Lobby Day 2014

The Lobby Visit: A How-To Guide

• What is lobbying? o Attempting to influence decisions made government officialso Different from advocating, publicly supporting or opposing on an issue, or

education, informing on an issue

• How is it done?o Face to face meetingso Emailo Phone

• Constituent lobbyingo Legislators are almost always very eager to win your support.o Legislators are sincerely interested in getting their constituents’ views on

legislation.

• Nonprofit lobbyingo You are the expert on your issue – you have information that the legislator needs.o Legislators and their staff repeatedly say that the information nonprofits provide is

important to their decisions

Preparation

• Know the facts• Know the history• Know the legislator• Prepare material

Scheduling a Meeting• Email or call the office

o Scheduler is the gate keeper!

• Have several dates and times ready to offer

• Provide them with:o Your name and contact infoo Your organization o If you are a constituento Specific bill or issue you want to

discuss

Day of the Meeting• Dress

o Business casualo Men: Button down and nice pantso Women: Nice shirt or blouse with pants or

skirt, or a nice dress

• Timing• Demeanor• Greeting• Information presentation• Decide who will be the primary

speaker• Know with whom you are

meetingo Meetings with staffers are just as

important!

The Meeting• Open with a thank you• Introduce the Secular Coalition and

its mission• Ask if they are familiar with terms

like “humanist,” “atheist,” or “secular”

• The reason why I wanted to meet with you today…

• Share personal experiences• Ask if they have any questions• Thank them again• Be professional and courteous

The mission of the Secular Coalition for America is to increase the visibility of and respect for nontheistic viewpoints in the United States, and to protect and strengthen the secular character of our government as the best guarantee of freedom for all.

Follow Up• Thank you note

o No more than two days latero Email is acceptable

• Update if there is movement on your bill or issue• Keep up the relationship

o Send any information you come across that they might find relevant their way

o Become a resource they can rely on

Capitol Hill Map

Preparation for TodayReligiously Unaffiliated Voter Fact Sheet

Preparation for TodaySchool Vouchers• Lobby Sheet• Politico Story

Preparation for TodayTax Reform• Lobby Sheet• Issue Statement• Tax Reform Comments

Preparation for TodayMilitary• Issue Statement• Atlantic Story

on Chaplains

Preparation for Today

Climate Change• Issue Statement• Lobby Sheet

Practice• Sit with your group at

lunch• Take turns being the

staffer and yourself and practice the meeting

• Relax and remember its just a conversation talking about what you care about