Well, I had a very exciting week. First, the team hosted here, hundreds of advocacy meetings Associates kingdom of Congress for two different DC, in aircraft, both on March 11 took place. It would not be remarkable in itself, except that one of them took place in the Mayflower Hotel here in Washington, DC.
Yes, the Mayflower Hotel – the very one where Governor Spitzer, uh, “stayed” in February. So your servant has had the pleasure of the Mayflower departed the day the message. We have been inundated with phone calls and say in response to changes in the day that I have not heard the news I called my husband at 6:00 pm, without understanding, humor at all: “Well, I have my day The Mayflower and now I’m at home.
Really. That’s what I said. The silence at the other end of the line was deafening (though perhaps it was so strong that he could not speak laughs).
More important is the fact that 11 March was probably one of the busiest days I’ve ever seen on Capitol Hill. There were literally tens of thousands of supporters in the town all meetings of the research with their elected representatives. Unfortunately, many offices could not accommodate all requests easily, and some supporters were turned away.
From the viewpoint of the lawyer, I can certainly understand. It’s frustrating to come all the way to Washington, DC has learned that one of your representatives can not simply be to meet you. At the same time, as a former staff person with whom I share with congressional offices. Imagine if you will, hundreds of customers, clients, patients, supporters, employees – is also still there, that comes to you on a daily basis – to call you and say “Hi, I’m in City 10-2 on Thursday. I meet you and I will not take no for an answer. “Many people we spoke this week in this situation, no matter how much they wanted, there was no way fit hundreds of people in a period of four hours.
Frankly, spelled the combination of a growing number of supporters present fly-ins with declining or stagnant staffing disaster of Congress. I think we need to be in a position not too long. How to avoid that part of the problem? Here are some ideas, interesting with the “Mars” theme (just to make things):
“Beware the Ides of March” (Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar), take the advice soothsayer and stay away from DC in early to mid March. I do not believe? The type of day the word lobby “in March 2008 DC” in the search engine of your choice – you’ll be surprised what you find. In the AMA, National Park recreation Association and the American Wind Energy Association, all shows in the sun in DC in early March. In fact, at the Mayflower on Monday and Tuesday, I saw the National Funeral Directors Association Americans for Tax Reform and implementation of their lobby day – I think it is right that nothing is more sure death and taxes.
“Mars is like a lion and leaves like a lamb” Even the transport of your event in April, the programming can mitigate Crunch. The groups holding events in April, May, September and October tend to be lengthy meetings and a vigorous response from the employees. “But wait, you think,” our group has funding issues. Did we not be here in March? “First, there are more opportunities to get to your message as a single DC Fly-In (see note below). Surely you want to contact your people early in the cycle of credit. Fortunately, there are dozens of how to do it without you drag all DCs. Secondly: When was the last Congress was seen actually meet its self-imposed budget limits resources /? I am here for twenty years and I have not seen that happen.
“March to the beat of a Different Drummer” Fly-ins are great, but not limited to meetings of the Capitol that the main (or only) advocacy effort of the year. Take the example of the American Library Association, a day “virtual legislative” for members of the ALA should not receive DC to lobby on their May Day. Library supporters across the country are asked to contact representatives elected from their constituencies while their cohorts are from DC. Or take a page from the book Game of National Public Radio. They work with Congress to explain to April, “Public Radio Recognition Month” and coordination of a DC Fly-in public radio stations and district activities during the month. This one-Two Punch “approaches are used to raise your voice on Capitol Hill – even during the high season.
“Our life is March weather, savage and serene one hour” (Ralph Waldo Emerson): You do not like the weather in March? Wait a minute, this will change. The same is true of Capitol Hill. Political alliances, perspectives and positions are constantly being developed. If you are not completely with the answers you by your elected representatives are always happy to continue to be polite, firm and persistent – you may be able to change his mind again!
“Mad as a March Hare (Alice in Wonderland): Sometimes people in Washington, DC It seems as mad as March hares. If you’re wondering if you found accidentally fallen into the rabbit hole into a fantasy world, it is time to step back and realize that some things are beyond your control. Events can surpass even the best planned lobbying day, so you try to supporters, coherent policy meetings, while more important things in everyone’s mind gas prices or snowstorms or games in fancy hotels.
Please watch our “Mars” ideas on how to march “on and counsel” – even though, as one lawyer told me recently, which applies only to March 4. Ha-ha.