1. NAMI Smarts for Advocacy: Meeting Your Policymaker Module Three NAMI Smarts for Advocacy Rev May 2012

2. Ground Rules Participate fully Help keep us on time
To help everyone get the most out of this training, we ask you to agree to the following:
Participate fully
Help keep us on time
Turn off cell phone

3. Agenda Why meetings are important Tips for meeting with legislators
Note: This training builds on skills from NAMI Smarts: Telling Your Story
Why meetings are important
Tips for meeting with legislators
Listen to an example meeting
What makes a meeting “work”
Prepare for a meeting
Practice a one-on-one meeting
Practice a group meeting

4. Why meet your legislator?
Because meetings
build support
for mental health issues.

5. Help you make a connection
In-person meetings…
Help you make a connection

6. But, some meetings make a stronger impression than others.

7. We’ll start with some tips…
Know your issue

8. Tip #2
Know your legislator

9. Tip #3
Plan your meeting

10. Tip #4
Nudge, don’t push

11. Use person-first language
Tip #5
Use person-first language

12. Tip #6
Manage spin

13. Tip #7
Expect resistance
Don’t argue, don’t react

14. Tip #8
Facts support,
stories move

15. With our tips in mind, let’s get started…
Listen to our sample meeting
Notice the roles people play
Notice where you hear the “tips” in action

16. Let’s look at what made our sample meeting work…
Find your Checklist for Meeting Your Legislator
What did you observe during the demo?

17. The Briefing Sheet Know your issue Describe the problem
Identify a solution
Make your “ask”
Good to know: Key players and where the action is

18. The Backgrounder Know your elected official How long in office?
What committees?
What is their background?
Do you have anything in common?
What are their key issues?

19. The Meeting Roles The “lead” The “messenger” The “storyteller”
In a one-on-one meeting, one constituent fills all three roles
In a two-on-one meeting, one constituent fills two roles, the other fills one role

20. Plan your meeting… Find your Meeting Plan sheet
Using the Briefing Sheet as your scenario, script out your meeting
Add a highlight from your own story or experience

21. Practice a one-on-one meeting…
Find a partner
Using your scripts, take turns playing the part of a legislator and constituent

22. Plan a two-on-one meeting…
With your partner, divide up the three roles
Note which script or parts of your scripts you will use in a two-on-one meeting

23. Practice a two-on-one meeting…
Find another pair to practice with
One pair will play the role of legislator and his/her staff; other pair plays part of two constituents

24. What did you learn?

25. The Follow Up Writing a thank you… Makes a good impression
Gives you another opportunity to advocate

26. What did you discover today?
Congratulations!
What did you discover today?

27. Please turn in your evaluation form
We value your feedback
Please turn in your evaluation form

28. Authors Angela Kimball Valerie Hunter NAMI
National Consultant for Organizational Learning