Meet Face-to-Face

Ten Short Tips on Meeting Your Representative Face-to-Face

1. KISS: Keep it short and simple.

The meeting should be short and not wordy. Know why you are there, why your elected representative should know what you want to say, and what you want. If you are with a group of people, pick one person to say what the whole group feels. Go to the meeting with a short list of things that you want to communicate.

2. Know your facts.

For a few minutes read your notes or other material that you will talk about. Think about your issue before you meet your legislator so you remember the facts and are ready to meet your legislator. Talk with your legislator about how the people who live in the area he/she represents are using and enjoying the thing you want. If the legislator asks you a question and you don’t know the answer, find out the answer later and send it to the legislator later.

3. Arrive on time, be polite and patient.

Do not be rude to your legislators. BE NICE. Please, understand that Legislators may need to cancel meeting you or leave early because they needed to go to other meetings. Legislators must go to some meetings. Many of those meetings are setup that day or sooner and do not fit the legislators’ schedule. So the legislators must cancel some things like meeting with you. Don’t think the legislator is mean or rude—be happy that you have gotten some of their time. Call and setup an appointment with the legislator. Don’t attack people or organizations who do not agree with your issue. Don’t criticize your legislator or the people that do not support your issue.

4. Introduce your group members and note what connection each person may have to the legislator’s district.

Make sure that the legislator knows your connection to his or her district. Tell him or her if you are a person who lives in the district, a person who works in the district, etc.

5. Make your issue personal.

How has this issue benefited children in your area? Senior citizens? You? Tell stories about how people in the legislator’s district have been helped.

6. Be a resource.

Maybe your legislator needs information and you don’t know the answer. Ask if they would like to get the information sent to them later. Look up the information and then send it to them. Let MCDHH know if you need help.

7. Before you leave, say “thank you” again.

Leave some information for the legislator to read. Keep that information simple too. Be direct by asking at the end of the meeting, “Will you support my cause?” His or her answer will help you know what you will do in the future efforts.

8. Make notes about what happened in your meeting and bring your report back to MCDHH.

It’s important for you to share what you learn with MCDHH. Take a few minutes to write down your thoughts about the meeting and any statements of support or opposition that the legislator made. Did they give you any advice or show knowledge of the issues you told them about?

9. Keep in Contact with your legislators.

When you get home, immediately send a thank you note to them for their time. Tell them any other information about yourself that they may like to know. Invite them to local deaf, hard of hearing, DeafBlind events, openings, or other activities that they or their families may enjoy.

10. Give chances for positive advertisements (chances to take pictures, events, meetings to meet people)

Invite your legislator to Deaf, hard of hearing, and DeafBlind related:

• Yearly meetings
• gatherings
• parades
• meetings

[This page is adapted from Advocacy 101: Ten Short Tips on Lobbying for the Arts in Person with the permission of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts.]