Resolve

We saved the best for last. More than anything else, in-person lobby meetings are what make the strongest impact on our policymakers.  Personal meetings with Members of Congress have been central to all of the progress we've made so far in changing U.S. policy toward this crisis. Whether at Lobby Days, through Knock Knock, Hometown Shakedown, or other initiatives - these meetings have gotten us where we are now---and they are easier than you might think! 

The process is simple and our Resolve team is ready to support you in any way we can.

Step 1 - Join a Resolve Campaign

Visit our Campaigns page to see what local lobbying initiatives we have going on right now. You can sign up to participate in a constituent meeting already scheduled in your area or volunteer to help schedule and lead one. 

Want to be a local leader?

Step 2 - Connect with Resolve's team

Once you have signed up for one of Resolve's local lobbying campaigns, we will contact you with more information about your meeting and connect you with others in your area. Of course, if you have questions or ideas, you can always email us at info@theresolve.org or call us at 202-596-2517.

Step 3 - Get prepared

Once we've contacted you, it's time to prepare. Below are some helpful tools designed to equip you for a strong, effective constituent meeting. And trust us, an investment of 20 minutes to read through these materials is well worth the chance to leave a strong impression on your Members of Congress that convinces them to make LRA violence a higher priority.

Advocate Playbook - This simple guide walks you all the way through an effective lobby meeting----from scheduling the meeting to following up with your Representative's office afterward. 

Congressional Scorecard - Use our Scorecard to see the grade that your Member of Congress currently has, based on his or her history of action (or inaction) on this issue.

Our Agenda - Visit this page to get an updated explanation of what we need to be asking for right now.

Policy Briefs and Leave-Behind Documents - You should always leave something that explains exactly what we are asking for in the hands of the Member of Congress or the staffer you met with.  Here, you will find the most up-to-date documents to download, print off, and give to those you meet with.

Step 4 - Rally the troops

Help us promote your lobby meeting to friends, family, classmates, church members, etc. so you have a strong turn-out. You know the drill: Facebook events, texts and tweets, e-vites, and of course, a good old-fashion personal invitation. Here's the thing: It's rare for people to put the time and effort into scheduling a local constituent meeting to talk about a humanitarian crisis in Africa. That means, if you show up to a local constituent meeting office with 20 of your friends, you will have left a powerful impression on you Member of Congress.

Step 5 - Get ready and go

This is it----where all the preparation and promotion culminate---and where you have the chance to work your lobbying magic. Your Lobby 101 packet gives you tips on how to conduct yourself at the meeting, so make sure to read through that thoroughly. And we have full confidence in you! Here are a few other things to keep in mind.

Be confident. It's is your Representative's job to listen to your concerns, so be confident and speak your mind.

Be respectful. How you conduct yourself leaves as much of an impression as what you say. Be polite and make sure to thank the staff (or the Member of Congress) for their time. AND MAKE SURE YOU ARRIVE ON TIME!

Dress to impress. Dust off the power-suit and dress shoes, friends. By dressing professionally for your meeting, you are communicating how serious you are about this issue before you've even said a word. 

Leave a paper trail. You should always leave something that explains exactly what we are asking for in the hands of the Member of Congress or the staffer you met with. Don't forget to print off and bring any leave-behind documents with you.

Step 6 - Follow up

At the risk of sounding like your little league t-ball coach, the key to success is follow-through.  To maximize the impact of your constituent meeting, it's crucial to follow-up with your Representative's office and with Resolve.

Following up with your Representative's office

A week after your meeting, send a follow-up email to the staffer with whom you met----or in the case you met with your Representative in person, you should follow-up with his or her Foreign Affairs staffer in DC.  Make sure to cc Resolve on that email (info@theresolve.org).   Thank them again for meeting with you and reiterate the action that your group hopes the Representative will take.

Following up with Resolve

In your Lobby Meeting 101 packet, you will find a form to fill out and email to lisa@theresolve.org. As the Resolve team coordinates meetings with the DC office of your Representative to complement your local meeting, we want to inform those DC staffers of how your local meeting went and further emphasize what constituents are asking for. This tag-teaming between local lobbyists and Resolve's "On-the-Hill" advocacy has been incredibly effective thus far in convincing our leaders to act---but to continue to do the job well, we will need to get the skinny from you after your meeting.