Hello and welcome! We will get started shortly. Please read the instructions below for navigating Zoom while we get set up: ● Please stay muted throughout the training when you are not talking ● Keeping your camera on will help Controls for muting and keep everyone engaged starting your video ● Please “raise your hand” or send a message in the chat if you would like to communicate with the organizers or fellow attendees Navigating Zoom Click “Participants” and “Chat” to add these boxes to your screen. The participants box includes a “raise hand” function.
Lobbying for the Planet Grassroots at the Statehouse
Become a Legislative Advocate for OH’s Environment Goal: Encourage OH legislators to support important environmental legislation ● Legislators care about what is important to their local constituents ● YOU can make a difference - your relationship with your legislator is critical! ● Today you’ll learn how to form those relationships & be given the tools to make that difference.
Be An Effective Volunteer Lobbyist ● First, it is important to understand the complicated process by which a bill becomes law in Ohio ● It is also important to consider at what points in the process we, as environmental activists, can have a voice ● We must prioritize the issues and bills which matter most in order to magnify our impact ● Finally we must speak with one voice in order to be most effective
Where Can We Have A Voice- State ● Bill Introduction ● Outreach to a legislator about the bill and asking for her/his vote ● Committee Testimony ● Continuing to ask for our legislator’s vote as the bill winds it way through the process ● Amendments on the House or Senate floor to improves a bill can be effective ● Asking the Governor to sign the bill
Ohio: How to pass a bill
Where Can We Have A Voice- City Council ● Ordinance Introduction ● Outreach to a council member about an ordinance and asking for him/her to introduce or for her/his vote ● Committee Testimony/ Citizen Forum ● Continuing to ask for a vote as the ordinance winds it way through the process ● Amendments during a motion to improve an ordinance can be effective ● Asking the Mayor to sign the ordinance
Ohio: How to pass an Ordinance
Speaking with One Voice ● We cannot be effective if we do not have one voice at the Capital as the Ohio Sierra Club. ● When we speak for the Club, we must have one message about a bill (although adding our individual concerns about why the bill is important is very effective). ● Ask for guidance from Leg Comm members if you have any questions about the content of your message.
Can I Influence A Legislator? ● How easy is it to get others to listen or change their mind? ● Do you know of anyone who has influenced you? Influenced others? ● What did they do?
Begin to Build a Relationship ● T hank legislator for meeting ● 1-2 minute summary of “you” ○ Where do you live & for how long ○ Size & nature of your family ○ 1 or 2 things that you really care about ● State topic of this meeting
The Appeal ● Appeal to their Heart (emotion, personal, etc.) ● Appeal to their Head (facts, data, district impact, etc.) ● Appeal to their Hand (ask for their support, how will they vote, can they influence others too, etc.)
Mechanics of the Video Visit ● Make a virtual appointment ○ Let us know in the scheduler (coming soon!) ● Prepare for the visit ○ Have a virtual meetup with your team ○ Assign members of your team roles ● “I Don’t Know” is an appropriate Answer ● Make the “ask” ● Thanks and a picture (shot of computer) ● Report Out ○ Share discussion notes
Suggestions for lobbying Ohio Legislators ● About 95% of the legislators rely on staff to receive and send information as well as make appointments. Try and get the aide's email as well. ● Avoid "form letters" if you can ● Sending a lot of communication overnight or over the span of a day to one office will certainly bring their attention to a certain issue. ● Always let the office know if a constituent from their district will be joining the meeting/lobbying day/whatever the event. ● Biggest suggestion is to keep it personal and practical. ● Be direct and concise when you get a meeting with your elected leader. ● Data and statistics are always a huge advantage. ● KNOW the legislators background and previous positions
Lobbying Virtually- Social Media ● If they won’t make a meeting: ○ Social Media Response ■ Be Responsive ■ Be Brief ■ Be Consistent ■ Be a Follower
Lobbying Virtually- Gather Voices ● Gather Voices Tool ■ Sample from RF100 Chicago ■ Sample from RF100 National
Lobbying Virtually- Add Up ● Add Up ○ Petition ■ Collect signatures over time, and then deliver them manually all at once to the target ○ Contact Officials ■ Supporters to send individual emails directly to you target(s) in real-time
Lobbying Virtually- Phone Calls ● Phone Calls Still Work! ○ Pick up the phone and call your legislator letting them know your stances ○ Use HUSTLE to text other members about calling too
Lobbying Virtually- Town Halls ● Legislators have been hosting Virtual and Tele Town Halls ● If applicable, submit your question or issue before hand ● If on Facebook, you can type your issue in the chat
Miami Group Contacts Rich Jordan, Legislative Action Committee - Chair, richard.jordan.oh@gmail.com - Nicole Wolcott, Volunteer Coordinator, nicole.edwards@sierraclub.org - Please notify us if you would like to be on our LAC email list!
