Communicating with Congress: How to Turn 10-Minute Meeting with a Legislator into a Life-Long Relationship

Communicating with Congress: How to Turn 10-Minute Meeting with a Legislator into a Life-Long Relationship Bradford Fitch President & CEO Congressional Management Foundation

Agenda Environment on Capitol Hill How to Build Relationships Back Home Advocacy 201: 4 Ways to Play Above the Rim

Sources Focus Groups with Congressional Staff Surveys with Congressional Staff Interviews with Members of Congress and Staff

Environment on Capitol Hill

Average Percentage Increase in Constituent Mail 865% House Senate All Offices 585% 548% 548% 396% 401% 297% 255% 241% 275% Baseline 111% 94% 66% 78% 64% 55% 154% 169% 114% 92% 110% 72% 202% 158% 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Staffing Number of Full Time House Staff 18 Year House Staff Number Frozen 1974

1974 55 cents

"If your Member/Senator has not already arrived at a firm decision on an issue, how much influence might the following advocacy strategies directed to the Washington office have on his/her decision?"

In-Person Visits from Constituents Contact From Constituents' Reps. Individualized Postal Letters Individualized Email Messages Phone Calls Telephone Town Hall Comments Visit From a Lobbyist News Editorial Individualized Faxes Form Postal Letters Form Email Messages 54% 51% 97% 96% 90% 88% 86% 85% 82% 75% 70% Postcards Comments on Social Media Sites Form Faxes 30% 42% 45% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% A Lot of Positive Influence Some Influence

A lot of influence In-Person Visit from Constituent 46% Lobbyist Visit 8% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Survey Question How helpful is it for messages from constituents to include the following?

Message Includes Information about the impact the bill would have on the district 77% Constituent s reasons for supporting/opposing the bill or issue 74% Personal story related to the bill or issue 48% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Helpful Very Helpful

H.R.2784 No Private Contracts To Be Negotiated When the Patient Is Buck Naked Act of 1997

SEC. 3 CERTAIN SITUATIONS WHERE IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE TO NEGOTIATE A PRIVATE CONTRACT To promote equality in the negotiation of private contracts, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services shall issue regulations prohibiting the discussion or signing of private contracts at any time (a) the patient is buck naked and the doctor is fully clothed (and conversely, to protect the rights of doctors, when the patient is fully clothed and the doctor is naked); (b) the patient is wearing one of those short, flimsy little hospital gowns that don't close in the back; (c) during any sigmoidoscopic or proctoscopic examination of the gastrointestinal tract or a digital rectal examination of the prostate;

How to Build Relationships Back Home

In your opinion, how important are the following for understanding constituents' views and opinions?

Attending events in the district/state Personalized messages from constituents District/state office hours In person town hall meetings Telephone town hall meetings Paper surveys/polls Facebook Identical form communications Online surveys/polls Online town hall meetings Twitter YouTube Member/Senator's blog MySpace 9% 68% 64% 56% 54% 44% 42% 34% 34% 98% 97% 90% 90% 83% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Very Important Somewhat Important

Invite Legislator to Facility

Attend a Town Hall Meeting

Set Up In-State Meetings

Build Relationships with State Staff Potential Champions Conduits to Legislative Staff District Director = Legislator s Best Friend in Office

Advocacy 201: 4 Ways to Play Above the Rim

How to get Lin-Fluence

1. Follow Your Member of Congress

Staffers Views on the Value of Social Media 72% 59% 55% 7% 10% 14% Social media enables us to reach people we were not reaching before. Social media is worth the time my office spends on it. Social media offers my office more benefits than risks. Agree Disagree

2. Participate in a Telephone Town Hall

3. Build a Relationship with Staff

4. Letters to the Editor

Sherrington s Law E-mail campaign Phone calls from VIPs Constituent visit Town Hall Meeting

We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate. - Thomas Jefferson

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