DO email your topic(s) in advance of a meeting with a staffer or legislator so they can adequately prepare ahead of time.
DON’T try to get a meeting simply by walking into the office (or even just by calling). Email the office or particular staffer ahead of time to schedule a meeting.
DO stick to one or two topics (or “asks”) in any given meeting, rather than trying to cram in as many as you think time allows. You’ll be taken more seriously if you are focused and able to prioritize.
DON’T use the meeting time to discuss topics unrelated to the organization or field you are representing.
DO make sure to treat office staff with respect at all times.
DO use collaborative verbs as in “I’d like to partner with your office on ____” or “The AAUP would like to support your efforts on _____”.
DO show strength in numbers and schedule meetings in (small) groups of either AAUP members or with coalition members.
DON’T appear disorganized by allowing everyone in your group a turn to speak. This may seem more fair, but is confusing in a 30-minute meeting on the Hill. Appoint a spokesperson or two to make sure that communication is clear and consistent in both style and content, and assign talking points to particular speakers to make sure you can get through your agenda.
DO find something of interest to pass along when you follow up to say thank you. It could be a statistic, a question to use in an upcoming hearing, or the card of a colleague who would make a good witness on the subject you discussed.
DON’T inundate staffers with paper and/or emails. The simpler, the better (and the more likely to be read in entirety before getting tossed into the recycling bin). Master the one page memo. If they need deeper background, they’ll ask.
