it’s a long-term project

Status quo, i.e. inertia, is a powerful force

Why Lobby Meetings Matter

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)

RESULTS: Direct Grassroots Advocacy

To have lasting influence, you must build relationships Relationship → Trust → Influence Relationship Building with Legislators:

Consistency Regular contact: Be a presence, not a pest Show support when appropriate

Persistence Cannot let one “bad” answer deter you

Informed advocacy Research: audience needs to trust that you have done your

homework and that what you say is true In the end, you want to create champions

Champion scale: neutralize opponents, turn supporters -> leaders-> champions

Don’t be satisfied if your legislator agrees with you; ask him/her to do more

Best Practices: Developing Relationships with Policymakers

Understand what will “reach” decision makers requires research of their interests, background, and past actions

Change happens through relationships, not anonymity

Stories put a face on the issues and reach people at an emotional level

Persistence is key to getting decision makers to take action

Timing is important, so one must understand the legislative process

Scheduling a Meeting Call the scheduler for the legislator and request a

meeting May have to submit something in writing (fax or e-

mail)Include name, dates available, and topic areaTailor our template at: http://capwiz.com/results/

If requesting a meeting with an aide, call that person directly

Can use http://capwiz.com/results/dbq/officials to find aides and scheduler

Ask for the face-to-face meeting Confirm your meeting within one week of the date

scheduled

Research Members of Congress (MoCs) Know the facts about your issue, legislation and position Know the facts about your MoC’s position on the issue Know some background about your MoC (committee

assignments, voting record, etc.) Go to http://capwiz.com/results/dbq/officials/

Outline your agenda Plan to go in a group if possible Assign roles, including a facilitator and note-taker

http://www.results.org/uploads/files/results_u.s._poverty_2012_lobby_meeting_planning_worksheet.doc (RESULTS Planning Worksheet)

Choose issues that will get priority Who will handle follow-up

Preparing for a Meeting

Assemble good leave-behind information Have a one or two page, easy-to-read sheet you can leave

behind that outlines the issues and your request or “ask”, ex. http://www.results.org/uploads/files/2013_results_tax_credits_and_savings_request_sheet.doc

Bring local data and stories Practice, practice, practice

Write down your individual parts Take notes with you but use them only when you need

them Role play the meeting with everyone who plans to attend

Preparing for a Meeting

Be punctual They may make you wait but don’t make them wait They have packed schedules so if you are late, the less

time you will have Call ahead if going to be late

Have a conversation (50-50 rule) Find ways to connect (common interest, background, etc.) Conversation creates a more relaxed atmosphere Use personal stories when you can but tie them to the

larger issue, i.e. use as illustration of the systemic problem Remember your short-term goal (getting them to support

your issue) is dependent on your long-term goal (developing relationships)

Conducting a Meeting

Ask and Listen Don’t be afraid to ask them questions

“What is your position on this issue?” or “What motivated you to get into public service?”

Actively listen to what they are saying Don’t simply wait to talk Actively listening will reveal key insights and facts you may

have not known; can help with follow-up Take good notes

Keep the conversation on track Stick to your agenda (key role for facilitator) If the conversation strays, politely bring it back to the topic

at hand using A-B-C (Acknowledge, then Bridge back to your Core Message)

Conducting a Meeting

Make a firm, specific request Be polite and respectful

Decision-makers are people too and they do not like being attacked any more than the rest of us

Can be passionate, bold and respectful at the same time If person you are talking to becomes angry, DO NOT

respond in kind (likelihood of this is small) Only serves to sour the meeting and undermine goal of

developing a relationship Go in with attitude that you are educating them

May actually be true At very least, you are educating them about your position

Conducting a Meeting

Follow-up Follow-up can be almost as important as the meeting itself It further develops the relationship Contact staffpersons who handle your issue to see what

progress has been made on your request Be sure to send a thank you note to with whomever you

met (handwritten is more personal, e-mail is faster) Send supplemental information, if appropriate

If sending information, follow up a week or two later to see if they got it and to answer questions

Offer to be a resource on your issue

After the Meeting

Additional Tips: Make the Most of Town Halls and Public Events

Research: ask the RESULTS staff and coalition partners for insights and check out past votes on our website.

As a group, prepare your key “laser talks”. Get there early to scope it out: Sit in the front. If they are taken

written questions, many places go in order of when questions were written.

Spread out, but sit strategically: go to the front and near microphones

Make sure you get called upon: be “first, fast, high!” This means raise your hand immediately when it is time to ask questions, and keep it up there

Additional Tips: “Work It” at Town Halls and Public Events

Work the line: introduce yourselves and follow up, or ask your question if you could not during the meeting.

• Handshaking Trick: Don’t let go until you’ve said your piece Work the staff: Swap contact information and any additional

material you brought with you. Work the media: Find the media to share your laser talk to

shape the coverage. Follow up!

RESULTS: www.results.org Take Action Now:

http://www.results.org/take_action/us_poverty_actions_and_news/ Activist Toolkit: http://www.results.org/skills_center/activist_toolkit/ Elected Officials: http://capwiz.com/results/dbq/officials/ Issues: http://www.results.org/issues/us_poverty_campaigns/

Meredith DodsonDirector of U.S. Poverty Campaigns

dodson@results.org / @DodsonAdvocate

Advocacy Resources and Contact Info

You Can Make a Difference!

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

— anthropologist Margaret Mead