Advocacy for Everyone- Meeting and Building Relationships with Legislators and Staff ! Robert RiedelRobert Riedel M. Christopher TabakinM. Christopher Tabakin CAN Coordinators for Kansas and CAN Coordinators for Kansas and

PennsylvaniaPennsylvania

Today We Will:

Go over some basics for meeting and Go over some basics for meeting and building relationships with Legislators and building relationships with Legislators and build relationships. build relationships.

What IS Advocacy?

Webster’s New World Dictionary: Webster’s New World Dictionary: Advocacy-The act of advocating, speaking Advocacy-The act of advocating, speaking

or writing in support.or writing in support. Advocate-a person who pleads another's Advocate-a person who pleads another's

cause.cause.

Things to Keep in Mind:

Before you ever step foot in an office to meet, keep Before you ever step foot in an office to meet, keep the following things in mind:the following things in mind:

Politicians are elected to represent you.Politicians are elected to represent you. They want to be re-elected.They want to be re-elected. Help them see “the light”- why your subject is Help them see “the light”- why your subject is

important.important. You probably know more! (know your stuff)You probably know more! (know your stuff) Make it personal.Make it personal.

Preparation for the Visit-A Few Weeks BeforeIt starts long before you are on the Hill!It starts long before you are on the Hill! Schedule the appointment (be specific and Schedule the appointment (be specific and

ask for a time, but be flexible. ask for a time, but be flexible. Ask specifically to meet with the Ask specifically to meet with the

congressman/woman if possible. Don’t congressman/woman if possible. Don’t expect this though. expect this though.

Tips for Scheduling Appointments Leave time in between appointments. It will Leave time in between appointments. It will

take time to get from one side of the Hill to take time to get from one side of the Hill to the other. Walk or catch a cab.the other. Walk or catch a cab.

Be nice to the scheduler. Be nice to the scheduler.

Preparation for the Visit-The Night Before Organize materials-create packets (don’t forget Organize materials-create packets (don’t forget

your business cards!)your business cards!) Have pens and notepad available.Have pens and notepad available. Read over materials and know your stuff.Read over materials and know your stuff. Plan out what you will say basically but do not Plan out what you will say basically but do not

script things out if possible. Be conversational to script things out if possible. Be conversational to an extent. an extent.

Think of personal stories and anecdotes. Think of personal stories and anecdotes.

Preparation for the Visit-The Night Before (things you might not think of that make life easier)

Get clothes ready- Remember to wear comfortable cloths Get clothes ready- Remember to wear comfortable cloths and shoes (it will be hot) BUT always business attire on and shoes (it will be hot) BUT always business attire on the Hill!the Hill!

Look over the map of the Hill and locate offices and mark Look over the map of the Hill and locate offices and mark on map.on map.

Look up information about your Congressman/woman Look up information about your Congressman/woman (what committees are they on, where are they from, where (what committees are they on, where are they from, where do they live, do they have children, what religion are they do they live, do they have children, what religion are they if any, what is important to them, anything else?!)if any, what is important to them, anything else?!)

Get a good night’s sleep!Get a good night’s sleep!

Preparation for the Visit-The Morning Of Your Visit Make sure you are presentable-well groomed etc.-Make sure you are presentable-well groomed etc.-

First Impressions are Everything!!First Impressions are Everything!! Get to the Hill early to get your bearing.Get to the Hill early to get your bearing. When entering buildings be prepared for airport When entering buildings be prepared for airport

type security. Be prepped when you get to the type security. Be prepped when you get to the security point. security point.

Freshen up after entering a building (remember it Freshen up after entering a building (remember it is hot!).is hot!).

Eat and drink through the day.Eat and drink through the day.

The Visit!!

Be on time! Notify the office if you will be Be on time! Notify the office if you will be late or must cancel. late or must cancel.

Be flexible if your meeting time changes. Be flexible if your meeting time changes. When you enter the office introduce When you enter the office introduce

yourself to the receptionist. Be very nice yourself to the receptionist. Be very nice and state you have an appointment. They and state you have an appointment. They can be your best friend in the future!can be your best friend in the future!

Ask for passes to the gallery.Ask for passes to the gallery.

The Visit!! Remember Your Manners Stand up straightStand up straight SmileSmile Look anyone you introduce yourself to in the eyeLook anyone you introduce yourself to in the eye Give a good handshake- no wet fish or superman Give a good handshake- no wet fish or superman

gripsgrips Introduce yourself Introduce yourself These things set the stage for a good meetingThese things set the stage for a good meeting

The Visit!! Your In! Now What?

