1 / 11

Talking To Your Legislators

Talking To Your Legislators. 2013 New Bloomfield Smokebusters Training. Why Do We Talk to Legislators?.

enoch
Download Presentation

Talking To Your Legislators

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Talking To Your Legislators 2013 New Bloomfield Smokebusters Training

  2. Why Do We Talk to Legislators? Legislators want to hear from the people they represent to help pass laws. If you can voice your opinion or issue on a subject, they see the importance of the issue and if there is a bill that pertains to the issue you talked to them about, then they are more likely to support.

  3. Before the Meeting • Know what you are talking about… • If you go unprepared, it will reflect badly on your cause and look unprofessional. If you know why you are there and what you want to talk about, then you will be more prepared to say it. What is our issue? • Know the person you are talking to… Knowing background on a legislator is very helpful. Be familiar with their name, where they grew up, how long they have served in the government, etc.

  4. Do You Know Missouri's Elected Officials? Governor Jay Nixon Senator Roy Blunt Senator Claire McCaskill

  5. Do You Know Our Districts Elected Officials? • Senatorial District 6 • Senator Mike Kehoe • House District 20 • Representative Jeanie Riddle • U.S. House District 9 • Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer

  6. How to Dress Always dress nicely! Notice the nicely part- the perfect dress is not to fancy, but clean and presentable, such as business casual.

  7. Addressing Your Legislator #2: Before talking about your subject, thank them for the time to talk. #3: Introduce Yourself • Where you are from, what organization you are with and what you do, and why you are at the Capital (leading into #4)

  8. Addressing Your Legislator continued #4: State Your Issue • Tell them why you are here and start your actual discussion of your issue. #5: Why does this issue affect you? • Tell them how your issue affects real people. Statistics are great, but showing them that it affects you really hits the point.

  9. Addressing Your Legislator continued #6: Be a good listener • This meeting isn’t just for you to talk. Make sure you allow time to listen to your legislator and see what they have to say and their opinion.

  10. Addressing Your Legislator continued #7: Thank them • Whether they agreed with what you had to say or not, thank them for their time. #8: Send thank you note after • Send a thank you note to their office a couple days after your meeting to thank them again.

  11. Other Tips • Be Honest: If your legislator ask a question you don’t have an answer too, tell them that. • Be Focused Don’t get sidetracked by other things. Stay on topic! Don’t waste any time. • Be Positive Do not argue or be defensive! Respect the other’s opinion. Arguing does nothing.

More Related