Communicating with Communicating with OlympiaOlympia

Meeting with a PurposeMeeting with a Purpose

Association of Washington Association of Washington CitiesCities

Prepared by Prepared by

Northwest Public Affairs, LLCNorthwest Public Affairs, LLC

AGENDAAGENDAMeeting with a PurposeMeeting with a Purpose

AWC Legislative CommunicationsAWC Legislative Communications

Key MessagesKey Messages

Effective One-on-one MeetingsEffective One-on-one Meetings

YourYour Voice - Direct Communications Voice - Direct Communications

Indirect Communications – Indirect Communications – YourYour Voice Voice & Others& Others

AWC Legislative CommunicationsAWC Legislative CommunicationsCurrent Information & Timely Current Information & Timely

ResponseResponse

AWC Legislative Bulletin – Every FridayAWC Legislative Bulletin – Every Friday

Rapid Response to AWC Action AlertsRapid Response to AWC Action Alerts The IssueThe Issue The TimingThe Timing Key PointsKey Points

AWC Legislative Home Page - DailyAWC Legislative Home Page - Daily

Key MessagesKey Messages2005 State of Washington 2005 State of Washington

CitiesCities It’s about our jobs, Washington’s It’s about our jobs, Washington’s

economy & our quality of lifeeconomy & our quality of lifeStrong cities strengthen Washington’s Strong cities strengthen Washington’s economy and preserve our quality of life.economy and preserve our quality of life.

The perfect financial storm hit WA citiesThe perfect financial storm hit WA citiesAll at once, Washington cities are facing the All at once, Washington cities are facing the cumulative impact of severe fiscal issues.cumulative impact of severe fiscal issues.

Key MessagesKey Messages2005 State of Washington 2005 State of Washington

CitiesCities

Cities have made tough choice alreadyCities have made tough choice already Washington cities responded by making Washington cities responded by making

tough choices, and many are at a financial tough choices, and many are at a financial crossroad.crossroad.

Working TogetherWorking TogetherWashington cities and the state need to work Washington cities and the state need to work together – to address the basics, ensure together – to address the basics, ensure good jobs, build a stronger economy, and good jobs, build a stronger economy, and preserve our quality of life.preserve our quality of life.

Effective One-on-one’sEffective One-on-one’sMeeting with a PurposeMeeting with a Purpose

Get Acquainted, Build RelationsGet Acquainted, Build Relations Information, Education about an Information, Education about an

issueissue Request support or oppositionRequest support or opposition Strategy, What’s needed to pass or Strategy, What’s needed to pass or

defeat?defeat? Request leadership on the issueRequest leadership on the issue Build community awarenessBuild community awareness

Effective Meetings - Be Effective Meetings - Be PreparedPrepared

Know the Bill NumberKnow the Bill Number

Why it matters locally – best Why it matters locally – best arguments arguments

Whose voices matter to the issue? Whose voices matter to the issue? Appealing on behalf of…Appealing on behalf of…

Local Public Opinion, ExamplesLocal Public Opinion, Examples

Leave Behinds, ReferencesLeave Behinds, References

Effective Meetings, Get to Effective Meetings, Get to the pointthe point

Ask directly, wait for a response.Ask directly, wait for a response.

No excuses – Be Polite, firm in No excuses – Be Polite, firm in position.position.

Anticipate resistance. Anticipate resistance.

Clarify position, if not sure.Clarify position, if not sure.

Take notes, for the record.Take notes, for the record.

Effective MeetingsEffective MeetingsAnticipate ResistanceAnticipate Resistance

… … Not on the CommitteeNot on the Committee … … It’s too lateIt’s too late … … Need to know more…Need to know more… … … Not enough moneyNot enough money … … Not heard from constituentsNot heard from constituents … … Too many other things Too many other things

competingcompeting … … Other prioritiesOther priorities Etc.Etc.

Effective MeetingsEffective MeetingsOffer Community SupportOffer Community Support

Community ForumsCommunity Forums City InformationCity Information Letter to the Editor, Call in Letter to the Editor, Call in

showsshows Op-edsOp-eds Joint AppearanceJoint Appearance Others to write or callOthers to write or call Public AcknowledgementsPublic Acknowledgements

Effective MeetingsEffective MeetingsAlways Follow upAlways Follow up

Thank you – in writingThank you – in writing

Restate position – in writingRestate position – in writing

Offer support – call attention (or not)Offer support – call attention (or not)

Letter to the editor, op-ed, reportersLetter to the editor, op-ed, reporters

Public AcknowledgementsPublic Acknowledgements

Effective AdvocacyEffective AdvocacyCommunity AwarenessCommunity Awareness

Information firstInformation first

City Meetings, NewslettersCity Meetings, Newsletters

Web Sites, Email chainsWeb Sites, Email chains

Opinion Leaders, Business & Civic Opinion Leaders, Business & Civic GroupsGroups

Op-eds, Letters to the EditorOp-eds, Letters to the Editor

YourYour Voice - Postcard or Voice - Postcard or LetterLetter

Handwritten, PersonalHandwritten, Personal

Taking the time to write…Taking the time to write…

Will it get there in time?Will it get there in time?

Name and return addressName and return address

Personal Thank you follow up.Personal Thank you follow up.

YourYour Voice - E-mail Voice - E-mail PersonalPersonal

Immediate, ConvenientImmediate, Convenient

Quick turnaround, unpredictable Quick turnaround, unpredictable schedulesschedules

Ask two friends…Ask two friends…

Personal thank you, follow up.Personal thank you, follow up.

YourYour Voice – Legislative Voice – Legislative HotlineHotline

800-562-6000, Toll-free800-562-6000, Toll-free8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Sat.Sat.

Quick, ConvenientQuick, Convenient

Leave a short messageLeave a short message

No questions or debateNo questions or debate

YourYour Voice – Personal Voice – Personal CallsCalls

One-on-one relationshipOne-on-one relationship

Immediate & long-termImmediate & long-term

Urgency, priority of issueUrgency, priority of issue

Leave cell or convenient callback Leave cell or convenient callback numbernumber

Personal thank you, follow up.Personal thank you, follow up.

YourYour Voice - Public Voice - Public ForumsForums

Building public awarenessBuilding public awareness

On the media radar screenOn the media radar screen

Legislators “on-the-record”Legislators “on-the-record”

Opportunity to urge or thank Opportunity to urge or thank publiclypublicly

YourYour Voice - Letters to Voice - Letters to the Editorthe Editor

Dailies and WeekliesDailies and Weeklies

For all to read…For all to read…

Build public awarenessBuild public awareness

Urge action, others to contactUrge action, others to contact

Opportunity to urge and/or thank Opportunity to urge and/or thank publiclypublicly

YourYour Voice – Opinion Editorial Voice – Opinion Editorial (Op-ed)(Op-ed)

800-1000 words, Daily or Weekly800-1000 words, Daily or Weekly

Make the case - Your Opinion & Why?Make the case - Your Opinion & Why?

Urgency and importanceUrgency and importance

Urge support or opposition – be Urge support or opposition – be specificspecific

Encourage others to call and writeEncourage others to call and write

YourYour Voice - Reporters, Ed Voice - Reporters, Ed BoardsBoards

Local Reporters, ColumnistsLocal Reporters, Columnists

Olympia ReportersOlympia Reporters

Local Editorial BoardsLocal Editorial Boards

Good Luck !Good Luck !

Association of Washington Association of Washington CitiesCities

Northwest Public Affairs, LLCNorthwest Public Affairs, LLC