THE DO'S & DON'TS IN
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
t's easy to find reasons not to get in-
secure a commitment from the official that
Ivolved: "I don't have time to make a he/shewillsupportyourposition.Forexam-
phone call." "No one will listen to me." "They
ple, you might say in closing, "So we can
don't care what I have to say." "I don't have
count on your support on Wednesday?" or
any experience." "What if they ask me a ques-
"We hope you will recognize this amendment
tion I can't answer?" The rationale is endless.
is important for the quality care of our pa-
Deep down, many people may simply be
tients, and we hope you will agree to cospon-
afraid of embarrassing themselves. The fol-
sor it." Even verbal commitments are tough
lowing list of do's and don'ts provides useful
to break.
tips to help ensure that your government rela-
tions experiences are positive and successful.
Do realize that talking to the staff is like
talking to the elected official. Treat staff
DO'S
the same way you would treat the elected offi-
cial. Officials often rely on staff to advise
Do remember that you have knowledge of
them on how to vote or craft legislation, and
myeloma that ordinary citizens do not and
they also develop interpersonal relationships
that makes you a trusted and respected
with trusted staffers. If you alienate the staff
source. Legislators and their staff seek spe-
you are asking for trouble.
cialized knowledge that they don't have. Trust
that they will listen to you and respect you
Do be early for meetings. An elected offi-
because you are an expert.
cial's schedule can be filled down to the
minute. They don't have time to wait for you,
Do consult your IMF Advocacy Toolkit
even though you may have to wait for them.
for specific tips on letter writing, personal
visits, e-mail, and phone calls. Detailed in-
Do avoid jargon. Although you are an ex-
formation is available for your reference, so
pert, try to frame your comments as small bul-
use your resources.
let points of information that can be easily
understood by a layperson. While your know-
Do try to personalize the issue by giving
ledge may be impressive, if you lose your au-
examples of how you, your family, and
dience your message will be lost.
your community are affected by myeloma.
You would be amazed at how much more
Do leave something behind. At the mini-
weight is given to a constituent's concerns
mum, leave your business card or contact in-
than to those of a lobbyist; but the message
formation so the staff or elected official can
must be meaningful. Legislators and their staff
contact you with questions. Optimally, you
know that organizations try to mobilize their
should provide a useful "leave-behind" that
members to send e-mails or letters on certain
summarizes your position on an issue in di-
issues. If the letter reads like a form letter, it
gestible tidbits. Statistics and their reference
will not have the same impact as a personal
are always a plus, as staff will often use infor-
letter that includes examples and personal ex-
mation from "leave-behinds" in speeches or
periences.
as talking points on the issue.
Do get a commitment. At the close of a per-
Do be realistic. Thousands of bills are intro-
sonal visit or meeting, you should attempt to
duced during each legislative session, but few-
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er than 10% are enacted. Don't be discou-
your cue from the person with whom you are
raged if your bill does not pass. You have es-
meeting.
tablished relationships, educated staff and
elected officials, and built support for your
Do make friends before you need them.
position. If you have accomplished these
Whenever possible, develop relationships be-
things, you have laid the groundwork and in-
fore you have to ask for something. Try to
creased your chances that a bill will pass the
become familiar with legislators who work on
next time.
issues of interest to you, even if nothing is
developing on that topic or in his/her com-
Do come prepared to defend your posi-
mittee at the time. One obvious place to start
tion. You always have to know what your op-
is by getting to know the members of the
position is up to. If you anticipate questions
health care committees at your federal, state,
and are prepared in advance to defend your
or local levels.
position, you will cut your opposition off.
Do disagree respectfully. If a legislator has
Do dress appropriately in business attire.
an opposing position on an issue and you are
Remember the purpose of your visit is to talk
unable to change his/her mind, remain res-
about professional issues. To be most effec-
pectful of the time he/she gave you to state
tive, you should appear organized and profes-
your position. If possible, compliment the
sional.
legislator on his/her work on another issue. -
The legislator will appreciate your under-
Do be loyal to your friends. Like-minded
standing and be impressed by your knowledge
individuals who work on issues similar to
of his/her record.
yours can be powerful advocates in public
policy. They might call you with inside infor-
Do say thank you. Whether you are follow-
mation or invite you to participate in an out-
ing up after a personal visit or thanking a
reach activity. If you undermine your friends,
member for fighting in committee for one
they will not be around the next time you
small provision that was important to you, it
need help.
is always nice to recognize another's efforts.
Legislators and their staff work hard, and
Do recognize the value of compromise.
most have great intentions, so your sincere
You may not get everything you want. How-
thanks are always appreciated.
ever, isn't it better, for instance, to get some
money for cancer research than a full amount
Do provide helpful information whenever
specifically for myeloma? Think about areas in
possible. Providing information is always ap-
which you are prepared to compromise and
preciated. If you send a copy of a current re-
identify those that are not negotiable. In some
port or an article you think the staff or elected
cases, you may even want to anticipate com-
official would find interesting, you present
promise by asking for more than you actually
yourself as a considerate, alert person who
want. But be careful and don't concede any-
wants to help. When you provide useful in-
thing until the timing is right.
formation and are not asking for any specific
action in return, in effect, you are reminding
Do keep your phone call or visit brief and
the recipient of who you are and are providing
to the point. While staff or the elected offi-
them with a nonthreatening communication
cial will usually be polite, it is incumbent on
that will be appreciated.
you to recognize that they are very busy. Keep
your meeting pleasant and brief, and start
Do ask IMF for help. We are committed to
looking for clues that it's time to wrap things
helping you. If you need help, contact the
up after fifteen minutes. Meetings should rare-
members of IMF's advocacy team.
ly last more than twenty minutes, but take
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Senator John Doe's office on a related issue
DON'TS
last year or that you testified before a commit-
tee on the issue. But it is probably not appro-
Don't participate in political activities in
priate to mention that you played tennis with
the name of the IMF unless you are advo-
Senator Doe last Thursday.
cating an issue on which the IMF has tak-
en a position.
Don't make threats. Any threats, veiled or
overt, are usually recognized for what they
Don't pretend to know something that
are. Nothing is more offensive and inappro-
you don't. If you make up information or
priate than threatening someone to get them
skirt around an issue, you'll come off as disin-
to do what you want and it will backfire one
genuous and lose your credibility. Most
hundred times out of one hundred.
people can spot a phony.
Don't become cynical. Keep the faith! Re-
Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know."
member that most people who serve in public
Legislators aren't expected to be experts on
office do so because they want to make a dif-
everything, and neither are you. Admitting
ference. Try to give them the benefit of the
you don't know the answer to something can
doubt.
be a good thing, because it gives you the op-
portunity to say, "I don't know, but I can re-
Don't disparage other elected officials.
search that and get back to you." Then, when
This will make your contacts wonder if you're
you have an answer, you have another op-
saying the same thing about them to a staff
portunity to make contact with the staff or
member from a different office. It will always
elected official.
make you look bad.
Don't name-drop unless it is directly rele-
Don't promise something you can't deliv-
vant. It is okay to mention in passing, for ex-
er. You must be as good as your word or you
ample, that you worked with someone from
will lose your credibility.
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