Eight Short Tips on Meeting With Legislators

1. KISS: Keep it Short and Simple.
Our mission is to ask legislators to support funding for history. You may only have the legislator's ear for five minutes, so get to the point as soon as you've introduced yourself. Be clear about why you are there, why they should care, and what you want. Read our Key Messages before you go. And, be sure to say thanks for the support that the people of Minnesota have provided to the Minnesota Historical Society for over 150 years!

2. Make your issue personal.
What does history mean to you? Tell stories about how state historic sites have benefited you or your family. Talk about how the legislator's constituents benefit from history funding or historic preservation grants. How have history programs benefited children in your area? How does history bring the community together?

3. Introduce yourself and note what connection you may have to the legislator's district.
You may be someone who lives in the legislator's district (constituents); you may be involved in a group supporting a historic site in their district; you or your children may have taken part in History Day or one of the Historical Society’s education programs through a school in their district; You may even be with one of the legislator's friends!

4. Be on time, be polite and be patient.
BE NICE. There is no quicker way to lose support for your issue than by being rude to legislators. Your legislator may have two committee meetings going on while they are supposed to be meeting with you and may be late. They can't help being overscheduled. Don't be offended - be glad that you have gotten some of their time and make the most of it.

5. Make notes about what happened in your meeting and report back.
Tell us what happened. This knowledge can help us figure out what we need to do next. It's as important for you to share with us what you learned in your meeting as the meeting itself. Take a few minutes to jot down your impressions and any specific statements of support or opposition that the legislator made. Did they give you any advice or display knowledge of any specific history organization or issue?

6. Make sure you have your facts straight.
Spend a few minutes reading through our key messages before you meet legislators. You don't need to memorize it all, but reading it ahead of time will help you bring points to mind as you speak to the legislators. If the legislator asks you something that you don't know, don't guess - find out the information and send it to them later.

7. Before you leave, say "thank you" again.

8. Let this be just the beginning of your relationship with your legislator.
When you get home, send them a thank you note, thanking them for their time and giving other information about your organization that may be of interest to them. Invite him or her to local historical events or other activities that they or their families may enjoy. Be a resource to your legislator. If your legislator needs more information than you have with you, you can offer to obtain it. Let MHS know if you need help.

This document was created by the Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA), and was edited and redistributed with their permission. Thank you MCA!