How to organize a biker friendly
lobby day
- Recruit early!
Make a goal of putting together a group of 10-15 dedicated bikers who would
be willing to meet with legislators about motorcycle rights and other liberty
issues.
- Make an appointment
to meet with legislators. Go to ABATE of SC's
Legislative
Action Center to find the legislators for your district.
You will be able to find the contact information for district
offices of your legislators using your
nine digit zip code. Call the district office and ask
to speak with your legislator or staff member. Tell them
that you are a constituent/motorcyclist and that your group
would like to meet with the Representative/Senator about
motorcycle rights or better yet the actual issues/bills
of concern to your group.
- Prepare
your materials. Download lobbying materials and
sample letters from the ABATE of SC's Legislative
Action Center. Ask friends who cannot attend the lobby
day to also write letters to be hand-delivered during your
lobby day. Prepare a number of packets to leave with your
legislators' staffs. Letters are most effective when hand
written always avoid form letters and especially petitions.
- Prepare your group.
Meet at least once before your lobby visit to go over messaging, speaking
order, and to answer any questions. Find tips on how
to lobby .
How do I choose which legislator
to lobby?
Your group will have a better chance
meeting directly with Representatives rather than Senators. For ABATE Chapters
that have large numbers of members from multiple districts, choose one or more
legislators your group would like to lobby. The more meetings you can set up,
the greater your group's lobbying efforts! ABATE of SC's Legislative Coordinator
can help you target specific legislators.
What else should I consider?
You may want to approach other motorcycle
rights organizations and see if they would like to cosponsor the event with
you. This will have the advantage of increasing attendance at the actual event,
increasing collaboration among motorcycle rights organizations, and also will
provide you with some other leaders who can help you to organize the event!
If possible, involve other motorcyclists
or liberty minded groups in the event.
Can I get press coverage?
This
is the perfect occasion to notify the local media and let them
know what you are doing! They should be very interested in local
biker activists visiting Members of Congress on behalf of a
national initiative. For your local area, all you have to do
is write
a press release and send it out to your local media contacts.
Once the lobby visits are over,
am I done?
Not just yet. All those taking part
in the effort should meet nearby the Capitol and share what they learned; I
suggest over a nice meal and a cold beer at a location such as the Mellow Mushroom
in Columbia. If possible, have all the participants fill out a feedback survey
so you know how each visit went. Was their representative receptive? Will he
or she support the bill?
Send a message to the Legislative
and State Coordinator detailing your lobby day so they may follow up with
those offices.
Next, follow up with a thank you
letter to each office. Remind them what the visit was about, and any definite
actions that they said they would take. |