Purpose and Background
"Is ASCE allowed to lobby legislators?" "How do I invite an elected official to my Section meeting?"
Learn the answers to these and many more questions on how your Region, Section, or Branch can better influence policy debates. This day-long, in-depth program will help guide your Section or Branch to expand ASCE's government relations presence at the local and state levels. Hear first-hand from a lobbyist, lawmaker, or other in-state practitioner about how government relations work is undertaken at your state capitol. * This program may also be combined with Public Relations University to provide further emphasis on communications skills.
*Guest speaker selection/invitations will be made with the Section/Branch requesting the training as we recognize there may be existing ties to state and local government officials.
Learning Outcomes
After completing this training, participants will be able to:
- identify ASCE's Legislative Priorities and the resources available to advance the Society's position
- determine the best method to communicate with policymakers to achieve a desired outcome
- build a persuasive narrative to influence lawmakers - storytelling for advocacy
- apply basic lobbying/advocacy strategies to elevate the Society's position
- elevate the importance of public policy at the Region, Section, Branch level
- follow and communicate ASCE's government relations protocol.
Program Outline - In-Person
Welcome and Introductions
(may occur during network breakfast)
Political Capital
- This interactive session will give participants the opportunity to think through the process of convincing lawmakers to pass a piece of legislation. A four-week simulation of what it's like to be a Government Relations practitioner will help lay the foundation for the day's discussion and provide a quick overview of many of ASCE's tools and resources.
Overview of ASCE Government Relations
Morning break could occur during or prior to this session.
- Learn why ASCE has a Government Relations Department and how they help the Society advance its legislative priorities.
- Learn why member engagement is important to the legislative process.
Introduction to Priority Issues & Report Card
- Learn how policy statements are developed.
- Learn about ASCE's Priority Issues Survey and the role it plays in guiding ASCE's focus at the state and federal levels of government.
- Learn how the Report Card informs ASCE's advocacy efforts at each level of government.
Overview of Tools & Resources
- Learn what resources ASCE'S Government Relations & Infrastructure Initiatives has made available to facilitate your Section's/Branch's public policy success.
A lunch/meal break can be taken between these sessions as appropriate.
Policy Scenarios
- Work in small groups or independently to devise a legislative strategy using the tools and techniques identifying up to this point.
- Serve as a review of the content and begin to introduce media as tool.
Role of Media in Government Relations
- Learn how to effectively reach policymakers and the public at large through the media. This module can also be replaced or supplemented by Public Relations University content.
Meeting with Policymakers
- Learn the "anatomy of a meeting" and what to expect with taking a meeting with a lawmaker or staff.
Role Play - Mock Meeting Scenarios
- In small groups or pairs, practice presenting to a scenario to lawmaker. As time permits, small groups/pair will be called to present to the larger session.
- Participants may be given scenarios at random or scenarios may be drawn from National or State Report Card content.
- Goal of this exercise is to build confidence in meetings.
Reviewing Your Toolkit & Key Takeaways
- The day will conclude with a review the content presented and members will be given the opportunity to assess the skills they've development and their familiarity with the tool/resources they can access via Government Relations Staff.
Program Outline - Online
Duration: 60-90 minutes
Welcome and Review of Agenda
Overview of ASCE Government Relations
- Learn why ASCE has a Government Relations Department and how they help the Society advance its legislative priorities.
- Learn why member engagement is important to the legislative process.
Introduction to Priority Issues & Report Card
- Learn how policy statements are developed.
- Learn about ASCE's Priority Issues Survey and the role it plays in guiding ASCE's focus at the state and federal levels of government.
- Learn how the Report Card informs ASCE's advocacy efforts at each level of government.
Overview of Tools & Resources
- Learn what resources ASCE'S Government Relations & Infrastructure Initiatives has made available to facilitate your Section's/Branch's public policy success.
- Includes brief explanation of how ASCE's Public Relations Team can help you leverage the media.
Meeting with Policymakers
(recommended prior to State Report Card Releases and Legislative Days
- Learn the "anatomy of a meeting" and what to expect with taking a meeting with a lawmaker or staff.
Open Q&A
- While we do our best to take questions throughout to make the online session more interactive, reserve 10-15 minutes at the conclusion of the program to take open-ended questions about the content program.