Crafting & Delivering Your Advocacy Message Presented by: Michael Splaine, Splaine Consulting; Robyn Grant Director of Public Policy & Advocacy, Consumer Voice With a special guest appearance by Amity Overall-Laib

Session outline Tips on developing your message Tips on presenting your message Group exercise: ◦ Write a message ◦ Role play delivering your message

Crafting the Message Open with a statement that engages your audience Present the problem Provide facts, data about the problem Give a real life, human example about the problem Connect the issue to your audience ◦ How it fits with what they care about/want/need Make your request (the “ask”)

Crafting the Message Make sure to: ◦ Prepare for arguments opposing your request ◦ Research your audience  For elected officials:

Delivering the Message Arranging and preparing for the meeting Conducting the meeting Following-up after the meeting

Arranging and Preparing for the Meeting Set up a meeting time Review your message ◦ Find out anything else you can about the person ◦ Make sure your responses to “push back” are ready Decide who is going to say what – and in what order; who will take notes Decide what information to bring

Conducting the Meeting DO: Be on time!!! Start with ◦ Introductions ◦ Identifying that you’re a constituent ◦ A compliment Present your message – remember to make “the ask” Be courteous and polite Take notes Ask whom to contact for follow-up Leave your card and information

Conducting the Meeting DON’T: Make up an answer or guess Argue or debate Alienate the person Take too much of the person’s time

Following-Up After the Meeting Write a thank you note right away Provide information for unanswered questions Do visit report if part of a campaign Follow-up again if you haven’t received a response to your request

GROUP EXERCISE