OK CURE

Successful Lobbists, whether paid professionals or citizen activists, always keep the following in mind.

1: Know your facts; express them accurately and positively. Facts and figures matter; so do sources. Never misrepresent your opponent's view. Long term credibility is more valuable than short term gain; it helps you win the war even though you may lose the first few battles.

2: Know your opposition. Identify your opposition early. Analyze your opponent's position and attempt to neutralize it. This analysis is as important as your own case. Carefully prepare rebuttals to your opponents views.

3: Correct errors immediately. When many individuals participate in a lobbying campaign, errors can occur. Anticipate them. Carefully follow policies regarding individuals authorized to speak for a group. Understand and follow the AAUW use of name policy.

4: Plan,Coordinate, and follow up on each lobbying contact. Carefully plan your approach to each leglislator. Know the role s/he is about to play in the outcome or your issue before you make contact. Keep careful notes about meetings and follow up with a brief summary letter to the official you visited. Develop networks of friends in the leglislature, including staff and other lobbyists, and keep them informed of your activities. Thank those who helped you.

5: Avoid being a Zealot. No on is impressed by fanatics. Credibility is enhanced by a reasoned approach supported by your commitment to the issue.

6: Cultivate your allies; make sure they do their part. Work in coalition with groups that share AAUH concerns on a particular issue, even though they may differ on another issue. Articulate and agree upon mutual goals, strategies, and tactics. Unlikely allies are the surprise ingredient in many successful political outcomes.

7: Know the Legislative process. Good intentions are no substitute for knowing how a bill becomes a law. Know the key players, the role of leadership, the folkways, customs, and timing of the legislative body. Cultivate and revere those who have developed such expertise in your group. Consult with them often.

8: Be careful with money. Lobbying campaigns can be expensive or inexpensive, depending upon your planning. Keep accurate records of mailings, phone calls, photocopying, and trips to the legislature. use them to plan a realistic budget to support your future leglislative goals.

9: Grow thick skin. Taking a position can often evoke criticism. Don't take it personally. Although lobbying is serious, don't take yourself too seriously. Above all, maintain a sense of humor. Lobbying can also be fun.

10: Win. Dedicate yourself to winning. Dream of it, plan it. Believe in yourself, your group, and your issue. This is what gives you power as a citizen lobbyist. Share the credit with everyone who helped. Be gracious to your opponents. They may be your allies on another issue.

What is it going to take to make changes? To get people involved? The last couple of years we have had bills introduced to lower phone rates, create an Ombudsman, restore voting rights faster and remove the Governor from the parole process and others. But we need help getting the word to the families on the outside to get involved.

Let’s look at getting the Governor out of the parole process. The Oklahoma Criminal Justice Resource Center (OCJRC) has estimated it would save Oklahoma taxpayers $2.5 million a year if we removed the Governor from parole. But the politicians would rather use it against the other party saying they are soft on crime, because the Governor signed a parole. Since it would take a constitutional amendment to make the change, we could try it by an Initiative Petition for Constitutional Change. At this time the requirements would be getting the signatures of over 219,000 registered voters in only 90 days.

For years we have told the inmates that we know where you are, it’s up to you to tell your families and friends on the outside where we are and ask them to get involved. With this newsletter we are attaching our info cards, give them to other inmates, your families, friends and volunteers that want to help make change happen.

For years we have allowed any inmate to join for free if they tell us they are indigent. We haven’t raised the rates for the families either; we get by with pennies and volunteers. No one gets paid to do anything, to answer the phone, write letters, put the newsletter together and mail it. I pray if only everyone that wants change would just donate a dollar, I wouldn’t know what to do with all that money. (Yes, I do, we could do more to get the word out and educate the public.)
If your are a member won’t you renew your membership; and if not, won’t you join and help spread the word to others to join and get involved.

GET INVOLVED

Ten Commandments of Citizen Lobbying

HOW TO INFLUENCE LEGISLATORS

What's It Take???