advocacy 101. 1.who can lobby? 2.fear and intimidation – get over it! 3.who are my legislators?...
TRANSCRIPT
Advocacy 101
Advocacy 101
Advocacy 101
1. Who can lobby?
2. Fear and intimidation – get over it!
3. Who are my legislators?
4. What are the best ways to communicate?
Advocacy 101
Advocacy 101
5. How do I gain the ear of my legislators?
6. How do I get information about my legislators and the issues?
7. I want to talk directly with my Representative!
8. What if we disagree?
Advocacy 101
Who is qualified to be a lobbyist?
Do you need a degree?
Do you need to pass an exam?
Advocacy 101
1) Hire a professional lobbyist
Nobody cares about your issue as much as you do and nobody can win your issue for you. If you don’t make it happen, it won’t.
2) Grassroots lobbying
Advocacy 101
Advocacy 101
"It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brushfires in people's minds." -- Samuel Adams
Advocacy 101
Them Congress: 535
Paid lobbyists: 12,572
Advocacy 101
UsIndependent Pharmacies 24,000Chain Pharmacies 35,000
59,000
Patients per pharmacy per year total:
236 million
Advocacy 101
Who IS my Representative?
Advocacy 101
Resources: www.vote-smart.org
www.house.gov
www.senate.gov
www.visi.com/juan/congress
www.cpha.com
www.legislature.ca.gov
www.thomas.loc.gov
Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
Grassroots Call to Action
Methods of Communication
Advocacy 101
#5 (Snail-Mail) Letters
Effective Communications Countdown
Should I send a letter?
Advocacy 101
#4 Faxes
Effective Communications Countdown
Will my Senators and Representative pay any attention to my fax?
Advocacy 101
#3 Email
Effective Communications Countdown
Will they pay attention to my email?
Advocacy 101
#2 Phone Calls
Effective Communications Countdown
Will they take my phone call?
Advocacy 101
How do I build a relationship with my legislator?
Effective Communications Countdown
#1 Relationships
Advocacy 101
Building your relationship
Campaigning
Contributing
Town Hall Meetings
District Visits
Advocacy 101
Contributing to:
Building your relationship
PAC
LDF = Legal Defense Fund
= Political Action Committee
Advocacy 101
Contributing
Building your relationship
Pharmacists: over $2,000,000
Accountants: over $10,000,000
Advocacy 101
Legislative Branch of the U.S. Government
House of Representatives 435
Senate 100
Advocacy 101
Legislative Branch of the U.S. Government
Committees Concerned with Pharmacy:
House Ways & Means
House Energy & Commerce
Senate Finance
Senate Judiciary
Senate HELPAdvocacy 101
How do you conduct a meaningful meeting?
How do I get an appointment?
Organizing for your meeting
- Do your homework
Advocacy 101
Conducting meaningful meetings
Presenting facts and something you need to keep in mind
Advocacy 101
Conducting meaningful meetings
“Facts don’t vote; lawmakers vote their own calculus. Seldom are favorable material facts alone sufficient to get votes; political facts may be.” – Robert L. Guyer, Esq.
Advocacy 101
Conducting meaningful meetings
Tell a story
Speak in their terms
Be informal
Advocacy 101
Conducting meaningful meetings
Political issues?
Visit the District office
Pharmacy tour
Advocacy 101
Why do I have to speak to a staffer?
I want to talk to my Representative!
Conducting meaningful meetings
Advocacy 101
Remember… you are the expert
The Face-to-Face
Dress code?
Advocacy 101
The Face-to-Face
Dos and Don’ts
- Do be respectful
- Don’t claim power
- Don’t assume they understand
Advocacy 101
The Face-to-Face
More Dos and Don’ts
- Speak in language they understand
- Don’t beat around the bush
- Show appreciation
Advocacy 101
What to do If you Disagree?
and Subtle-dodges
Advocacy 101
When the meeting is Over.State your caseImportanceLeave behindThank you
Advocacy 101
Keep the doors open
Advocacy 101