LOTE ADVOCACY WORKING WITH OUR LEGISLATORS AND LEADERS Nancy H. Ketz NYSAFLT Summer Institute August 9, 2012

AGENDA  Knowing our leaders  Current legislation  The phone call  The letter  The visit  Their advice to us

KNOWING OUR LEADERS  Who are my legislators?  Federal: Senator and Representative  NYS: Senator and Assemblyman  For contact info, go to and click on advocacyhttp://  Contact info for SED and Regents is also available there.

CURRENT LEGISLATION  A06232  S00721  HR01966  What is the status of these bills?  How do we learn what we need to know about legislation?

THE PHONE CALL  How hard is this?  Watch the role-play.  Good or bad example?  Why?  What about multiple calls?

THE LETTER  Use NYSAFLT’s Advocacy Guide to Letter Writing (thanks Marie C)  Perfect length?  Where do I get necessary info?  NYSAFLT’s advocacy page, under talking points  What should be included?

PARTS OF THE LETTER  Title. Get it right!  Intro sentence: Who you are, making it matter.  Paragraph 1: Identify the problem.  Paragraph 2: Explain the significance of the problem.  Paragraph 3: Your specific request & thanks  Your name, mailing address, phone#, .

MORE ABOUT LETTER WRITING  Snail-mail or fax is better than .  Only one person per letter.

THE VISIT  Making the appointment.  From receptionist to scheduler.  What days/times are typical?  What if they offer you a chief of staff or area specialist?  How long will the visit probably be?  How many people should attend?

THE VISIT, CONTINUED  What should you bring with you?  Folder with 1 – 4 pages of info, possibly 1 brochure, business card.

THE VISIT  If you are so inspired, what kind of prep work might you do in advance?  Check your legislator’s website and find out 2 or 3 pertinent facts about your legislator.  So what might a typical visit consist of?

SAMPLE VISIT  Introduce yourself (yourselves)  Possible 1 minute of acknowledging some fact about the legislator (the schmooze)  Get to the point of your visit. Discuss your problem, issue, its relevance, etc. (5 minutes)  Point out important materials in folder. (3-5 minutes)  Explain what you’d like the legislator to do.  Return to legislator’s personal connection.  Ask for a photo-op.  Say thank you; repeat request.

THEIR ADVICE TO US  Since there is no legislation presently being voted on, they suggest we go to more LOCAL, GRASSROOTS efforts.