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Important Information about a coordinated campaign to reach legislators regarding new springs legislation to be promoted during next session.

Springs Vent

Florida - Land of 1,000 Springs

This link will take you to the home page of our website where you can read and download the document created for your use when meeting with your legislator.

 
Working with Legislators and their Staff
Introduction
 
Working effectively with legislators to further your organization’s goals is not a privilege; it is your right, but exercising your right effectively takes skill, knowledge, and practice.  The following guidelines are critical for effective lobbying; fortunately, they are not hard to learn because they are largely based on simple common sense.
 
 
Do’s and Don’t’s in Working with Legislators and Their Staff
 
Know the issue
 
Convey that you understand something about the legislative decision-making process
 
Perform good intelligence-gathering in advance on the legislator, his/her district
 
Do your homework – why would the proposal be good for the legislator’s constituents?
 
Write out a good checklist – what do you want to accomplish? what do you want to leave behind? (e.g. business cards, one or two-page summary of the issue)
 
Make it easy for the legislator/staff – Get to the problem or issue right away
 
Be concise; allow time for questions and discussion
 
Communication is two-way – listen!
 
Offer appropriate follow-up – should you contact other offices or staff?
 
Timing is vital
 
Remember your friends and thank them often
 
Don’t convey negative attitudes towards politics and politicians
 
Don’t patronize legislators or staff
 
Don’t attack opposing views
 
Don’t under-estimate the role of staff
 
Don’t visit only in crises

A MESSAGE FROM BOB KNIGHT

 

Dear Springs Advocate

Thank you again for participating in the Springs Summit held on November 5 at the Prairie Creek Lodge. One of my responsibilities following that meeting was providing you with a coordinated campaign to educate the State’s lawmakers about the needs for stronger springs protection before they start the session. I have prepared the “Florida – Land of 1,000 Springs” document for your use as you meet with key legislators who will be influencing the success of this proposed legislation. A link to the document, as well as some Lobbying Do's and Don'ts, can be found on the left sidebar of this email.

 

Senator David Simmons and four other prominent senators (Dean, Hays, Simpson, Montford) have indicated they will be introducing far-reaching springs legislation this session. To date, no bill has been filed, but the latest draft bill that we have seen has many worthwhile springs-protection provisions.  Also, there are already a long list of industry representatives coming out against both the draft bill and the need for additional springs protection. Our job is to work together in the most coordinated fashion possible for over 20+ separate organizations, and have our collective voices heard both in Tallahassee and in the home districts.

 

Here's the Plan


Part 1 - I would like to ask each organization to enlist your most eloquent and influential leaders to meet with all of your local legislators in their home districts to let them know how important stronger springs protection is to you and your members. You will need to schedule and follow through on these meetings on your own, but should rely as much as possible on the information and guidance contained in the accompanying documents. Page 7 of the "1000 Springs Document" has suggested talking points that we urge you to use during your meetings. Please follow up each meeting with a report to Natalie Lyons with the Florida Springs Institute to let her check off exactly who is contacted, by whom, and on what date.
 
Part 2 – I would like to ask one or more representatives of each of your groups to make a minimum of one trip to Tallahassee between now and the beginning of session in early March. While in Tallahassee you should meet with as many legislators and staff as possible to make the same points you made to them at home. The focus of the Tallahassee meeting should be on those senators and representatives who will be most influential on the respective committees that will actually be hearing the bill. Those committees and legislators are listed in the  "1000 Springs Document," which shows the likely sequential process under which the legislation will be considered - first, the Senate Environment Committee, then Senate Agriculture, then Senate Appropriations, then the Full Senate, then the House Committees. So we need to be sure, as a coalition, to meet with all members of the Senate Environment Committee quickly. We will stay in touch with you as the session proceeds to keep you informed of prospective Committee action.

You need to schedule those meetings yourself, but you can call on a professional lobbyist for help and to join you as needed. His name is Lester Abberger and his phone number is 850-524-2779. His time is being provided to us pro bono at the expense of another environmental organization.
 
All of these legislators will be very busy between now and the beginning of session.  Do not put this off until later, because later is too late. Act now to schedule your visits. The whole group of legislators and staff travel back and forth between their home districts and Tallahassee over the next two months. Here are their approximate locations by week between now and the start of session:
 
  • Jan 6 – Tally
  • Jan 13 – Tally
  • Jan 20 – home
  • Jan 27 – home
  • Feb 3, 10, and 17 – Tally
  • Feb 24 – home
 
Thank you for all of your efforts on behalf of our 1,000+ springs. Together we can have a chance to bring them back to health.
Best Wishes,

Bob
Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute is a 501c3 non-profit
EIN 46-1663401

Our mailing address is:
5302 NW 156th Avenue, Gainesville, FL  32653

Main Tel: (386) 462-1003

Robert L. Knight, PhD, President
bknight@FloridaSpringsInstitute.org

Natalie Lyons, Administrator
nlyons@FloridaSpringsInstitute.org