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Use Your Voice to Make a Difference!
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Lobby? You? Yes! How often do you sit around with your friends, discussing how the U.S. should be behaving more responsibly in the world? Instead of just talking to each other, why not get out there and talk to someone who can actually do something about it? Someone who is supposed to listen to you!
Now’s the time to put your lobby where your mouth is. This summer, we challenge you to take an issue of vital importance and talk to someone about it. Choose from one of four issues: curbing climate change, strengthening international peacekeeping, stopping the practice of diverting money for health and poverty projects into oil companies and keeping our oceans clean, safe, and healthy. We challenge you to speak to your elected official face to face about why this is important and why they need to do something about it. Use your passion, your creativity and your voice to convince them to act. Never done this before? So what! It's easier than you think--and we're here to help. Read on and be inspired. |
"Lobbying is not a dirty word." By Don Kraus, expert Lobbyist & Government Relations Director, Citizens for Global Solutions |
- Lobbying is talking about what matters to you. Lobbying is not a dirty word and it’s not just for politicians. Lobbying is merely talking with your elected official or a member of their staff about issues that matter to you.
- You are their boss, so they will listen to you. Your official was elected by you - well, if not by you, then by your neighbors! Either way, that means that you are the decider as to whether they will serve another term or not. They want to keep you happy and satisfied…so make sure they live up to their job and listen to what’s important to you.
- It’s your job to tell them what’s important. Policymakers are inundated with thousands of different issues every day. By visiting them and talking to them about an issue, it helps them recognize that it’s important to their constituents. This motivates them to take action.
- There’s safety in numbers. You can lobby in large groups…in fact, we encourage it. You are much more likely to land a visit with the official themselves (versus just a member of their staff) if you lobby in large groups.
- Politicians are people too. They have families, they have normal lives. It’s easy to be intimidated by all of the rhetoric and grandeur but at the end of the day they're just normal folks like you and me.
- You’re the expert! That’s right, nine times out of ten you will know more about the issue you’re lobbying on then the staffer or elected official you're meeting with - just by reading our one-page fact sheets. So read up and show them what you're made of.
- It works! You can make a real impact by merely talking to your official. Don't believe us? Hear from the experts.
| Got *multi-media* content to show in your meeting? Keep an eye out for these orange boxes to see how you can effectively use short videos during your visit. |
If you haven't already, click here to sign up. .
Pick ONE or TWO issues. You don't have to be an expert on the issue, but you should feel like it is important to you. Also, be sure to note whether the issue is moving through the House or the Senate right now. That will tell you whether you should try to meet with your U.S. representative or one or both of your U.S. senators (or all three).
Curbing Climate Change (House AND Senate bills exist) - Ending "Oil Aid" Abroad (House bill)
- Supporting Global Peacekeeping (Senate bill)
- Establishing an "Emergency Peacekeeping Service" at the UN (House bill)
- Passing the "Law of the Sea" Treaty (Senate issue)
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- Click here to find your elected officials - Remember, you have two Senators, and one Representative (unless you're from Washington, DC).
Step Three: Gather Your Posse & Rally the Troops
Form a small group to help you conduct your lobby visit. You
are much more likely to get a visit with the actual member (opposed to
a staffer) if you’ve got a group of people with you. Plus, there’s
safety (meaning moral support) in numbers! This means at least five
people per visit…the more people you get, the better your chances are
of meeting with your Legislator directly. But don't count staffers out!
Staffers play an intregal role in determining policy for your elected
representatives.
Need help forming a posse? Want a mentor near you to help lead the charge? Contact us at outreach[at]globalsolutions.org and we will help you organize your lobby group.
Once you have your group, divy up the work:
| Assign a scheduler |
The scheduler lands the meeting. Scheduling your lobby meeting can take more than one call. Don't give up! To make an appointment, simply look up the number for local legislative offices in your local phone book. When you call the office, ask for their scheduler and tell him/her that you would like to meet with your Member of Congress. If it is impossible to meet directly with your representative/senator, then ask to meet with "the staffer who works on international issues." A sample script/fax/letter is available on this page to help you make an appointment. Sometimes it's easier to land a meeting during "recess" (when Congress is not in session in Washington, DC). Most leaders fly back to their home states during recess. This summer's recess will occur from August 6 to September 3.
