Preparing for Legislative Visits
Video: Preparing for Legislative Visits
Tips for Preparing for Legislative Visits:
- Know your ask.
- Prepare a story.
- Gather facts and data.
- Be OK not knowing an answer.
- Respect your legislators’ time.
- Learn about your legislator (before meeting).
- Thank your legislator (after meeting).
Know Your Ask:
- Know why you are holding the meeting. Do you want the legislator to vote a certain way on an issue, get familiar with an issue and/or get to know you as a resource? Get as clear as possible on your ask.
- Be up front with the reason for the meeting.
Prepare a Story:
- Stories are powerful and can change hearts and minds. Is there a story that explains and personifies your issue?
Gather Facts and Data:
- Be ready to back up any story you share with facts and data.
Be OK Not Knowing an Answer:
- It’s OK to not know the answer to a question.
- If you don’t know an answer, tell your legislator that you’ll get back to them and then be sure to follow up
after the meeting.
Respect Your Legislators’ Time:
- Legislators are busy. Begin by asking them how much time they have to chat.
- Make good use of your time together.
Learn About Your Legislator (Before Meeting):
- Which political party are they affiliated with?
- Which legislative committees are they part of?
- Do they have policy issues they are passionate about?
Thank Your Legislator (After Meeting):
- Thank your legislator for work that you appreciate.
- Offer to be a resource. Most legislators are not experts on health care.
Additional Resources to Prepare for Legislative Visits
- Online Advocacy Course: State and Local Advocacy (Society of Teachers of Family Medicine)
- Lobbying 101 (American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Contacting Your Legislator (Minnesota Medical Association)
- Find Out Who Represents Me (Minnesota Legislature)
Getting an Op-Ed Published
Video: Tips for Getting an Op-Ed Published
Tips for Getting an Op-Ed Published
- Choose the right publication.
- Check submission guidelines.
- Make a connection.
- State your case.
- Follow up and share.
Choose the Right Publication:
- When choosing a publication, think geography, topic and timeliness. Where will your message go? Is it relevant and timely for the audience/readership?
- Read a publication before you pitch to it.
Check Submission Guidelines:
- Check the publication guidelines for word-count and instructions on how to submit.
- Structure your op-ed as follows: 1. anecdote, 2. problem, 3. solution, 4. call to action and 5. a tie back to the anecdote.
Make a Connection:
- Tell a story and/or relate the issue to a recent event or something local.
- Communicate a clear, unique point of view.
- Hook readers with your main point.
State Your Case:
- Utilize data and stories.
- Offer specific recommendations.
- Acknowledge the opposition.
- Appeal to your authority and expertise.
Follow Up and Share:
- After publication, share across social media, with your legislators, with communications contacts at your clinic/health system and physician groups like the MAFP and with your networks.
- If your submission is rejected, ask if you can submit it as a letter to the editor or try a different publication.
Additional Resources for Getting an Op-Ed Published
- How to Write an Op-Ed (Society of Teachers of Family Medicine)
- Letter to the Editor template (Berkely Media)
Using Social Media for Advocacy
Video: Using Social Media for Advocacy
Tips for Using Social Media for Advocacy
- Find out who represents you.
- Follow your legislators.
- Track issues and engage.
- Use relevant hashtags.
Find Out Who Represents You:
- Search “Who Represents Me MN” online or use the “Who Represents Me” tool from the MN Legislature.
Follow Your Legislators:
- Follow your legislators across platforms.
- Study the kinds of posts they respond to.
- Engage consistently (be sure to add your district in posts/messages to legislators to show you are their constituent).
- Let legislators know that you appreciate their time do what you can to build a relationship.
- Thank them on social media after an interaction and after they vote your way on an issue.
Track Issues and Engage:
- Be aware of conversations happening online around your issue, and join in.
- Connect with other physicians on social media.
- Use social media as a tool for educating the public.
Use Relevant Hashtags:
- Hashtags can increase your post visibility.
- Recommended hashtags to use: #mnleg (Minnesota Legislature) and #mafpadvocacy (MAFP Advocacy).
- Tip: Look at posts from other physicians/organizations advocating on your issue to know other relevant hashtag(s) to use.
Additional Resources for Using Social Media for Advocacy:
- Social Media for Doctors: Taking Professional and Patient Engagement to the Next Level (Family Practice Management, American Academy of Family Physicians)
- How to Engage Members of Congress on Social Media
- Find Out Who Represents Me (Minnesota Legislature)
- Follow the MAFP on Social Media
Making an Advocacy Action Plan
Video: Making an Advocacy Action Plan
Tips for Making an Advocacy Action Plan
- Organize your thoughts and identify next steps.
- Engage in advocacy at your own pace.
- Know your “ask.”
- Understand the other side.
Organize Your Thoughts and Identify Next Steps:
- Putting your thoughts in a document may help. Download the Advocacy Plan Worksheet: bit.ly/advocacyactionplan.
- Things to consider: The issue. What is your story? What are the facts? Identify assets and liabilities. Who are the decision-makers? Whose voices should be at the table? Who stands to lose, and who stands to gain? What are your short- and long-term goals? What will success look like?
Engage in Advocacy at Your Own Pace:
- Connect to the work that is already happening.
- Find partners.
- Ask how you can be most helpful as a physician voice.
Know Your “Ask”:
Prior to engaging with an issue:
- Get as clear as possible on your “ask.”
- Think through the stories and facts/data that you will use to support your “ask.”
Understand the Other Side:
Strengthen the argument by asking yourself:
- Who is on the other side?
- What is their argument?
- What info will you need to counter their argument?
Additional Resources for Making an Advocacy Action Plan
Setting MAFP Policy/Direction via Resolutions
Video: Setting MAFP Policy/Direction via Resolutions
Things to Know About Setting MAFP Policy
- Resolutions guide our work.
- Every member can have a voice.
- Online resources and staff support are available.
Resolutions Guide Our Work:
- Resolutions are written motions to set a specific policy/direction.
- Resolutions come from members who can author, deliberate and/or vote.
Every Member Can Have a Voice:
- Any MAFP member can submit a resolution.
- All MAFP members are invited to submit comments and deliberate on resolutions prior to voting and policy decisions.
Online Resources and Staff Support Are Available:
- Need help writing and formatting resolutions? resolution-writing
- Have questions about how a resolution becomes policy, what happens when a resolution is adopted, where you can find past resolutions and more? resolution-faqs
Things to Know About Writing Resolutions
- Begin with “Whereas” clauses to explain the issue/concern.
- Use “Be it resolved” clauses to outline the “ask” or “asks.”
- Access writing tips and tools at resolutions.
Begin With “Whereas” Clauses to Explain the Issue/Concern:
- An example: Whereas Minnesota has some of the greatest health disparities in the country… For a full example, see How to Write a Resolution.
Use “Be It Resolved” Clauses to Outline the “Ask” or “Asks:”
- An example: Be it resolved that the MAFP provide continuing medical education addressing health disparities… For a full example, see How to Write a Resolution.
Access Writing Tips and Tools Online: resolutions.
Additional Resources for Setting MAFP Policy/Direction via Resolution