advocacy 101. 1.who can lobby? 2.fear and intimidation – get over it! 3.who are my legislators?...

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