#pplobbytn

(Knoxville Peer Educators with Rep. Joe Armstrong)

  Activities for Lobby Day began pretty early, at about 9am. My classes on March 12 also began at that time, so after weeks of helping members of the Planned Parenthood of Middle and East Tennessee staff prepare for the flood of like-minded activists coming into town for Lobby Day 2013, I couldn’t be there to receive them in the morning. Still, I had a two-hour window between classes to attend the Lobby Day activities, and it was definitely an experience that I’m glad to have had.

  When I entered Legislative Plaza on my way to the Healthy & Free TN coalition booths, I was immediately struck by the sheer number of people in that space. There were folks lobbying just about everything affecting the state of Tennessee. Luckily for me, Planned Parenthood’s table was easy to spot because it was bright pink and surrounded by beaming faces!

  I was only at the booth educating passersby about the work that Planned Parenthood is doing in Tennessee for about fifteen minutes before I left for my first legislative meeting at 11:30am. I shared the meeting with the (AWESOME) Peer Educators affiliated with Planned Parenthood’s Knoxville branch, so we sat down with Representative Joe Armstrong (D-Knoxville) to discuss some of their work and the mission of Planned Parenthood overall.

  Conversation flowed more easily than I expected, and although I thought that legislators might be annoyed by the volume of people in their offices that morning, Rep. Armstrong seemed genuinely interested in the things that we were saying. He asked thoughtful questions, and by the end of the meeting, I felt that things had really gone well.

  They got better directly after when I slipped into an impromptu meeting that two of my supervisors held with Representative Gary Odom (D-Nashville) that covered a range of legislative concerns. He was knowledgeable, receptive, and even funny, which came as a surprise to me considering the gravity of the issues he deals with all day. Representative Jason Powell (D-Nashville) was relatively amiable as well, and although we could only have a quick meeting with him, he was candid and responsive during our talk, leaving my Lobby Day visits on a high note. It seems that although legislators have very little time spread across a LOT of constituents, they still manage to read up on information relevant to all of them, and they’re a lot easier to talk to than I expected!

  I followed that meeting with a quick lunch before I headed back to class, where I got a chance to speak with some of the PG-13 Players and volunteers from other branches of Planned Parenthood. Our conversation was really great because everyone had a different perspective of the work that we do working toward the goal of reproductive health and freedom in Tennessee. I couldn’t help thinking as I left that anyone who hadn’t been able to make it out had definitely missed a great opportunity. All in all, I’d say Lobby Day 2013 was a success.

The following examples will give you an idea of different ways to begin the conversation with your legislators on Lobby Day 2013. Remember, these are only examples! They are designed to jumpstart your thinking about the many ways in which you can incorporate the importance of reproductive justice into your Lobby Day sessions. Whatever you say, speak calmly and speak from your heart – people recognize passion!

Focus on personal experiences – why are YOU interested?

I support reproductive health services offered by organizations such as Planned Parenthood partly because I received my birth control from their clinic throughout my time in college, which allowed me to graduate and…. (finish up with your personal points)

The accessibility and affordability are vital for so many women like me, because…

Rely on facts.

Did you know that the CDC found in 2009 that six out of ten LGBT students reported feeling unsafe at school? I don’t know about you, but I find that disturbing, and I want to talk about some things we might be able to do to keep LGBT children in our communities safe from this sort of harassment…

Call attention to issues receiving media attention.

I read several articles recently about the support that a lot of TN legislators have been lending to SB 234, the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. I don’t think that you should support this bill, however, because….

Use background research on the legislator for support.

Lobby Day 2013 is almost here! If March 12 will be your first time lobbying, the idea can be intimidating. Not to worry! We’ve compiled a quick list of things you can do to ensure your lobbying session runs smoothly and effectively. Here are 5 Tips to Effective Lobbying that we think are important to remember:

1. Make an appointment with your legislator TODAY.

The earlier you make your appointment, the easier it is to ensure the lawmakers who need to hear your message will be available.  When making your appointment, be sure you state exactly what you would like to discuss during your meeting, identify everyone who will be attending, and be sure to mention if those people are constituents of the politician.

 2. Research relevant facts.

Be sure to know the title and number of any bills you plan to discuss, and write notes about your position related to each. A quick list of pros/cons can go a long way!

To get you started, we’ve already found one bad bill: SB0632 filed by Sen. Tracy. The bill mandates an ultrasound prior to an abortion, requires that the woman listen to a description of the image if she does not choose to see it, and imposes a 24-72 hour waiting period before the procedure.

3. Tell YOUR story.

Stay on topic (this is where your notes come in), but be sure to explain how any issue involved with a bill in question will specifically influence you or your family. After all, it’s easy to care about things that affect you, and it’s easiest to lobby about things you care about!

 4. Encourage questions.

By the time March 12 comes around, you will have done your research and will know what you are talking about. Be ready to discuss any points you make with your legislator. State only what you know, but allow them to ask you any questions they may have. If you’re not sure about an answer, tell them you will find out and follow-up at a later date.

 5. Mind your manners.