You’re the Cure Boot Camp Talking With Lawmakers Mid-Atlantic Affiliate December 13, 2011

Goal To provide direction and skills for effective and compelling communicationTo provide direction and skills for effective and compelling communication To increase comfort level communicating with lawmakers and their staffTo increase comfort level communicating with lawmakers and their staff

Why is this important? Personal contact carries weightPersonal contact carries weight Being a constituent carries weightBeing a constituent carries weight Lawmakers need educationLawmakers need education

Decision makers fall into one of 4 categories (1) Champions (2) Already supportive (3) Apathetic to the issue or neutral (4) Unsupportive

Protocol/Best Practice WHAT NOT TO DO, WHAT TO DO, AND HOW TO DO IT Guest Speaker: Mary P. Dooley Legislative Aide, Delegate Patrick Hope (VA)

A Call or a Visit? Which is more effective?Which is more effective? How to set up a visit or callHow to set up a visit or call  In session  Before and after session

Insider Tips: Appointments Credibility Reaching the right person/target What happens with too much information Newbies: You’re not the only one!

Best Practice Respect our time Build your case and stay on message Describe and simplify the issue Share how this problem effects YOU Explain how this will “fix” the problem Discuss what other states have done Make “the ask.” Follow-up

Handout to Leave Behind or Send One-page summary with no more than three bullets: 1.The problem 2.How it affects you 3.The solution Indicate that you can provide scientific references as needed.

Lobbying Tactics Be well preparedBe well prepared Show appreciation and courtesyShow appreciation and courtesy Follow-upFollow-up –Promptly follow up on requests for more information –Let your AHA staff contact know of your activity

Telling your Story – the Human Interest Element How has heart disease or stroke impacted you? – –Doesn’t need to be lengthy – –Should be specific – –Include the emotional side, not just the facts! How does your story relate to the policy ask we are making?

Hook, Line, Sinker Model Hook – Who you are Line – Why you care Sinker – What you want

Be Prepared, Stay on Message Be prepared to handle difficult or unexpected questionsBe prepared to handle difficult or unexpected questions When someone takes you off topic, “bridge” or segway back to key messages and the topic at handWhen someone takes you off topic, “bridge” or segway back to key messages and the topic at hand

Building Your Bridge What’s most important to know is…What’s most important to know is… Let me also add that…Let me also add that… That is not my area of expertise, but what I can tell you is…That is not my area of expertise, but what I can tell you is… Another thing to remember is…Another thing to remember is… It is also important to point out that…It is also important to point out that… What we are really concerned with…What we are really concerned with…

Closing the Meeting Be sure to get an answerBe sure to get an answer Recap any follow-up you’ve promisedRecap any follow-up you’ve promised Be sure to thank your legislatorBe sure to thank your legislator Connect with your Government Relations Director to share outcome of your call or visit!

You’re the Cure. Questions? Keltcie Delamar, Director, Grassroots & Media Advocacy Affiliate Grassroots Web Page: YTC Action Center: