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
2) Grassroots lobbying
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.
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:
Paid lobbyists:
535
12,572
Advocacy 101
Us
Independent Pharmacies
Chain Pharmacies
Patients per pharmacy per year
total:
24,000
35,000
59,000
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
Advocacy 101
Grassroots Call to Action
Methods of Communication
Advocacy 101
Effective Communications Countdown
#5 (Snail-Mail) Letters
Should I send a letter?
Advocacy 101
Effective Communications Countdown
#4 Faxes
Will my Senators and Representative
pay any attention to my fax?
Advocacy 101
Effective Communications Countdown
#3 Email
Will they pay attention to my email?
Advocacy 101
Effective Communications Countdown
#2 Phone Calls
Will they take my phone call?
Advocacy 101
Effective Communications Countdown
#1 Relationships
How do I build a relationship
with my legislator?
Advocacy 101
Building your relationship
Campaigning
Contributing
Town Hall Meetings
District Visits
Advocacy 101
Building your relationship
Contributing to:
PAC
= Political Action Committee
LDF
= Legal Defense Fund
Advocacy 101
Building your relationship
Contributing
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 HELP
Advocacy 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
Conducting meaningful meetings
Why do I have to speak to a staffer?
I want to talk to my Representative!
Advocacy 101
The Face-to-Face
Remember… you are the expert
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 case
Importance
Leave behind
Thank you
Advocacy 101
Keep the doors open
Advocacy 101