It Starts In Parks advocating for impact

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It Starts In Parksadvocating for impact

• changing policies, changing lives
• Ohio Advocacy Day
• April 15, 2009

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Purpose of this training

• Provide an overview of the benefits of Advocacy
  Day
• Describe the format for this years event
• Review Advocacy Day 101
• The Process How a Bill Becomes a Law
• Recruitment of constituents

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Overview of Ohios Advocacy Day

• Opportunity to influence legislators on joint
  policy priorities of both organizations
• Show political strength
• Pass good policy

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Format of Advocacy Day

• Days agenda
• Approach of meetings
• Issue coverage
• Follow up reports

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Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
--Margaret Mead
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Advocacy Day 101

• Everything you wanted to know,
• but were afraid to ask.

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Elected vs. Staff Advocacy Day meetings

• Meeting with elected officials may seem more
  important, but you will get less time
• Staff are key to decision makers knowledge
  influence them
• Be seen as resource for both

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Understanding the Structure of a Lobby Day meeting

• Introductions Leader 2-3 minutes
• Primary Issue overview
• constituent lead 5 minutes
• Issue 2 constituent lead 5 minutes
• Issue 3 - constituent lead 5 minutes
• According to attendees
• Questions time remaining

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Tips in Dealing with Elected Officials and Their
Staff

• Time is precious (Average available time 15-30
  Minutes)
• Never lead them to an ambush
• Never lie or mislead
• Public recognition
• Networking
• They are confronted with lots of issues, explain
  or refer for follow up
• Remember Everyone wants to look good at their
  job
• Assume they have not read the bill
• Make it easy to digest
• Be positive about the issue!

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How a Bill Becomes a Law
It is sometimes confusing to understand the
process. In your Lobby Day packets, we will let
you know the status of each bill. A bill passes
through many stages before becoming law. Heres a
link to a diagram to help http//www.legislature.s
tate.oh.us/process.cfm
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Recruitment of Constituents

• Begin recruiting now!
• Volunteers/participants should begin registering
  now to ensure appointments
• Recommended attendees OPRA members, parents,
  survivors, school personnel/teachers, community
  leaders, etc.
• Specific policy training will be provided during
  March calls and on Lobby Day

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Questions?