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| Assign a coordinator |
The coordinator should arrange a pre-lobby meeting with the group. The coordinator should lead the meeting, and bring packet materials that the group will use to lobby to with. The group should read through the issue backgrounder(s) included in the packet, determine the main talking points that you want to use at your meeting, and decide who will be speaking at different times throughout the visit. Click here to download the packet for your chosen issue. |
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| Assign a strategist |
The strategist should arrive at the pre-lobby meeting with a pretty good idea of how your leader generally votes on global issues and what he or she might think about the issue that you are planning to lobby on. Is your leader a champion, a fence-sitter, or a hard-core opponent? This isn't as hard as it sounds! First, simply check out our handy 2007 Congressional Report Card. It's simple to use and with a couple of clicks will help you get a sense of your leader's voting record on international issues. Second, Google him/her. It's pretty easy to learn a lot about your leader from the 'Net. Look at news items, statements/speeches, or even the Congressmember's own website. Finally, just ask us! We lobby all the time here in Washington, DC; chances are, we'll have some insight to inpart (outreach[at]globalsolutions.org). |
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*For Multi-Media * |
If you plan to show a video, the technician should be in charge of bringing a laptop to the lobby visit. This person also needs to have tested it BEFORE the meeting to make sure it will work. If you plan to perform a poem live, make sure the performer is prepared. |
Step Four: The Dress Rehearsal
Practice Makes Perfect!
Prepare for your lobby visit. Make sure that you have all the materials
that you need. Walk through the lobby visit with other group members.
Here are some tips to guide you as you practice:
- Organize your thoughts. Know the name and number of the bill that you are discussing.
- Be confident. A handshake, directly looking at the official, and a smile will go a long way.
- Speakers should plan on speaking only three-minutes or less per person. Many times you will only be given 10-15 minutes to speak, total.
- Do not make up facts. Let the facts speak for themselves.
- Respond to questions directly. If you don't know the answer, say you "need to look into that" and get back to them later.
- Dress and behave professionally -- you are there on business.
- Don't be scared...you'll do great!
Watch the Sample “How to Lobby video for more tips and tricks” [coming soon!]
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*For Multi-Media Users*
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Arrive early, but don't expect the leader or staffer to arrive on time.
Allow time for small talk at the outset, but not too much. Remember, it's your visit.
Remember, you are there to build a relationship: If
your leaders seems good on your issue already or has supported your
issue in the past, be sure to acknowledge your appreciation during the
course of the visit (this is a good roll for your strategist to play in the meeting).
If the opposite is true, think of
the phrase, "No permanent friends, no permanent enemies." Some day,
s/he may come through. In the meantime, your visit may prevent the
leader from becoming a hard-core opponent. In other words, you may help
to turn down the heat on the other side.
Listen well: Much of lobbying is listening, looking for indications of the leader's views, and finding opportunities to provide good information. If you are meeting with a "silent type," draw her/him out by asking questions. If you are confronted with a "long-winded type," look for openings to bring her/him back to the point.
Step Six: Follow-Up! (And Let Us Know How It Went)
Follow-up is essential: Your job isn't done, your mission isn't accomplished until you get a definitive response from your representative. This vital final step often makes the difference between real change and the status quo. Be persistent and ensure that your concerns are recognized and listened too.
Send a Thank You: Elected officials and staffers are busy people--thank them for their time and attention to your concerns. If commitments were made in the meeting, repeat your understanding of them. If staff members were present, write to them too. Every person in that office can be an important ally.
CLICK HERE for a sample Thank You letter. [coming soon!]
Have a great visit and tell us how it went! Please please please keep us in the loop. We work with many Congressional offices -- they are all unique. Much of our "insight" into how to communicate most effectively with different offices comes from the things that folks learn and share with us at the grassroots level. Email us: outreach[at]globalsolutions.org or call Jessica Brown at 202-546-3950 x121 to tell us how your visit went!
You can also use the reporting form below.
REPORTING FORM...[coming soon!]
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