· Small group meetings with legislators have a big impact. The goals include:
1. Educating the legislators about the issues;
2. Developing advocates from among the legislators;
3. Strengthening the voice of psychology in your area; and
4. Gaining commitments from the legislators that they will support our legislative agenda.
· The best days to hold meetings with area legislators, when the legislature is in session, are Monday and Friday when they are not in legislative meetings. When the legislature is not in session, the best days to hold local meetings would be Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.
· The best time for meetings with legislators is
8 a.m. to 9 or
9 a.m. Remind your group members to arrive promptly so as not to keep the legislator waiting.
· Select a place that can comfortably accommodate your group.
· Try to select a meeting place that adds value to the purpose
of the meeting: to educate, inform, and expose a legislator to
psychological services (e.g., psychologist's office, mental health clinic,
a hospital or rehab center).
· The meetings must be carefully thought out – beginning to end.
1. Extend invitation to legislator(s) at least three weeks in
advance of the meeting.
2. Extend written invitation to all prospective attendees,
at least three weeks in advance. Ask for confirmation of
their availability to attend. Make sure that the letters of
invitation contain the date, time, and place (with specific
directions to the location, including parking instructions);
3. Always invite someone from the Ohio Psychological
Association;
4. Invite the press;
5. Make arrangements for a photographer to be there;
6. Call the legislator(s) and expected participants (from whom
you have had no response) to encourage them to attend;
7. The presenters at the meetings should meet at least one
time in advance of the meetings to thoroughly discuss
(a) who will say what and (b) desired outcomes;
8. Prepare a sign-in sheet (name, address, phone, and e-mail);
9. Prepare large-print nametags;
10. Give packet of information (agenda, relevant issue fact sheet)
11. Have appropriate refreshments (i.e., coffee and doughnuts);
12. Send thank you letters to all attendees if possible. At a
minimum, thank legislators in writing for attending and
again ask for their support of the bill.
Please let OPA know the results of your meeting and if you