At its most elemental, grassroots lobbying is about communication.  And the more personal the communication the better.  And when it comes to elected officials, hearing from their constituents - firsthand and in person - is about the most effective form of communication there is.

This means that, in order to be more successful, you should try to enable as much of that type of "firsthand" communication  Here are a few ideas to consider.

Lobby Day at the Legislature

Personal meetings are one thing, but a day with an entire group doing personal meetings is even better.  Not only does it effectively get the point across, but it does so in a way where people who share the same views can work together and overcome any hesitations they might have about meeting with elected officials and generate a sense of camaraderie.  This also means more people are likely to participate.

The other nice thing about lobbying in groups is that it makes it a little more difficult for an elected official to give you the "run-around", and any commitments they make will be more public.

If you combine your scheduled visits with other conservative groups doing the same thing on the same day, you can leverage your impact.  Do something to stand out and be noticed, (like all wearing the same colored lapel stickers).  Even let the media know what you’re doing and try to get them to cover it.

The "Fly-in"

The “fly-in” is the ultimate in "group lobbying".  If a group of constituents, especially those that are well known by elected officials, take the time out out of their busy schedules to visit the state capitol or Washington at their own expense, elected officials will know tthat the issue must be really important.  Remember, if they understand that it motivates voters, there's a good chance it will motivate them - or at least get their attention.

Saying Thankyou

Everyone loves to be thanked.  Politicians are no different.  (Yes, they're people too! )  And, like most people, they don’t want to hear from you only when you want something, or when you’re angry.  Writing a thank you note is especially important after tough votes for those legislators who may have been undecided on the issue, or who were crucial to your efforts. 

Saying thankyou also makes it easier next time you need to approach them for support.  And there’s always a next time.

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 Related entries:

• Nine tips for Personal Meetings with elected officials (Grassroots Lobbying Methods - part 4)
• Grassroots lobbying methods (part 3): phone calls and meetings
• Grassroots lobbying methods (part 2): tips on personal letters

You can find more tips and information like this in "The Intermediate Guide to Grassroots Politics".  Check it out!

When it comes to effective grassroots lobbying, there really is no substitute for meeting with an elected official personally - and getting others who think like you do to do so as well.  That being the case, you need to take such meetings seriously.

You should treat them just like any other business meeting, (or at least the ones you prepare for!).  Senators, representatives and legislators all have an obligation to vote in the best interest of your community.  Likewise, you have a responsibility to tell them what the best interests of your community are. 

In order to do it right and have the greatest impact, consider the following nine tips for personal meetings with elected officials or their staff:

Carefully plan your visit:

Meet with the officials who represent you.  Elected officials won’t give as much priority to people who are not in their districts.  So if you don’t live in their district, take someone with you who does. 

Identify beforehand which member of the legislative body you need to talk with to achieve your purpose, then be clear about what you want to accomplish.  Also, know what you are going to say beforehand.  If you have a fact sheet or position paper, give it to them for further reference along with your contact information.

Schedule an appointment:

The “higher up” the official is, the more staff they are likely to have.  To schedule a meeting with a congressman, note that each member of Congress has a scheduler or appoint¬ments secretary who you need to contact to arrange a meeting.  Explain your purpose and why you want to meet with them.  Staff members and schedulers can better arrange a meeting if they know what the meeting is about.  Make sure you have an understanding of how long the meeting will last.

Legislators like their meetings short and sweet, (of course, who really likes long meetings?).  Fifteen minutes is a good rule of thumb.  That’s enough time for you to accomplish two goals: 1) tell them what you want them to do and why, and 2) get feedback.

Be on time and be patient:

When seeing any elected official, be punctual.  But remember, it’s not uncommon for them to run behind schedule or to have meetings get interrupted.  If there is an interruption, be flexible.  If the chance presents itself, continue the meeting with a member of their staff.

Be prepared:

Have accurate information and material available on your issue.  Elected officials are required to hold positions on many issues, and there may be an instance where they lack the information you can provide.  So it’s helpful for them to receive information that can clearly demonstrate the pros and cons associated with a particular issue.  Remember that there are always two sides to any issue (at least), and the more you know about the arguments of the opposition, the more effective you will be.

