NASPE Lobby Day May 6-7, 2009

1. NASPE Lobby DayMay 6-7, 2009 Advocacy 101 Megan Wolfe Government Relations Manager

2. NASPE Advocacy NASPE envisions a society in which all individuals are physically educated and participate in lifelong physical activity.

3. NASPE Advocacy NASPE Mission Statement: To enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for quality physical education, sport and physical activity programs through research, development of standards, and dissemination of information.

5. Lobby Day Schedule Wednesday, May 6, 1-5 PM * Advocacy 101 * FIT Kids � Charlene Burgeson * Wellness Policies � Margo Wootan, NANA * PEP Grants � Bill Sells, SGMA * Role-Playing Thursday, May 7 8-2:30 * Meetings on Capitol Hill (9:30-1) * Lunch/Debriefing (1-2:30)

6. NASPE Advocacy Advocacy or Lobbying? Advocate: Convey a value--continuous Lobby: Ask for something�limited Why Advocate or Lobby? To �enhance knowledge� and �disseminate information� NASPE�s unique perspective Unique opportunities: Evidence and data abound Climate is ripe for prevention message

7. Why Advocate or Lobby? The time for advocacy on behalf of students is now, and the voice needed is yours. Without the involvement of educators like you and the critical information you can provide, others will shape the education policy agenda and make decisions according to their own narrow interests. The consequences could be devastating to children. The stakes are simply too high, and the potential too great, for educators not to engage in advocacy efforts.

8. Advocacy 101�7 Steps Identify the problem Prepare the message Understand the process Know who you are visiting The meeting Deliver your message Follow up

9. Identify the Problem What, specifically, do you need to address? Child/Youth obesity Schools not required to provide daily P.E. Fewer opportunities for P.E. & P.A. Waivers Proposed changes to current law How can you address it? Amend current law Write new law Department of Education or even local school district

10. Prepare Your Message Know your issue: why are you here Identify NASPE�we are unique! Background/Personal anecdotes Specific �ask� Not vague argument: cosponsor a bill/sign a letter Allies & Enemies What groups support your �ask� What groups do not! Defend your position Our message is quality physical education is important and can lead to healthier and active lifestyles, which can reduce obesity and it�s resultant costs.Our message is quality physical education is important and can lead to healthier and active lifestyles, which can reduce obesity and it�s resultant costs.

11. The NASPE Message

12. Understand the Process How does a bill become a law? Language Sponsor Introduced/reported to Committee Hearings/Mark Up/Reported out Floor vote Conference Committee Importance of Committees Importance of staff

13. Know Who You Are Visiting Your Senator or Representative Party Interests Positions on your issues (cosponsorship/votes) Committee Membership, Chairman or Ranking Minority Member Why should this person listen to YOU? Offer your credentials as someone who has experience in physical education Some may be meeting with a Senator or Representative not from your state. That�s okay�you still have a message to give! Some staff or Members may be totally unfamiliar with your field�be patient and have sensitivity to their knowledge or lack thereof. Note Committees�Senate HELP or ED & Labor have jurisdiction over FIT Kids, etc.Some may be meeting with a Senator or Representative not from your state. That�s okay�you still have a message to give! Some staff or Members may be totally unfamiliar with your field�be patient and have sensitivity to their knowledge or lack thereof. Note Committees�Senate HELP or ED & Labor have jurisdiction over FIT Kids, etc.

14. The Meeting Know where you are going Be polite, on time, professional and confident If you are running late, call to let them know: Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 Treat staff members as respectfully as the Legislator Be positive�thank the Legislator if they have already supported your issues Provide your business card Avoid familiarity and avoid confrontation Don�t be awed�they are all just people and are there to serve and represent YOU as a voter! Be aware that just because they support one issue does not mean they support ALL of them! The person who first identifies themselves to the office should be someone from that state if possible.Be aware that just because they support one issue does not mean they support ALL of them! The person who first identifies themselves to the office should be someone from that state if possible.

15. Deliver Your Message Practice delivering your message. If in a group, determine who will speak first, who will make the �ask� and who will provide the leave-behinds. Be prepared to deliver your message in 5 minutes�policy makers are very busy and meetings may get interrupted by calls for Floor votes. Get a clear answer. Leave-behinds are key. If you don�t know the answer to a question, offer to find it and follow up!

16. Follow Up!! Please return meeting report forms to NASPE Send thank-you within one week�email is best Offer to provide additional information �Ask� again if you didn�t get a clear yes or no! Invite your legislator for a site visit, if at all possible, when he or she returns to the state/district

17. The NASPE Message

18. Review of Folders Meeting schedule Some in same groups, some groups will change Some will have meetings with offices not of your state Map Leave-behind (asks) Fit Kids � Wellness Policies � PEP Grants Public Policy Agenda Resources Meeting Report Form You each have in your folders at least one leave-behind that is specific to the state office you will be visiting. Among your group, there will be enough to leave at least one of the one-pagers and a PPA.You each have in your folders at least one leave-behind that is specific to the state office you will be visiting. Among your group, there will be enough to leave at least one of the one-pagers and a PPA.

19. NASPE Public Policy Agenda

20. Notes If you have time between meetings, make use of it by stopping in to see other offices from your state. If you have a 30 minute time frame between meetings, keep your meeting to 15 minutes! Comfortable shoes! Lunch at 101 Constitution�see map. Bus leaves at 2:30 from Peace Circle (same as drop-off) In some cases, your cell phone number was requested, please answer any calls that come from 703 or 202 area code. Remind people who have late meetings that lunch will be available throughout the lunch time frame (1-2:15).Remind people who have late meetings that lunch will be available throughout the lunch time frame (1-2:15).

21. Notes We need to know who will be riding on the bus and who will be joining Megan in the van�please sign up You will be provided with a snack/breakfast for the morning. IMPORTANT!! If you are running late, call Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your legislator�s office.

22. Plan your routes in advance!Plan your routes in advance!

23. Role Playing Group assignments Discuss unique arguments to help make your point Did any new issues arise? Four meeting components�take turns: Opening the meeting Making the �ask� Completing the report form Providing the leave-behind Note that some groups will stay the same throughout the morning but others will change. If only two of you�share roles! Note that some groups will stay the same throughout the morning but others will change. If only two of you�share roles!

24. Role Playing Additional questions/issues that may arise: H1F1 virus in your school or district General information about your school or district The �tough� questions�be prepared! How does physical education benefit academic performance? What evidence do you have that PEP grants have benefited students? If Wellness Policies need so much change, why should we bother?

25. NASPE Lobby Day 2009 Have fun! You are important to the process!! THANK YOU!