Preparing For CCL 2023 June Conference and Lobby Day

On June 10-13, 2023, Citizens’ Climate Lobby volunteers will meet for our annual June conference and lobby day. Liaisons and chapters are working together to help get volunteers training up and plan their corresponding lobby meetings (which will be all together on the Hill for the first time since 2019!).  This page walks through important details regarding how the appointment setting process is being handled, available trainings, and additional recommendations as volunteers prepare with their chapters.

Most Important Training and Resources

Led by CCL's Vice President for Government Affairs Ben Pendergrass and Senior Director of Government Affairs Jennifer Tyler.  Click any of the links below to RSVP and sign up for a day-of reminder or add to your own calendar by clicking on “add to calendar” at the bottom of  the event information. Note that political dynamics are unpredictable and can lead to changes between the trainings and your lobby meeting:

• Lobby Training #1: Primary & Supporting Asks (Thurs. May 18th, 8 pm ET)
• Lobby Training #2: Legislative Plan  (Monday, May 22nd, 8 pm ET) 

If you’re new to CCL or you have never taken the Climate Advocate Training workshop, we strongly encourage you to sign up and attend the live session on May 7th at 2 pm ET. The  Climate Advocate Training workshop will  be held live at the conference, Sunday, June 11th, 10:20 am - 12:30 pm. If that doesn’t fit your schedule, you can listen to a recording. This workshop is required to lobby with CCL. 

If you've never been to a conference in person before and have questions about what to expect, be sure to attend the live Tues., May 23rd training on June Conference Lobby Days Q&A.

The National Youth Action Team is also holding a Youth Lobby Training -- for youth by youth -- on Sunday May 21 from 4-6pm ET/ 1-3pm PT.  Register before May 19 by filling out this form.  The training is open to middle and high school students who want to learn the skills of lobbying.  It includes a fun practice "mock lobby" meeting with chocolate chip as the national ice cream flavor as the Ask.  

Registering for the Conference

Registration for our June 2023 Conference is open until May 21st at https://cclusa.org/juneconference. 🎉   The Speakers, Schedule and FAQ pages are updated with the most current information. For any questions regarding the conference, email conference.inbox@citizensclimate.org.

Additional Training Opportunities

In addition to the scheduled trainings given by D.C. staff above there are additional CCL trainings to help you get ready to lobby.

• Lobbying Basics: Planning and Practicing Your Meeting (Tues., May 2nd)
• Economics of Carbon Fee & Dividend Policies (Tues., May 9th)
• Lobbying Basics: Transformative Power of Citizen Advocacy  (Thurs., May 25th)
• Lobbying Training: Review of Leading a Lobby Team (Thurs., June 1st)

How Are Appointments For Meetings Set

The CCL Congressional Liaison is the designated point of contact with the Congressional office.  

1. All appointments for meetings will be set by CCL congressional liaisons (or someone they designate). If you are not a liaison, please do not try to set an appointment (you can learn about becoming a liaison here).
2. If there is no liaison to set the appointment for your Senator or Representative, work with chapters in the district/state and your CCL Regional or State Coordinator to designate an appointment setter and email their contact info to liaison.coordinator@citizensclimatelobby.org. CCL's Liaison Coordinator will distribute details on how to set appointments to appointment setters. If you’re not sure if there is a liaison or you need help, contact your Regional or State Coordinator.

Lobby Meeting Planning

1. Use CCL's Meeting Plan Template as a guide to solicit, discuss and prioritize everyone’s ideas for the lobby meeting. Key items to discuss include the appreciation, primary goal, supporting asks, and open-ended questions for discussion. You can find planning guidance on the Planning Your Lobby Meeting training page.
2. Note: Once meeting plans are completed they should be submitted here by the due date of Friday, June 2nd.
3. If there is a primary liaison, but the liaison is not at your meeting, designate someone to send your ideas to the liaison.  

Assembling Your Lobby Team

CCL Headquarters will create lobby teams and send out lobby meeting schedules to all volunteers who are attending the June lobby day about two weeks prior to the conference. One lobbyist will be designated as the team lead for every meeting and will be responsible for coordinating with the rest of the team, and potentially the liaison, to finalize a meeting plan and find time to prepare for the meeting. 

We strongly encourage teams to meet virtually before the conference to start planning. Time will be set aside during the conference to plan with your lobby teams as well. 

Note: In the case of not being able to have a member of your chapter/district make it to D.C. for this June’s lobby day, please contact CCL's Liaison Coordinator at liaison.coordinator@citizensclimatelobby.org to brainstorm the best way to still meet with your member of Congress’ office.

• (0:00) Intro & Agenda
• (3:12) June Conference Overview
• (13:58) June Conference Q&A
• (20;32) June 13 Lobby Day Overview
• (33:53) June 13 Lobby Day Q&A

• Alison Kubicsko
• Mindy Ahler

• View or download the Google Slides
• Download the video

• Meeting Minutes Form
• Initial Meeting Plan & Meeting Roles
• Follow-up Meeting Plan
• Primary Ask (Leave-Behind)
• Making Primary and Supporting Asks Sheet
• Congressional Bios