Communicating Legislative Messages on the Hill and Beyond

Objectives Learn effective communication methods Learn effective communication methods Practice effective communication methods Practice effective communication methods Prepare for Hill visits Prepare for Hill visits

Effective Legislative Communication Keep it Local Keep it Local Keep it Personal Keep it Personal Keep it Concise Keep it Concise Put it in Writing Put it in Writing

Visiting the Legislator’s Office Make an appointment Make an appointment Embrace opportunity to meet with staffer Embrace opportunity to meet with staffer Explain who you are…simply Explain who you are…simply Seek advice on how you can help develop support for your issue Seek advice on how you can help develop support for your issue

Visiting the Legislator’s Office Present issue from legislator’s perspective Present issue from legislator’s perspective Use time wisely Use time wisely Respond to known arguments Respond to known arguments Admit ignorance; promise answers Admit ignorance; promise answers

Visiting the Legislator’s Office Agree to disagree if necessary; politely present your case Agree to disagree if necessary; politely present your case Ask for specific action; seek response or commitment Ask for specific action; seek response or commitment After the meeting, ask someone to take a photo of you and your legislator After the meeting, ask someone to take a photo of you and your legislator Follow up Follow up

Visiting the Legislators’ Office Keep in mind… You know more about conservation than your legislator You know more about conservation than your legislator Legislators work for you Legislators work for you You are an information resource for legislators You are an information resource for legislators

Prepare for Your Visit Develop your message outline: A. Opening B. Body C. Conclusion

The Written Piece Provides readily available record for staffer or legislator Provides readily available record for staffer or legislator Similar to a Fact Sheet Similar to a Fact Sheet Contains brief description of issue(s), why they’re important, and action you want legislator to take Contains brief description of issue(s), why they’re important, and action you want legislator to take

The Written Piece How many pages? How many pages? Bring plenty of copies. At least one for the staffer and one for the legislator. Bring plenty of copies. At least one for the staffer and one for the legislator. Distribute at the end of the meeting. Distribute at the end of the meeting. Include your contact information Include your contact information

Edit the Written Piece Your written piece should include: Your written piece should include: A brief description of the issue A brief description of the issue Why the issue is important Why the issue is important Action you want legislator to take Action you want legislator to take Keep it simple Keep it simple

Body Language Guess the Meaning Handshake Rating

Follow Up If you follow up, you’ll get what you want 90% of the time. If you follow up, you’ll get what you want 90% of the time. If you don’t follow up, you’ll get what you want less than 50% of the time. If you don’t follow up, you’ll get what you want less than 50% of the time.

Follow Up—Media Style Send a photo of you and your legislator to the local paper. Send a photo of you and your legislator to the local paper. Include a press release describing the purpose of your visit. Include a press release describing the purpose of your visit. Send a copy of the photo and press release to your legislator Send a copy of the photo and press release to your legislator

The Power of “Thanks” An effective thank you note: Is hand written and legible. Is hand written and legible. Briefly reiterates your issue. Briefly reiterates your issue. Requests specific action or response. Requests specific action or response. Thanks the legislator for his or her time and consideration. Thanks the legislator for his or her time and consideration.

Addressing Your Note The Honorable John Doe House of Representatives 201 West Capitol Avenue Jefferson City, MO Dear Representative Doe: The Honorable Jane Doe Missouri Senate 201 West Capitol Avenue Jefferson City, MO Dear Senator Doe:

Summary—Face to Face with Your Legislator Make the little time you have count Make the little time you have count Prepare yourself Prepare yourself Ask for response, commitment, or action Ask for response, commitment, or action Capitalize on media opportunities Capitalize on media opportunities Make the written piece great Make the written piece great Follow up Follow up

Summary—Your Ongoing Relationship Meet face to face a couple times a year Meet face to face a couple times a year Get to know staffers Get to know staffers Ask how you can assist your legislator Ask how you can assist your legislator Invite legislator to your events; ask him/her to speak Invite legislator to your events; ask him/her to speak Stay in contact with hand written notes and letters Stay in contact with hand written notes and letters Thank your legislator often Thank your legislator often