1. Lobbying 101

2. Learning Objectives Plan strategic lobbying campaigns Create effective messages to and requests of decision makers Develop the skills to build effective and efficient lobbying campaign plans

3. Keep in mind why you’re lobbying You’re the expert! Know your limits Play to your strengths

4. EXERCISE: Why are you lobbying? Think about some issues facing your local, your worksite, your district, and your state. Identify one issue or cause around which you would like to organize a lobbying campaign.

5. Know Your Audience Narrow the scope Executive decision makers Decision chains

6. EXERCISE: Know Your Audience Think more about your issue. Identify offices and, if possible, specific office holders key to the decision.

7. Be Prepared Background Priorities Common ground

8. Build Relationships Give it time Build trust Be a resource

9. EXERCISE: Build Relationships Think about how you will establish or nurture a relationship with the decision maker that you identified. Identify opportunities to create or build relationships with key decision makers.

10. Learn the Ropes Working with staff Meetings are short Procedures and customs

11. Remember! WHY DECISION MAKERS MEET WITH EDUCATORS To learn more about public education and the profession To learn about the state of schools in their jurisdiction To seek support for their own ideas Photo ops with students and parents To meet active parents, educators, and other voters To win favor with our association and PAC

12. Know Your Ask Specific Tangible Verifiable

13. Examples EXAMPLES OF ASKS Principal Smith: Please allocate sufficient funding for a full-time counselor in next year’s school budget. School board member Jones: Please vote against Chairman Brown’s parent trigger proposal next Tuesday. Governor Lewis: Please invite our local president to join your Commission on Primary Education when it convenes next January.

14. EXERCISE: Know Your Ask Think about the issue you identified earlier and three individuals whose support you will need to succeed. Identify the ask you will make of each of those individuals.

15. Support Your Ask Give reasons All politics is local Be open for questions

16. EXERCISE: Support Your Ask Give three reasons why your ask is a good idea Try to us local examples and data to support your ask Present your case and answer questions honestly

17. Not Too Political Bipartisan works Demands don’t Issues before politics

18. Use Your Tools First and lasting impressions Be proactive Keep in touch

19. Be Yourself You know people You have people skills You have a superpower