This document provides guidance on effective citizen advocacy and influencing legislators. It discusses the current political landscape, challenges facing Congress, and tools for engagement like lobbying and communications. It emphasizes building relationships with members of Congress and staff through regular communication, using social and traditional media, and in-person meetings. The document provides tips for meetings, including preparing, making an ask, and following up. It also discusses crafting an effective elevator speech and role playing citizen advocacy. Finally, it covers logistics for an upcoming Capitol Hill day visit.

1. POLITICAL ADVOCACY
THE TOOLS NEEDED TO BE EFFECTIVE CITIZEN ADVOCATES
MAY 14, 2013
William Kreisberg
Schrayer & Associates, Inc.
2013 FAMILY MEDICINE
CONGRESSIONAL CONFERENCE

2. Agenda
 Political Landscape
 Breaking Through the Noise
 Tips for Influencing Legislators
 Do’s and Don’ts
 Telling Your Story
 Elevator Speech
 Role Play
 Capitol Hill Day Logistics

3. THE POLITICAL
LANDSCAPE

4. The 113th Congress

5. The External Challenges

6. The External Challenges

7. The Political Challenges

8. The Internal Challenges

9. The Results

10. Public View of Congress

11. BREAKING THROUGH
THE NOISE

12. Reaching A Member of Congress
Can Be Challenging
 Thousands of emails and letters per
week
 Frequent use of Twitter and
Facebook
 Hundreds of calls per day
 Dozens of meetings per day
 Scores of constituent visits

13. Tools of Engagement
Lobbying
Communications
Citizen
Advocacy

14. BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS:
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS & STAFF

15. Get to Know the Team
In District
 Attend Town Hall Meetings
 Participate in On-Line
Meetings
 Write Letters to the Editor
 Meet Member and Staff in
District Office
In Washington
 Meet Member and Staff
 Bring Stakeholders (other
physicians, patients, families)
 Follow Up

16. Build the Relationship
Be A Resource
 Regular communications
 Send articles/material
 Contact by email/phone
(not mail)
 Keep communications
simple
Use Social and Traditional
Media
 Follow Members on
Twitter/Facebook/ YouTube
 Communicate to Media on
Twitter
 Write LTE/Op-Ed
“One of our office’s top priorities
is maintaining a high quality of
dialogue with the people we
represent.” – Senate Office Mngr.

17. Social Media – An Essential Tool
Follow Members
 All Senators and 90% of
House members have
Twitter accounts; nearly all
have Facebook pages
 Follow members to keep up
with their positions
 Communicate with them
through social media
Tell Your Story
 Use your own Facebook and
Twitter accounts to share
facts and anecdotes about
your practice
 Build your Twitter list of
followers by following your
members of Congress –
they in turn will follow you

18. MEETINGS DO’S & DON'TS

19. Prepare
 Know Your Member
 Politics
 Committees
 Track Record
 Know Your Ask
 Review Issues
 Know your Talking Points
 Have Material Ready (Leave-Behinds)
 Be Prepared for “Chaos”
 Young Staff
 Limited Time – Long Lines

20. The Meeting
Do’s:
 Thank Member
 Stay on Message
 Listen
 Make the Ask
 Follow Up
Don’ts
 Don’t Be Late
 Don’t Argue
 Don’t Have to Be Expert
 Don’t Ask for More Than
2-3 Items

21. After the Meeting
Maintain the Relationship
 Respond to requests for additional material
 Continue to be a resource
 Follow members on social media
 Periodically seek in-district meetings or attend
town halls
 Respond to Action Alerts
Make Your Voices Heard!

22. TELL YOUR STORY

23. The Elevator Speech
 Be prepared for one minute
message
 Think about a memorable
“sound bite”
 Come with one anecdote, not
just statistics

24. Going Up?
Let’s Ride an Elevator
 Share the importance of
your practice and why family
physicians are so vital to
your community
 Be succinct
 Include a memorable
anecdote
Enjoy the ride!

25. Role Playing
Putting it all together...

26. Lets Review…
 What tactics worked?
 Did they make the ask?
 What was the Member’s reaction?
 Did they follow the do’s and don’ts?
 What would you do differently?
Ready for your Meetings?
Time to practice at your tables

27. Getting Around Capitol Hill
Cafeteria
Cafeteria
Cafeteria

28. Logistics for Capitol Hill Day
 Transportation
 Take Metro or taxi (Metro cards provided)
 Avoid taking luggage to the Hill
 Leave extra time for long security lines
 Use building tunnels, if possible
 Lunch
Cafeterias in the House and Senate Office
Buildings

29. Questions?

30. EFFECTIVE POLITICAL ADVOCACY
“Politics should be the part-time
job of every citizen.”
- Dwight D. Eisenhower -