RESULTS How to Set Up Face-to-Face Lobby Visits Meredith Dodson Director 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 train others  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)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 area  Tailor our template at:  If requesting a meeting with an aide, call that person directly  Can use to find aides and schedulerhttp://capwiz.com/results/dbq/officials  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  Outline your agenda  Plan to go in a group if possible  Assign roles, including a facilitator and note-taker  _meeting_planning_worksheet.doc (RESULTS Planning Worksheet) _meeting_planning_worksheet.doc  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. edits_and_savings_request_sheet.doc edits_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, 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.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:  Take Action Now:  Activist Toolkit:  Elected Officials:  Issues: Meredith Dodson Director of U.S. Poverty Campaigns / 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