4. Know How to Talk to Them. You will need to develop messages that resonate with your elected officials and then deliver those messages in a meaningful way. In developing your message, remember that you have something of value to contribute. As an effective ad- vocate, you need to act as a resource for the policy- maker. Elected officials and their staff can’t be experts on everything. If you can demonstrate what you know about an issue and how it will play out in their district or state, you’re ahead of the game. In the end, you need an elected official who cares enough about your specific idea to say to his or her colleagues, “I’m not voting for this bill unless it includes [insert your issue here].” To get legislators to this point, you must demonstrate how your issue connects to people they represent, connects to their overall policy agenda (what he or she is passionate about) and will help
them achieve other goals they may have.
5. Know How to Follow Up. You will need to apply max- imum persistence, tenacity and downright stubborn- ness to get legislators to listen. In a perfect world, you would simply reach out to your elected officials with a relevant, compelling story, make your request and then watch the wheels of government turn. Not going to happen. But the more persistence you show, the more likely your elected officials will take you serious- ly. Once you show them you know how to “play the game,” you’ll find it easy to gain their attention and support.
Follow each of these principles, and you’re on your
way to effective legislative advocacy—helping to advance the interests of NALP and landscape professionals nation- wide. 7
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