You don’t have to be an expert:

While it’s important to be prepared, you are not expected to be an absolute authority on an issue.  The most important points for you to convey are why the issue is important to you, and that you feel passionately about it.  You’re a citizen with concerns and, more importantly (to them), you’re a registered voter.

Pin them down:

(Surprise!) Elected officials will usually try to be noncommittal because they don’t like to make voters angry.  They would rather make everyone happy and feel that they had their voices heard.  Your job is to get to the bottom line.  It’s nice to feel happy and have the satisfaction that you’ve been heard, but where do they stand?  Be prepared for slick politicians that express great empathy for your position, make you feel good, but then don’t take a position! 

Be polite, but pin them down.  (For example, “I’m glad to hear your concern, but will you vote for or against the bill?”; or, “I’m glad to hear you agree in concept, but will you cosponsor the bill?”)  They may not like it, but they will respect you for it.

Be political:

Elected officials actively seek to represent the best interests of their constituents, (or at least the good ones do).  Whenever possible, draw a correlation between what you want and the interests of your community.  If possible, show them that you are not the only one who feels the way you do. 

Quite apart from the merits of an issue, they might not want to take your side because they might not want to take the “heat” over the issue.  You can help solve this problem by offering “carrots” to counteract the heat and make things easier for them.  Offer to write thank you letters to the editor, make supportive phone calls to local talk radio, or even send out a press release from your group thanking them for their support. 

Find out what “cover” they may need to help get them over the line.  In this case, being political means being helpful.

Be responsive:

If an elected official expresses an interest in your request, be ready to answer questions or provide additional information about it.  Afterwards, follow up with a thank you letter highlighting your discussion, and include any additional information requested. 

If done consistently and professionally, meeting with your elected officials will enable you to be very effective.  Building a relationship with your elected officials will not only further your credibility as a citizen (or organization), but it will also provide opportunities to have a greater impact for the conservative cause in the future.

Don’t be intimidated:

Sure, you are on their turf, but remember, you are their boss.  They work for you.  Just be polite about it.

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Related Entries:

• Grassroots lobbying methods (part 3): phone calls and meetings
• Grassroots lobbying methods (part 2): tips on personal letters

Be sure to check out my complete resource on grassroots lobbying, "The Intermediate Guide to Grassroots Politics", part of my "Grassroots 101" series!

Last time we took a look at some tips on personal letters.  This time, it's phone calls and meetings.

Phone Calls

The first tip on phone calls is "when" to call.  In other words, if you're lobbying on a specific piece of legislation, (especially trying to coordinate the lobbying of a group of people)), phone calls are best used late in the process, such as right before a vote.  This lets the legislators know that the people are watching. 

Even if you don't talk directly to your elected official, there are always staff available to document your position on an issue, or to answer any questions you may have.  Normally, elected officials have their staffs keep a running tally of those supporting or opposed on hotly debated issues.  It's an effective way for them to “take the temperature” of their constituents, (and since they're always running for re-election, they're always interested)..

When talking to staff, ask that the legislator send you an explanation of his or her position in writing, (so you’ll be able to document their position and remind them of it later if necessary).  When calling their office, you should always identify yourself as a registered voter in their district, (if indeed you are). 

Keep your call short and direct, (no long-winded speeches).  And when calling in regard to a highly controversial issue, be polite yet firm.  Don't give them another reason besides disagreeing with you to ignore you.

Town Hall Meetings

Legislators usually hold town hall meetings so that they can gauge the opinions of the people who really care, (and could cause  them trouble).  With this in mind, the most important time of the meeting is an open-ended question and answer period, because it’s open and spontaneous.

This is a huge lobbying opportunity. 

One question on a subject might get some attention, but three or four questions asked on the same topic will seem to represent  an avalanche of public opinion.  It shouldn’t be too hard to recruit two other people to go with you to the meeting.  Call the legislator’s office to identify upcoming dates and locations of town-halls. 

