There seems to be a whole lot of activity happening in the normally quiet, restful period known as August “recess”. I use quiet and restful loosely here, because it’s just a matter of perspective. From the view point of district staff for members of congress it’s a time to dread the frenetic activity that ensues when all of Congress returns home between August and early September.
But this year, we seemed to be suffering the recess that never was. In the middle of August, it became clear that congressional leadership was going to call for ramped up committee work to dive into the topics you’re probably hearing about in the news right now: infrastructure spending and a $3.5 trillion spending package being pushed by the administration. That committee work has drawn members of Congress back to DC, sucked in by the black hole of faux urgency.
For would-be advocates stuck in the middle of all of this busy-ness, it can seem daunting to participate in the discussion (especially when you’re talking unfathomable levels of spending). The complexity of the proposals working their way through the Capitol could deter the stoutest activists within your organizations. When you add in the rushed nature of the negotiations, those outside the room are likely feeling their heads spin until they willingly throw up their hands and just walk away.
So, how can we position volunteer advocates, both the grassroots and grass tops to succeed right now? Well, per the usual, it’s back to the basics.
Put First Things First – Help Your Volunteers Tell a Story
Understanding that infrastructure, budget reconciliation, and the Afghanistan inquiry are sucking all the air out of DC, position your advocates to speak to singular issues within those topics as necessary. Reinforce to them that they aren’t expected to be experts on every section of the legislation – but that they can provide an impactful story on the issues that hit closest to home.
The most important priority for any advocate isn’t to be an expert on all things, rather an expert in their own field. Most of those willing to participate in advocacy understand they won’t always win – but they can always be a part of the action. The easiest way for them to do so is to share what they expect these proposals would cause to happen in their own lives. Help them back it up with stats and then get out of the way of their storytelling.
Show Up in Person – Help Get Them in the Door
Despite the committee activity through the week, members of Congress are still hosting and participating in events back home. With travel and meeting restrictions still encumbering citizen lobbying in DC, now is the prime time for engaging in events happening in your own community. Why? Well, frankly, the elected officials have been on a starvation diet of public exposure for just as long as the rest of us. Help your volunteer advocates fulfill that need for their representatives.
Right now, members of congress are likely working to fill their calendars when they’re back home in October so they can drum up support for the actions they’ll take on these big proposals in the next few months. They’ll be meeting with community organizations, not-for-profit enterprises, and economic development entities. For instance, if you’re in the business community and want to be an engaged advocate, now is the time to be leaning into your trade association and the local chamber of commerce. Both of those types of entities can help place you advantageously in front of your elected officials.
As Always, Be Kind – Find a Way to Say Thank You
When I talk about becoming brilliant in the basics, I almost always land on the importance of gratitude. Yes, gratitude. Even in politics.
I’ve been on the opposite side from advocates on a whole host of issues before. As a congressional staffer, I came to see a lot of familiar faces that would participate in advocacy across diverse causes. The most successful of those advocates cultivated a culture within their circles that brought positivity to the discussion. The most impactful found ways to celebrate the times where the elected official’s actions overlapped with their interests.
Repeat this to yourself: Even the staunchest of my opponents is still a human, deserving of dignity and respect.
Unfortunately we ignore that a great deal in the middle of heated debates. If you take the time, in the middle of our current “urgent” debate, you’ll probably find a way to express that respect to the folks you’ll need down the line.
In my own conversations with staffers of late, I can see and hear the strain. They’ve been stretched and frayed. For more than 18 months they’ve navigated a constantly shifting political landscape under restrictions that are hampering citizen participation. And the worst kept secret about our body politic is that citizen participation is coveted.
So we have to fight that urge to retract from the conversation. Now, more than ever, is a time to show up. That’s what you can do, right now – and these three basics will help you do it well.
Part of the Possible 