Maximizing the Value of Your Lobbying Visit
EBAA Leadership and Advocacy Conference February 12-14, 2014
Rusty Kelly, Chief Marketing Officer, SightLife Cindy Reed, Executive Director, Iowa Lions Eye Bank
Legislators need to be informed about Eye Banking
We Restore Sight
Reforms threaten eye bank processing fees Establish relationship
before you need it Become a source of
good news
Let me tell you about my Eye Bank
Three Simple Steps
We Restore Sight
Connect
Educate Invite and Thank
HAVE IN MIND:
WHAT TO DISCUSS
WHY DISCUSS IT
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO THEM (THEIR DISTRICT)
Gift of sight through transplant and the gift of answers through research
Connect
Maximizing Your Visit
Everyday
Educate
Maximizing Your Visit
Maximizing Your Visit
Tell the Stories of
Grateful Recipients
Maximizing Your Visit
Tell the Stories of Donors and their Families
Tell a Research Story
Educate Research
Maximizing Your Visit
Tell A Story
Educate Issues?
Maximizing Your Visit
Legislator as Stakeholder
Invite and Thank
Maximizing Your Visit
Invite and Follow Up Invite legislators
or staff to visit your facility or event when they are back in their district.
Thank and Follow Up
Written note vs email
Do what you said you were going to do
Practicing Your Engaging Muscle
We Restore Sight
Know Your Audience
Connect
Educate
Invite and Thank
Let me tell you about my Eye Bank
Exercise For Hill
Visits
-
Step 1: Take 5 minutes to jot down your elevator speech…make sure to include the following: • Your name and role at your organization
• High level introduction to your organization
o What does your organization do? o Where are you located and what area(s) do you
serve? o How many people have you helped? o Who are you affiliated with?
• Very high level overview of why you are meeting with
them
Example: I’m not here with a specific ask but rather to introduce myself and our organization along with the role of eye banking and corneal transplantation in the broader healthcare arena.
I’m excited and passionate
Step 2: Partner up with
someone else (not from your organization) and practice your elevator speech Give feedback! Switch roles
Maximize Your visit
Question and Comments? Let’s Go!