The document outlines The Stop Extinction Challenge which asks participants to visit their Senator's in-district office on August 10th to advocate for protecting endangered species and the Endangered Species Act. It provides introductions to the organizing team, an overview of the challenge process, talking points on endangered species issues, and tips on how to effectively lobby their Senator including telling their story, researching their Senator, and generating local media coverage.
4. The Challenge Breakdown
The process is simple!
● Get prepped and ready
● Show up at your Senator In-district Office on August 10th @ 3:00
● Share photos of yourself in action on Social Media
● Report Back!
5. The Challenge Breakdown
The process is simple!
● Get prepped and ready
- Attend a webinar to learn how to lobby!
- Build your team
- Craft your story
- Get to know your Senator
● Show up at your Senator In-district Office on August 10th @ 3:00
●
● Share photos of you in action on Social Media
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● Report Back!
7. How to Lobby
● Dress comfortably and professionally
● Introduce yourself: who you are and why you are there
● Tell your story, speak from your heart
● Share the conversation and ask questions
● Listen and take notes
● Get a photo!
● Follow up with an email
9. Talking Points and Asks
The Department of Interior’s proposed regulation changes for the Endangered Species Act
Ask: Will you please sign onto this letter to Secretary Zinke and the Department of Interior opposing these proposed rule changes that
would result in weakened protections for Endangered Species?
Barrasso’s “Eliminating Species Act”
Ask: Will the Senator release a statement and communicate to Senator Barrasso that he does not support the introduction of this bill?
2019 Interior Appropriations bill
Ask: Will your boss let Senate leadership know that we need a clean Interior Appropriations bill free of all poison pill riders?
11. Telling Your Story
How do you Identify?
● How do you identify yourself, what do you consider the core of who you are and where you
speak from?
What’s your story? Speak from the heart!
● What pushed you to take this step and sign up for the Challenge?
● Was there a moment that really made you feel that protecting wildlife is an important issue?
● Did you have access to Nature and wildlife as a child? Is there an experience that helped
shape you or your love of wildlife?
12. Get to know your Senator
Do some research, does your Senator deserve Thanks or
Spanks?
https://www.opensecrets.org/
http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch.asp
https://www.govtrack.us/
https://votesmart.org/
13. Generating Local Media
Securing news coverage of citizens at a Congressional office can increase attention to the issue and can
bring extra pressure on your member of Congress to defend the Endangered Species Act from attacks.
Interested? We’ll provide you some tip sheets for amplifying your Congressional office visit in the local
media.
Security, avoid wearing metal, bring water and business cards if you have one, comfortable shoes,
Introduce yourself as a constituent, any other identifiers
Dont worry if they are young, don’t worry if they only have 10 minutes for you
Tell your story, stories are what stick - they have the facts, but your story and the emotion behind it is what will make them care enough about this issue to follow up with their boss.
Share the conversation - this is about building a relationship and having a conversation, try to engage whoever you’re meeting with.
Follow up with an email