DOs

Do meet with your Delegate Leader at the Orientation on Tuesday.
Do be on time. Don’t be early or late – stick to the appointed meeting time.
Do sign the book.
Do have a business card and present it at the beginning of the meeting. It will also help everyone remembers names.
Do use proper titles – even if you know the legislator personally.
Do be prepared to make your case in any kind of situation – a hallway, an outer office, or standing in a crowded corridor or office. You have made the appointment, come to Austin to talk about libraries, and you have every right to do so.
Do follow the established order for speaking determined by the delegate leader.
Use bill numbers if available.
Do be relaxed but serious.
Do make sure you know the issue.
Do remember that you are advocating TLA’s legislative platform and that the forum for discussion should be geared towards the topics on that agenda.You will weaken the statewide case by diluting or digressing from those issues.
Do use specific examples from the legislator’s district.
Concentrate your discussion to a legislator’s particular expertise (i.e., he serves on a valuable committee).
Do thank them for taking time to meet with you and your group.
Do follow-up with a thank you card mentioning the major issues.

DONTs

Don’t be disappointed if you see an aide. (Be prepared – they will be young!)
Don’t be uncomfortable if you don’t know the answer to a question. Get back to the aide or legislator with the requested information.
Don’t get off the issues.
Don’t tell them you will or will not vote for them.
Don’t let time get away from you or ramble on.
Don’t be afraid to state your case.
Don’t be afraid to have a different opinion than the aide/legislator.
Don’t talk about issues other than those affecting libraries. Focus only on those issues that help strengthen your argument.
Don’t take a confrontational position.
Don’t allow yourself to be backed into a position of determining how library funding should be used in all cases.
Don’t overstay your welcome. When a legislator or aide closes his/her notebook, the meeting is over.

The TLA Delegate Leader for your district will:

Legislative Day
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