Miami Group - Legislative Action Committee Supports the Group’s overall policy & political activities by: ➢ Maintaining the Ohio Legislator Dashboard ➢ Serving as the Group’s trainers for Add-Up and Hustle texting campaigns ➢ Conducting future training sessions as new volunteers join committees ➢ Serving as the local agent for organizing SC national and Ohio chapter campaigns.
Lobbying activities all MG committees should plan to coordinate and partner in. ( Essentials for building up reservoir of experienced lobbyists) ➢ Sitting in on meetings with lawmakers. ➢ Attend public hearings and legislative sessions. ➢ Submit written and oral testimony to legislative committees. ➢ Call and visit legislators, develop relationship with office and support staffers.
Issue 1: Expanding Energy Aggregation Participation Ohio laws allows communities to form aggregated buying groups on behalf of their citizens. A local governmental aggregator chooses an outside supplier for all of the customer-members in its group. Aggregations can be formed to buy natural gas, electricity or both. The Miami Group’s Energy Committee supports efforts that encourage local governments to establish community aggregation plans which include renewable energy sources.
Issue 1: Expanding Energy Aggregation Participation Miami Group Energy Committee’s current priorities include: ● City of Blue Ash - Developing support within the community for adding an energy aggregation proposal to the 2021 ballot. ● Building a “fact sheets” resources file on the advantages associated with community aggregation. ● Documenting the experience gained from the Blue Ash effort as the basis for future campaigns. Energy Committee Chair: Kaniz Siddiqui, kaniz1950@gmail.com
Issue 2 Miami Group’s Clean Green Commute Campaign The Clean, Green Commute Campaign is a project aimed at improving public transportation systems, in part by making those systems environmentally sustainable. Our goal is thus to support equitable and sustainable transit and the transition of transit fleets to clean electric vehicles powered by 100% renewable energy.
Issue 2 Miami Group’s Clean Green Commute Campaign Learn more by attending the Miami Group’s virtual Innings meeting on Monday, June 1, 2020. Starts at 7:00 PM. Register to attend at the Group’s web Events/Innings web-page. Participate in the Clean Green Commute Add-Up Campaign ● Adds your voice to efforts promoting the campaign. ● Offer you the opportunity to recruit others to the project . Contact: Nathan Alley, nathan.alley@sierraclub.org
Issue 3: Moving Ohio Past Plastics and the raw material used in production, fracked natural gas . Priority campaigns ● Veto of Ohio House Bill 242 Ohio Chapter contact: Elissa Yoder Mann (elissa.yoder@sierraclub.org) ● Passage of Cincinnati’s plastic bag control ordinance. Miami Group contact: Marie Kocoshis (pskocoshis@cinci.rr.com)
You Are a Legislative Advocate for OH’s Environment Goal: Encourage OH legislators to support important environmental legislation ● YOU can make a difference - your relationship with your legislator is critical! ● Today you’ve learned how to form those relationships with your legislator & you have the tools to make a difference. ● Thank You and go get em’
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