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Video: Tips for an Effective Meeting with your Legislator

Families That Can works to set up meetings with different elected officials throughout the year. If you are interested in setting up a meeting in your area, please contact us. The FTC team will help throughout all steps of the process and assist with scheduling the meeting if necessary.

Preparing for the meeting

  • Know the current issues facing charter public schools and the issues specific to your school. FTC will help you research legislation and provide talking points for your meeting. See the latest bills to watch.
  • Know your audience. Do some research about your elected official. For instance, did he or she receive any recent awards? What issues does their district face? What committees does he or she serve on?
  • Have a specific objective in mind and focus on one issue. What do you want your representative to do? If a group is attending the meeting, be clear on who will lead the conversation. Families That Can can help you draft an agenda for the meeting.

Do's and Don'ts of Legislative Meetings

DO start by introducing yourself and thanking the person for his or her time. Then, explain why you are there and what it is you want the member to do (e.g. sponsor a bill, send a letter, vote for more funding). Be clear, concise and explicit.

DO keep to the agenda. In order to make sure that all of your key points are made during the limited time you have, it is extremely important that all meeting participants stay "on message."

DO make your points as personal as possible so that the member or staff understands the impact of a particular position on your program and the people you serve. But be sure to balance the personal elements with the facts. If you bring students along for your meeting, be sure to bring student artwork that you can leave as a reminder of the meeting.

DO be respectful of the person's time, as members and staff always have very tight calendars during the legislative session.

DO try to bring written information to your meeting to leave with the member or staff person.

DO bring student artwork or other work to share with the office and/or display in their offices.

DO ask the member to make a commitment. If there is no commitment, let the member or staff know that you will follow up in the near future to find out the member's position; be sure to follow through.

DO respond honestly if you don't know the answer to a question and commit to getting that answer to him or her within the next few days.

DO follow-up by phone or in a letter as the issue or legislation continues to make its way through the process. Always end the meeting with a thank you - if not for their support, for taking the time to meet with you and hear your views.

DO report back to Families That Can any substance from the meeting, especially any commitment made to you, any questions you could not answer and any concerns expressed by the member or staff that might help CCSA hone its lobbying effort.

DO get contact information for any staff members you met, especially the District Director, Chief of Staff or the person assigned to education issues. Add those staff to your communications distribution lists.

DON'T be disappointed if you meet with staff instead of the member. You are more likely to get more attention and focus from a staff member who is assigned to and is knowledgeable about your subject area.

DON'T have too many items on the agenda. Two or three items is a reasonable number of issues for the member or staff to digest in one meeting.

DON'T be intimidated by the member or staff. You are the expert on this subject; the member and staff are there to be educated by you so that the member can make an informed decision about his or her position.

DON'T assume that just because a member has supported you in the past that he or she will do so this time. Unless he or she commits to supporting you at the beginning of the meeting, always deliver your message as you would with any member or staff.

DON'T be hostile or confrontational with the member or staff. Although the member may oppose you on one issue, he or she may be supportive on others. In addition, any unpleasant encounters may hinder the efforts of your Sacramento lobbying team.

DON'T let a member or staff bait you into an adversarial discussion. Listen to his or her comments or ask questions to determine the basis of the opposition. Respond to these concerns respectfully, using supporting facts and data, if possible. Ask if there is specific information or amendments that would lead the member to change his or her position.

DON'T stay in a hostile meeting any longer than necessary. Remain professional, answer any questions he or she may have, but try to end the meeting as quickly as possible.

DON'T end your efforts with the member once the meeting is concluded. Follow up with him or her in the district.

DO offer to meet again for a more in-depth discussion during legislative breaks and invite him or her to tour your program. And be sure to follow through because nurturing a respectful, honest relationship with the member is a longer-term strategy that can pay dividends in the future.

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