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UTAH TASK FORCE COSPONSOR LOBBY "MODEL"
STEP 1 -- GETTING YOUR STATE SUPPORT GROUP STARTED
IT ONLY TAKES ONE OR TWO PEOPLE TO GET STARTED. You can begin simply by doing a mailing to portions of the membership lists of the UWC organizations in your state (SUWA's lists you know are already specifically interested in Utah; the others would be generally supportive but need persuasion to make Utah a priority). Your letter could ask them to write their elected representatives or invite them to a gathering.
GATHER A GROUP OF SUPPORTERS. A SPECIAL EVENT IS HELPFUL. We had the SUWA slide show presented at a local Sierra Club meeting. Our core group (which had come together from a mailing and brief announcements and previous Club meetings) helped with arrangements, refreshments, etc. and the Club promoted the event more than most Group meetings.
STEP 2 -- SUSTAINING YOUR STATE SUPPORT GROUP
INVOLVE THE SUPPORTERS IN DECISION MAKING. Our list at this point was about 100 people (core group plus those who attended slide show). We invited them to a meeting where we presented a proposal for our next steps. Our meetings have been held in homes, back rooms of bars, churches, and libraries.
KEEP YOUR LARGER LIST OF SUPPORTERS INFORMED. KEEP YOUR LIST UP TO DATE. Through periodic mailings (4 - 6 a year) we have kept our people informed of meetings (3 - 5 a year) and progress of the issue with emphasis on Illinois's role. This has enabled us to call on people, beyond our core group, for volunteer tasks when necessary - some of these people have never been to a meeting, many have been to only one.
STEP 3 -- TURNING YOUR POLITICIANS INTO UTAH HEROES
COMBINE THE LARGER CLUB RESOURCES WITH THE UTAH VOLUNTEERS YOU HAVE ACTIVATED. A large mailing (hundreds) to a large number of Club members making a specific request for them to contact their elected representatives (both senators and their one rep) and urge them to cosponsor the bill. Have your volunteers do followup phone calls within two weeks of the mailing (our vol's. did 2 - 3 dozen calls) in order to put a real live voice to the written request for action.
CONTACT YOUR CHIEF TARGET AND ASK FOR A MEETING. You may get a meeting with some aides to begin with, or have it offered to you. This is fine, but always say, "That sounds good, however, we still feel it is important to meet with Sen. ___ as well." In addition, you will want to state the purpose of any meeting you are seeking: "We want Sen. ___ to cosponsor".
IF YOU DON'T GET A GOOD RESPONSE QUICKLY FIND A MEANS TO HAVE ANOTHER GROUP OF FOLKS CALL THE OFFICE TOO. This one doesn't have to be as big, but it should be noticeable (resulting in a few dozen contacts). This lets them know that you are persistent and are not going away. The contacts should not mention the lack of, or slow, response. They should simply be one more burst of requests for cosponsorship.
THE FIRST MEETING. This may be with the staff rather than your target. If so, treat it as though it's a meeting to prepare the meeting with your target and renew your request for such a meeting.
Bring some members of your core group with you so the target's staff will see some representative faces of the contacts they've been getting (plus its a great motivator for your people to be present, or at least know they had the opportunity to be present).
Have a brief pre-meeting so everyone present knows who has what roles and what you want to say (and not say) in the meeting. Everyone should be on message. Present good, factual and descriptive information regarding the land and the citizen's proposal. Bring pictures. Be sure to highlight the fact that you are acting locally as part of a large national coalition effort. Ask for the cosponsorship. Summarize the results of the meeting before you leave so there are no misunderstandings. Send a thank you note to whoever you met with, include the summary in the note.
KEEP AFTER THEM UNTIL YOU GET THE COSPONSORSHIP or a definitive 'no'.
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