1. Advocacy: It Doesn’t Take an Act of Congress
2017 Leadership Development Program
Keri Gilbert
Alex Miller
Laurel Miller
Jennifer Moore
Stephen Garman
GENA

2. What is Advocacy? Advocacy-
The act or process of supporting a cause or proposal.
Any action that speaks in favor of, recommends, argues for a cause, supports or defends, or pleads on behalf of others.
ALEX

3. How to Advocate Know the message and facts
Show the message (and facts) in a way that is clear to everyone
Engage
Make your voice heard
Remember to THANK the person for their time
ALEX
2. like we did on our one pager
3. have a meeting, write an , telephone conference , ect.
4. Follow up, meet again, send another . Just because you meet with the person or made contact doesn’t meen it is over. You must continue the process and reminding them of what you are looking to have changed or done.
5. Send a thank you card or an (this can also be your follow up). In some cases you may have said in your meeting ‘ I will get back to you on…’ this is the time to make the follow up and include whatever info you needed to get back to them on.

4. Different Mediums Write a letter Email Set up a meeting Social Media
Use other organizations or media to help spread the word
ALEX
3. At the state level this is a lot easier to do and most of the meetings are with the representative. But at the Federal level you will more than likely meet with a staff(s).

5. Planning a Successful Legislative Meeting
What do you want? Design your ask
What do you (your students, institution, organization) really, really want?
Who are you asking for?
How to ask
KERI
“What do you want?”

6. Identify Common Interests
As an advocate, you represent a group
Brainstorm
Narrow down
3 topics, 2-3 smaller ideas
Research each topic
Use data collected in a “leave-behind” document
KERI

7. As an advocate, you represent a group
Approval
As an advocate, you represent a group
Submit your ideas to the governing body
Be mindful of the association’s interests
Language
Conceptual
General
Positive
KERI

8. Researching Legislators
Figure out which legislators you may potentially meet with while on your visit
Divide up the research among the group
Provide the group with your research so that everyone can study all of the legislators prior to the meetings
Plan who will be taking the lead before you go into each meeting so that everyone is on the same page
LAUREL

9. Divide and Conquer What do you need to know about your audience?
Party affiliation - Political interests (strongly one-sided, undecided)
Length of service
Area represented
Committee positions
Areas of interest
Higher Education and Financial Aid interest
Anything else that you think the group needs to know
LAUREL

10. Researching Legislators (example)
Representative Ann Wagner doesn’t support the “one size fits all” model. During that meeting we expressed appreciation for that, which lead into two of our talking points, Loan Entrance Counseling - allowing the schools the flexibility to customize those requirements and Direct Loan Annual Limits - allowing the schools the flexibility in determining if certain programs, populations, enrollment, etc., should have lower annual loan limits.
LAUREL
Researching the legislators can help you and your group know how to drive the meeting. (Allows you to work in your talking points from your one pager)
Representative Ann Wagner

11. Researching Legislators (example)
Senator Claire McCaskill is against getting rid of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. During that meeting we used that to lead in to our talking point of wanting that program to stay as well.
LAUREL
Senator Claire McCaskill

12. Representative Ann Wagner (2nd district)
Share
LAUREL
Senator Roy Blunt
Representative Ann Wagner (2nd district)

13. Meeting Preparation Have copies of “leave-behind” document
Bring business cards
Plan who will talk about each topic
Background on your legislators
Tailor talking points for each person’s different backgrounds
JENNIFER

14. Plan the Conversation Map the flow of the conversation
Will you pass off to another member to discuss another talking point?
Be flexible
JENNIFER

15. Scheduling Meetings Expect the Unexpected Delayed flights
Rescheduled NASFAA meeting
Have phone with set-up on hand
Exchange phone numbers within the group
Location, weather, local transportation
Room size
JENNIFER

16. At the Meeting Dress Appropriately (usually business formal)
Explain who you are.
Thank them for their time and support
Be ready with your “Ask”. Meetings move very quickly
Bring a “Leave-behind” (artifact of your intent & a reference)
Exchange business cards
JENNIFER

17. Staffers and Aides
Let the staffer (or legislator) know you have done your homework by working in their key interests
Ask the staffer (or legislator) questions before starting on your talking points
“Are you familiar with the IRS Data Retrieval Tool?”
JENNIFER
Remind the staffer (or legislator) you are available for them to reach out to as they start having conversations about Higher Education

18. Follow-Up Send a prompt follow up Email at the national level
Notecard at the state level
Thank them for the meeting
Reiterate your key points
JENNIFER

19. Of the meetings held in D.C….…
What to Expect
Of the meetings held in D.C….…
…two offices responded
JENNIFER

20. Successful Outcomes
Congressman Cleaver II (5th district) requested a sit-down with MASFAP.
Session lasted 45 minutes
MASFAP asked to provide top 5 burdensome regulations
Discussed loan awareness and counseling concerns
Representative Hartzler’s office (4th district) reached out after the follow-up.
Requested MASFAP’s input on language for HR 1635
JENNIFER

21. Be Realistic with Your Intent
A driving force behind a particular policy
Open-ended invitation to be a resource
Establish a connections for your institution
Establish a connection for your organization
Have an action plan at the end of your event
STEVE

22. Revise As You Go... Preparation During Event After Event
Re-evaluate your message and strategy for fit with your intent
Preparation
During Event
Revise
STEVE
After Event

23. Keep it Simple
Your audience is responsible for the many interests of many constituents
Information given is conveyed to a larger audience, also responsible for many interests
Be concise and concrete
Keep your students in mind
STEVE

24. Thank You
Questions
STEVE

25. Sources
Alliance for Justice Alliance%20for%20Justice.pdf.
Merriam- Webster webster.com/dictionary/advocacy.