You can probably even be put on an email list to receive updates and schedules for such meetings, so call and ask.  Then be sure to pass the word about the opportunity to others you're working with on an issue.  Even coordinate on talking points and/or  who will ask what questions.

Inviting Elected Officials to Your Meetings

If you're going to invite them to a meeting of your own group, first and foremost, make sure that you have a big turnout.  If you do, it will create a lasting impression.

Your goal is to have the legislator come away thinking:

• They are bigger than I thought.
• They are well informed.
• They really feel passionately about their issues and made me be specific.
• They were firm, but treated me with respect.
• They’ve got potential influence.  I’ll stay on their good side.

So only bring them to a meeting if their coming will leave an impression that serves your purposes.

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Related Entries:

• Grassroots lobbying methods (part 2): tips on personal letters
• Grassrooots lobbying methods (part 1): petitions and post cards
• Picking the right methods from the grassroots lobbying buffet

Get other tips and information in my "Beginner's Guide to Grassroots Politics"

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On our last look at the lobbying buffet I reviewed some tips on petitions and post cards.  Next up?

Lobbying with personal letters

Personal letters rank higher on the scale when it comes to having an impact, but they’re harder to come by. 

Letters can be very effective in helping you voice your concerns, as they let you get in more information than a post card.  The printed word also enables the legislator to better understand their constituents’ opinions and to gauge passion.  They flag important issues for the legislator in advance and provide a written record to review.  However, most people don’t take the time to write them. 

So in order to have the greatest impact, a personal letter project should begin early in the lobbying process.

If you use them, it’s best to provide people with a sample and/or fact sheet they can use as a guide, along with some basic instructions about “who” to send it to and “where”, (just remind them not to copy such information verbatim so everyone’s letter doesn’t look the same). 

When writing letters to federal officials use the following guidelines:

Addressing correspondence to a Senator:
The Honorable (Name)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator:

Addressing correspondence to a U. S. Representative:
The Honorable (Name)
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative:

You can also address correspondence to their local offices in your area, or send it via fax.  (Due to enhanced security at the US Capitol after 9/11, local letters will usually reach them the quickest.)

Here are four tips for effective letter writing:

1. The main purpose should be in the first paragraph.  If you’re concerned about a specific item, (such as a bill), mention it by name.
2. Keep it short.  There is generally no reason to go beyond one page.
3. Keep it focused.  The fewer topics the better.  One is best.  Be concise.  Letters that ramble are discounted at best, (and thrown away at worst).
4. Be professional and courteous.  Be passionate, but never angry.  Include information that supports your position.

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Related entries:

• Grassroots lobbying methods (part 1): petitions and post cards
• Picking the right methods from the grassroots lobbying buffet
• Effective contact with elected officials

You can find more complete information on grassroots lobbying in my Grassroots Training Series!

Following up on the last entry reviewing the items on the Grassroots lobbying Buffet, we'll start looking at each of the methods you can use to bring pressure on elected officials.  Generally speaking, we'll start at the bottom in terms of impact and work our way up.

Petitions

Petitions have a one-time impact – when they are delivered.  The number of signatures tends to be discounted as just a “thick enclosure” that accompanies the cover letter you present along with them.  Petitions are generally better suited to building lists for your organization than for lobbying, (but list building is important too!). 

This is not to say that you don’t use petitions, it's just that when it comes to lobbying elected officials they are much more effective when coupled with other lobbying techniques. 

You can conduct petition drives “off-line” (in paper form), and/or online, (with services such as AktNow).

Pre-Printed Post Cards

The good thing about pre-printed post cards are that they're easy to get supporters to sign and mail in (since you've already printed a message to the elected official, and it's already addressed).  Much easier than getting people to write and send in their own personal letters.  Also, they're received over a period of time, which extends the effect.

The downside is that it's clear that it's an orchestrated effort, so it doesn't really give the official a good idea of whether the constituent is just casually interested in the issue or feels very passionately about it.

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Related entries:

• Picking the right methods from the grassroots lobbying buffet
• Effective contact with elected officials
• Basic grassroots lobbying

You can get more tips and details on these and other lobbying techniques in my Grassroots 101 series.