Preparing For CCL's June Conference & Lobby Day (online-only)

In June 2020, Citizens’ Climate Lobby supporters will join online from around the world to help Congress address climate change.  This page walks through important details regarding the appointment setting process, available trainings, and additional recommendations as you prepare with your group.

Overview

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CCL is shifting our in-person June Conference and Lobby Day to virtual events. This training page contains information about all four separate events, and more information on each of them can be also be found on their corresponding event page:

• June 13: June Conference (online-only) - Register here!
• June 14: Sunday Seminars (online-only) - (register with the same link above)
• June 16/17: Lobby Days (online-only)
• June 18: Post Lobby Days Party (online only) - Register here (separate)!

Planning For 2020 June Lobby Meetings

Planning for CCL's June Lobbying events has begun, with CCL volunteers connecting remotely with their member of Congress or staff in their D.C. office (or district office if necessary). Relationship building with congressional offices and teamwork with each other is our foundation in this new world of all-virtual organizing.

Follow the instructions below to identify your meeting appointment setter, work together to plan your lobby meetings and assemble your lobby teams, and then rehearse your June 16 (Senate) and June 17 (House) virtual lobby meetings (June18 is an alternative date for either chamber). 

How Are Appointments For Meetings Set

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 to designate an appointment setter and email their contact info to amy@citizensclimate.org. Amy 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 state coordinator or regional coordinator.
3. We recommend that appointment setters/liaisons work with local CCL leaders (especially where there is more than one group in a district/state) to assemble the lobby team and create a meeting plan. 
4. While setting the appointment, appointment setters should be sure to ask the Congressional office how they would like to meet - by phone, Zoom, or another preferred platform. For additional security considerations and support for preparing for your online meeting, see the "More Support" section in the Practicing Video Conference Security training page. 

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. If there is a primary liaison, but the liaison is not at your meeting, designate someone to send your ideas to the liaison. 
3. Please include a volunteer in each meeting who will solely be point person in helping your team with managing the technology platform you will use.

Assembling The Lobby Team

1. Working with your liaison, determine who will be on the six-person lobby team like you usually would for an in-district meeting. If appropriate, include a local business leader or other trusted messenger on the team. Note: CCL Headquarters will not create lobby teams nor send out lobby meeting schedules. While CCL HQ will track appointment times, your schedule will come directly from working with your local liaison and chapter leaders.
2. We recommend that the lobby team meet several times on Zoom to plan and rehearse the meeting. Some teams have found it helpful to have someone role-play being the MOC as part of your practice session. If your team includes a local community leader of some prominence, you may need to personally prepare them for the meeting. Include them in your practice meetings if at all possible.  
3. We trust that your meeting team knows your member of Congress best, and can determine what you think is your best option for strengthening the relationship with your MOC and their staff. You’ll want to make sure you have worked through any technical challenges related to conference calls or Zoom, as well as practiced how you will deliver the content of your meeting. Make sure everyone on your meeting team has the time to participate in this planning and practice. Amy will be providing guidance for liaisons around planning and practicing.

How to Participate

There is no need to sign up or register for the lobby days (but you are encouraged to register for the online conference!). Please talk to your local chapter leader or liaison if you would like to participate in a lobby meeting. 

Due to limited space in meetings, not everyone will be able to participate. Most people should expect to participate in at most one meeting.

For any questions regarding 2020 June Lobby Days, please email Amy Bennett at amy@citizensclimate.org.

Recommended Trainings On Lobby Preparation

Looking to gear up for the June 2020 Lobby Days with CCL's trainings? 

• If you haven't already, CCL encourages everyone participating in Lobby Days to attend CCL’s Climate Advocate Training (register here) (online session scheduled for June 3rd).
• All 2020 Lobby Day participants are encouraged to RSVP to attend Dr. Danny Richter's (CCL’s VP of Government Affairs) essential training for Lobby Day in two parts (similar to what he normally provides in D.C.):
  • Sign up here for Thursday, May 28th at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT - Danny will review CCL's primary and supporting asks and guidance for lobby teams as they plan their meetings. 
  • Sign up here for Thursday, June 11th at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT - Danny will provide up to the moment insights on the dynamics in Congress and how we can most effectively use our time in meetings to support our agenda. 

Additional Optional Trainings

Outside of Danny’s trainings (May 28th and June 11th), CCL provides many additional trainings for volunteers to help prepare for virtual lobby meeting experiences. All live sessions are optional and will be held at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT on Tuesday or Thursday evenings. To RSVP for any session, click on the corresponding "RSVP for live training" link to be taken to the sign-up page. Click on any of the training titles below to see the pre-recorded video/podcast ahead of the live training or the updated archive afterwards.

*intended for new/newer CCL volunteers

 

CCL is also excited to also announce a new and improved interface that will be added to our pages on CCL Community, beginning with our Working With Congress series! These trainings will be rolled out each week coinciding with the upcoming training series and will provide a more interactive and engaging learning experience.

Intro & Agenda
(from beginning)

• Alison Kubicsko
• Amy Bennett

Download PowerPoint or Google Slides presentation.

Intro & Agenda
(from beginning)

• Alison Kubicsko
• Amy Bennett

• Click to download the podcast

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