Originally founded in 2002 as the Iraq Pledge of Resistance, the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance models its actions on the campaigns of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance
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A statewide network of activists and organizations committed to keeping the Maryland Guard at home by enforcing the law
Maryland Campaign to Keep the Guard Home
Lobby Night in Annapolis: Feb. 23, 2009
When: Monday, February 23, 2009 from 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Where: Annapolis, MD
Constituent meetings from 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Reception Room in the Neall Conference Room, 2nd floor, James Senate Office Building, for lobby packets, snacks and to report on your meetings.
How to Lobby
Meeting with your elected officials is a lot easier than most people think. Remember, your elected officials work for you! What is a lobby visit? A lobby visit is merely a meeting for you to tell your elected official(s) what you think about a certain issue and to try to get him or her to take action on that issue.
PREPARE FOR YOUR MEETING:
- Attend a training. All Lobby Day participants are strongly encouraged to participate in the lobby day training. The training will take place Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009 at 7:00 pm. The Conference Call Number is (218) 936-4700 and the Participant Access Code is 980221#.
- Plan out your meeting. Time is limited. Be sure to identify who will speak and who will take notes.
- Be aware of the goal. What is it you want your elected official to do - vote for the bill! Be sure to consult the materials and stay focused on the goal. Asking your elected official or his/her staff member to do something specific will help you know how successful your visit has been!
- Stop by our Reception Room: the Neall Conference Room, 2nd floor, James Senate Office Building. Pick up a lobby packet there and take a break before, in between, or after your meetings. Get snacks, ask any questions, and report on the success of your meetings.
DURING THE MEETING:
- Be prompt and patient. Elected officials run on very tight schedules. Be sure to show up on time for your appointment, and be patient - it is not uncommon for legislators and staff to be late or to have your meeting interrupted by other business.
- Keep it short and focused! You will likely have 20 minutes or less with a staff person, and as little as 10 minutes if you meet with your elected official. Make the most of that brief time by sticking to your topic.
- Introduce yourself and thank the elected official or staff member for taking time to meet with you.
- Stick to your talking points. Stay on topic. Having a focus is helpful to ensure that your point of view and request(s) are clear. Remember, we have created materials to leave with your elected official that reinforce specific points and ask(s) made during the meeting.
- Provide personal and local examples of the impact of the legislation or issue. This is the most important thing you can do in a lobby visit.
- Saying "I don't know" can be a smart political move. You need not be an expert on the topic you are discussing. It is fine to tell the elected official/staff that you will get that information for him or her. Never make up an answer to a question - giving wrong or inaccurate information can seriously damage your credibility!
- Listen carefully and set deadlines for a response. Often if an elected official hasn't taken a position on legislation, he or she will not commit to one in the middle of a meeting. Listen to any concerns they may have and note them on the Lobby Report Form. Ask when you should check back to find out how your elected official intends to respond to your request.
AFTER THE MEETING:
- Right after the meeting, briefly compare notes with everyone in your group.
- Report the results of your meeting by filling out the Lobby Report Form. Forms can be dropped off at the Neall Conference Room, 2nd floor, James Senate Office Building.
- Each person who took part in the meeting should promptly send a personal thank you letter to the elected official.
- Follow up in a timely fashion with any requested materials and information.
- If the legislator or staff member doesn't meet the deadline for action you agreed to during the meeting, ask him or her to set another deadline. Be persistent but flexible!
Lobby Day FAQs
When: Monday, February 23, 2009 from 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Where: Annapolis, MD
Constituent meetings from 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Reception Room in the Neall Conference Room, 2nd floor, James Senate Office Building, for snacks and to report on your meetings.
What to wear:
- Professional or business casual attire is recommended
- Comfortable shoes
- Lobby day sticker (that we will provide to you)
- For ease of entrance into the House and Senate buildings, please avoid wearing lots of metal. You will be required to go through metal detectors each time you enter a building.
What to bring:
- Valid photo ID, such as a driver's license or state identification card with photo.
- Lobby packet
- Smile and a positive attitude
Prohibited items per the Department of General Services Police
- No signs and/ or placards will be permitted inside any State building.
- Signs and/ or placards with sticks are expressly forbidden on Lawyer's Mall.
- No weapons of any kind are allowed on State property.
