BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
WITH YOUR LEGISLATORS
veryone realizes that the effectiveness
sonal connections or interests when speaking
of your work often depends on the
with elected officials whose opinion you are
Equalityofyourrelationships,likethe tryingtoinfluencewithyourfactsandper-
bond you form with your myeloma care pro-
sonal story. Additionally, treat their staff with
viders. It is similar with elected officials, as
the same importance as the elected official as
you must develop relationships with legisla-
staff members can hold valuable sway with
tors and their staffs long before you turn to
their boss and influence your relationship and
them for assistance on an important issue you
success on issues.
care about. Strong interpersonal relationships
are the best means of influencing legislative
Become a fountain of facts. Know the specif-
decision making. Personal visits, letters, phone
ics needed to accomplish the goal of curing
calls, faxes, filling out website forms, and e-
myeloma and related issues. Also, be aware of
mails also are important, especially when they
the advocacy platform and important issues
come from constituents who are well-known,
identified by the IMF, as a coordinated effort
highly regarded, and have gone out of their
is needed to accomplish the goal of curing
way to be helpful in a variety of ways in the
myeloma.
past. Building these relationships takes time
and effort, but it's the most effective way to
Phases for relationship-building for effective
shape the thinking of those who shape public
legislative advocacy include:
policy.
1. Write and/or call legislators on current
So how do you go about building these strong
issues.
relationships with legislators? In much the
same ways as you cultivate friendships: by be-
2. Make personal visits either in Washington,
ing personable and helpful. Being helpful to a
D.C., your state capitol, or in the home
legislator cannot be over-emphasized. Become
district offices on current issues or broad
a useful and trustworthy source of sound in-
problems.
formation on issues affecting myeloma pa-
tients. Utilize your unique insight as a cancer
3. Organize group visits on issues of mutual
survivor, family member or caregiver to pro-
importance.
vide elected officials with contributions of
your time to help them with their own pro-
4. Invite legislators to attend a support
fessional and political needs and interests. Par-
group meeting to learn more about the
ty affiliation (Democrat, Independent, or Re-
latest research and issues facing myeloma
publican) should not restrict you or your ef-
patients today. These events might result
forts as elected officeholders represent an en-
in legislators becoming a cancer advocate.
tire state, legislative district, or local govern-
ment and all the voters in those jurisdictions.
5. Get personally involved politically in legis-
You don't have to be a member of the legisla-
lators' campaigns and the activities of your
tor's political party to work together and even
political party.
to become friends.
IMF is seeking your help in advocating for the
Be sure to do some homework about the key
prevention of and a cure for myeloma. Specif-
issues your elected officials are interested in
ically, here are some ways you can work with
and working on currently. Try to tie in per-
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IMF staff to build relationships at the federal
come known as a campaign contributor,
level:
political activist, or myeloma leader who
can muster support on the issues from a
1. Develop relationships with your elected
variety of groups through your coalition
officials so they can use you as a reliable
activities.
and authoritative source on myeloma is-
sues.
2. Be prepared to meet with key legislative
personnel or committee staff members if
2. Participate with IMF in advocacy activities
the legislator is unavailable at the last
and with other coalitions who are on simi-
moment. Briefing these people before
lar missions to cure cancer and improve
your visit also may be useful so that they
health status.
can prepare the legislator. Staff aides are
often more knowledgeable about details
3. Where appropriate, provide financial sup-
of a specific issue than lawmakers them-
port for legislators' campaigns by making
selves.
individual contributions.
3. If several individuals join you in the visit,
These steps will progressively build your cre-
decide in advance who will be the
dibility with the officeholder. Establishing a
principal spokesperson. That individual,
reputation as an objective data source, for ex-
of course, should encourage others to par-
ample, builds credibility for subsequent com-
ticipate in the discussion to share particu-
munications expressing opinions on issues.
lar expertise or experiences.
Political activity establishes you as a friend
whose views are likely to receive more weight
4. If you want to discuss a specific issue,
than those of someone who writes from time
make sure you are thoroughly familiar
to time.
with all aspects of it before going into the
meeting.
PERSONAL VISITS
Personal meetings with legislators and their
5. When talking to legislators, try to be con-
key staff members are the most effective way
cise, well organized, and mindful of the
to make your case on an issue. Such visits also
other person's time. State your view firml-
are a good way to introduce you as a constitu-
y, but be attentive to the elected official's
ent. A personal meeting can be difficult to
position also.
accomplish with the elected officials them-
6. Open the discussion by reminding the
selves, but remember that you are offering an
legislators who you are and why IMF and
important contact. You can arrange the meet-
you are seeking assistance related to cur-
ing with the legislator directly or through staff
ing myeloma. If your visit is about a spe-
aides.
cific piece of legislation, know the issue
and the bill number. Clearly state your
The following suggestions will help make the
concern about the issue, how it will affect
best use of your time and the legislator's:
you personally and others in your similar
situation, their families, caregivers, etc.
1. Always make an appointment. Arranging
Avoid harsh accusations. Be polite and
the first meeting may require patience on
respectful. Often, we forget how we
your part, but be persistent. Later, as you
sound when we are particularly passionate
become known as a resource, gaining ap-
about an issue.
pointments will be less difficult. This situ-
ation will occur especially if you also be-
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7. Always be truthful and never mislead.
9. To gain a favorable vote, follow up with
Your personal credibility and that of IMF
letter(s) and calls to legislators and their
is at stake. If you don't have the answer to
key staff advisors at appropriate points as
a question, do not improvise. Promise to
the issue progresses.
get back to them with the necessary in-
formation, and be sure to do so promptly.
10. Maintain the relationship. Get your name
on legislative e-mail lists. Find occasions
8. Come prepared with a brief (one-page)
to see the legislators again in appropriate
position paper that summarizes your
circumstances, and write to them on the
points with facts, and leave it behind with
issues from time to time. If you obtain re-
the legislators or staff aides. If a lengthier
ports or data that will be useful to legisla-
document or answers to questions are re-
tors and their aides and that you can share
levant, send them later with a thank-you
with them, send those documents with a
letter for taking the time to meet with you.
brief personal cover note. Eventually, you
may even find the legislator coming to you
for information, help, or your point of
view on new issues.
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