Start by building a bit of rapport- use the Start by building a bit of rapport- use the information you found out about them to information you found out about them to start a brief “chit chat” time. Do the same start a brief “chit chat” time. Do the same with a legislative assistant. LA’s can be with a legislative assistant. LA’s can be another one of your best friends. another one of your best friends.

Don’t get railroaded.Don’t get railroaded.

The Visit!! Your In! Now What?

Do not be surprised if you never see your Do not be surprised if you never see your legislator. legislator.

Be pleasantly surprised if you do meet Be pleasantly surprised if you do meet directly with your legislator and use your directly with your legislator and use your time very very wisely. time very very wisely.

Your time WILL be limited either way. Your time WILL be limited either way.

The Visit!! Your In! Now What?

You have a message they NEED to hear.You have a message they NEED to hear. Have “talking points” with notes and use them to Have “talking points” with notes and use them to

guide the conversation. guide the conversation. Present the congressman/woman or LA with the Present the congressman/woman or LA with the

packet and briefly explain what is in it. packet and briefly explain what is in it. Go through the packet and discuss important Go through the packet and discuss important

points.points. Use personal touches (stories etc.) to drive the Use personal touches (stories etc.) to drive the

points home. points home.

The Visit!! Your In! Now What? Things to Keep in Mind Do not get off topic too far. Sometimes Do not get off topic too far. Sometimes

topics shift to the war, Katrina relief, etc. topics shift to the war, Katrina relief, etc. Be thankful and respectful but keep on your Be thankful and respectful but keep on your point. Ex. Full Fundingpoint. Ex. Full Funding

Remember your facts and data. Refer back Remember your facts and data. Refer back to talking points and notes if needed. (data to talking points and notes if needed. (data can be interpreted in various ways –be can be interpreted in various ways –be careful).careful).

The Visit!! Your In! Now What? Things to Keep in Mind

Maintain your focus, do not back down, do not Maintain your focus, do not back down, do not argue, do not threaten- it is ok to disagree on a argue, do not threaten- it is ok to disagree on a topic but make sure CEC’s voice is heard and topic but make sure CEC’s voice is heard and move on. move on.

Make sure CEC’s unified view is presented. If you Make sure CEC’s unified view is presented. If you do not agree with a particular point do not address do not agree with a particular point do not address it at that time. Take another opportunity to do that.it at that time. Take another opportunity to do that.

The Visit!! Your In! Now What? Things to Keep in Mind If you find yourself in the midst of a HOT TOPIC If you find yourself in the midst of a HOT TOPIC

do not argue and redirect. It will not do any good to do not argue and redirect. It will not do any good to make an enemy.make an enemy.

Do not make snide comments and do not threaten to Do not make snide comments and do not threaten to not vote for them. not vote for them.

You You can can subtly remind them you are and represent subtly remind them you are and represent constituents.constituents.

Remain bi-partisanRemain bi-partisan

The Visit!! Your In! Now What? Starting to Wrap Up Answer questions with KNOWN answers. Answer questions with KNOWN answers.

Write down others and bring back to CEC. Write down others and bring back to CEC. Follow-up!Follow-up!

Do not particularly offer solutions. They are Do not particularly offer solutions. They are elected to do that. elected to do that.

The Visit!! Your In! Now What? Wrapping Up Remember to always thank them for the Remember to always thank them for the

time. time. End the same way you start, with a good End the same way you start, with a good

handshake and eye contact. Leave them handshake and eye contact. Leave them with the same good impression you started with the same good impression you started with.with.

The Visit is Over. Is That It?

Stay in touchStay in touch Email or send a thank you note to anyone you met Email or send a thank you note to anyone you met

with. This is VERY important for future with. This is VERY important for future relationships. relationships.

Follow-up with things if requested. Follow-up with things if requested. Bring up topics and issues directly in the future. Bring up topics and issues directly in the future.

Email- they asked for it, probably.Email- they asked for it, probably. Ask for a visit from the congressman/woman.Ask for a visit from the congressman/woman.

Sure the Visit is Over, But Keep Going! Go to local, state, and federal events. Go to local, state, and federal events.

Always take advantage of opportunities.Always take advantage of opportunities. Volunteer for an election.Volunteer for an election. Volunteer at a polling place on voting day.Volunteer at a polling place on voting day. Show up and be seen.Become known as a Show up and be seen.Become known as a

face and name for your cause.face and name for your cause. Build the relationship aspect whenever Build the relationship aspect whenever

possible. possible.

Be an Advocate

Be visible-show up in places to get yourself Be visible-show up in places to get yourself known (previously known as lurking).known (previously known as lurking).

Make friends (keep your friends close and Make friends (keep your friends close and your “enemies” closer).your “enemies” closer).

Congratulations

Your Ready!Your Ready!

Thanks!

Making a difference in even one life Making a difference in even one life changes historychanges history