Transcript Document

Gene G. Veno & Associates
As of June 2009:
258 House Bills passed
186 Senate Bills passed
77 Total laws passed
• Know your association’s issue inside and out.
 Bill number, PN, Sponsors and so much more
• Know your legislator and why he/she may be against
or for your legislative issue
• Know that you are not the only association calling on
your legislators that day
• How to know if your Lobby Day at the Capital was a
Success/Failure?
• The Purpose of an Association Lobby Day
• Lobby Day Do’s and Don’ts
• Lobby Day Advanced Planning
• Lobby Day Wrap-up
• No gifts, just your Association and the Issues
• Time is not the Driver
• Host an after Lobby Day Gathering
The above may seem
Trite and common sense, but knowing in advance
what to do and what not to do is planning at your best!
• It takes one person to initiate change
• Gerry Jensen, a single mother who founded the
Association for Child Support Enforcement
• Families of Alzheimer’s patients convinced government
to invest in more research
• Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Linda in 1994 having a discussion with
President Bill Clinton in the Oval Office at
the White House
• It is hard to change laws and policies, but it can be
done
• Women given the right to vote
• Child labor laws
Supporting her are Bill and Hillary Clinton
• Telling our policymakers how to write and change our
laws is at the very heart of our democratic system
• Has helped democracy evolve over more than two
centuries
• New laws to enable caterers and restaurants to
donate excess food
• New laws helping abused children to be placed into
safe homes faster
• You can learn how to lobby- whom to call, when, what
to say- in minutes
• Lobbying is easier and more effective when people
work together
• You see problems first hand
• You know the needs
• You know what works and what doesn’t
• Everything that goes into a lobbying campaign can be
helpful:
 The research
 The strategy planning
 The phone calls and visits
• The federal government has been allowing local
governments to decide how to spend federal money
• This gives local nonprofits even more responsibility to
tell local policymakers what is needed
• Building public trust is essential to nonprofit
organizations
• Lobbying increases your organization’s visibility
• Think about relationships with local, state, and federal
government
Can you still be effective?
Absolutely you CAN!
MOST DON’T! You know why?
• Agreement of rank and file
• Politics as usual
• We want more than we can get
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At least that was the thinking in the 50’s
Membership was easy
Loyalty was rampant
No one questioned your legislative positions
• It is no longer a service to just protect a members
license… you now need to advance it!
• Members want you to get it done and now
• Sure I will join when I get better reimbursements, etc.
• Why do I need to join or contribute to PAC… the
association is serving me regardless
Are you kidding me?
LET’S REVIEW…
•Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist
•Pharmacists vs. Pharmaceuticals
•Nutritional vs. Dietitians
•Public Insurance Agents vs. Insurance Lobby
•Podiatrists vs. Orthopedic
•Chiropractors vs. Chiropractors vs. Chiropractors vs.
Chiropractors, and then vs. Physical Therapist vs. Medical
Profession - all specialties
And we still accomplished many legislative
Victories over the years as far back as 1991 and up to today!
• Know the issues inside and out
• Know your legislator
• Know that you are not the only association
“If you are not on the Hill meeting with legislators
regularly to inform them about your profession,
guess what? Someone else is meeting with
legislators/regulators and they are not informing
them about what you do, but how they can do it
better!”
- Gene G. Veno
Let me explain:
• If you have a relationship with legislators/staff and are
available for consultation when the need arises, it is
much better than running to the legislator/staff when
you only have a problem
Being seen, you do not always need to be heard!
• Compliments, appreciation, condolences, thank you notes
really work!
• If you are sincere in your note, it will serve you better than
anything else!
• Does your organization send Holiday Cards? I DON’T!
They are rarely ever read by the legislator – come on, do
you read the US Senator Cards with wife and children
laminated? Where do they end up – in the basket on the
wall for what and for who to see? Status maybe?
Wow! What an impactful way to be
noticed and appreciated and show
your true core belief!
• Sometimes and Sometimes not
Be Careful, Be Professional, Be Aware of what you are
attempting!
• Willing to share a recent success story?
• Willing to share a recent unsuccessful story?
• Willing to share a new idea?
• Lobbying is truly an art
• Lobbying is not about you
• Lobbying is a process
• Lobbying is selling the abstract
• Lobbying is not easy!
1
Least
Effective
2
3
Moderately
Effective
4
5
Most
Effective
Mean
Member Receptions
22%
33%
33%
11%
0%
2.33
Party & Group
Receptions
50%
13%
38.%
0%
0%
1.88
Selective Receptions
0%
11%
56%
22%
11%
3.33
Member & Staff
Lunches
0%
10%
0%
50%
40%
4.20
Individual Member
Lunches
10%
0%
0%
20%
70%
4.60
Night Patrol
33%
33%
22%
11%
0%
2.11
Speaking Invitations
20%
0%
0%
70%
10%
3.90
Giving Awards
0%
11%
22%
44%
22%
3.78
PAC Contributions
0%
0%
22%
44%
33%
4.11
General Grassroots
Campaigns
0%
20%
30%
20%
30%
3.60
Targeted Grassroots
Campaigns
0%
0%
20%
40%
40%
4.20
Member Day at
The Capitol
0%
10%
40%
40%
10%
3.50
Question
Small Groups
W/Advocate
3.75
1
Least
Effective
2
3
Moderately
Effective
4
5
Most
Effective
Mean
Professional
Hardcopy
0%
20%
20%
40%
20%
3.60
In House Hardcopy
0%
10%
10%
70%
10%
3.80
Multimedia
Presentations
0%
25%
25%
50%
0%
3.25
Newspaper
Advertisements
11%
22%
67%
0%
0%
2.56
Editorial Board
Tours
13%
25%
13%
50%
0%
3.00
Faxing a Message
50%
25%
25%
0%
0%
1.75
Emailing a
Message
40%
10%
30%
0%
20%
2.50
Hand Delivery to
Members Office
0%
20%
20%
20%
40%
3.80
Verbal
Communication
W/Staff
10%
0%
10%
50%
30%
3.90
Verbal
Communication
W/Member
0%
0%
20%
20%
60%
4.40
Question
• Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association’s Lobby
Day success!
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Executive Contacts…
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Media Contacts…
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Commissions
• PA Supreme Court
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• IRRC
• PUC – Coming Soon!
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• PLS
What is it??
• A powerful and effective legislative website
• Always up to date, accessible anytime, anywhere
• Member Statistics
Why use it???
• Keep members up to date on the latest developments in
Harrisburg
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YOUR organization
Alerts Provide:
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Background information on your issues
Bills important to you - with current status and history
Your positions on bills
Comprehensive contact information
Sample letters
Tips for writing, calling, or visiting your legislators
Links to petitions that can be printed for signatures
Targeted emails with customized messages
Chamber status for House, Senate or Both
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Statistics
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Co-Sponsor Memos
Bill Text Comparison Tools
• Compare by chamber, session or version
Campaign Finance Information
Member Biographical Information
IT WAS MY PLEASURE TO ADDRESS ALL OF YOU THIS
MORNING – REMEMBER LOBBYING IS EASY IF YOU
 RESEARCH YOUR ISSUE
 PLAN YOUR STRAGETY
 BE READY TO DEFEND YOUR POSITION WITH EXPERT
INFORMATION