Effective Grassroots Advocacy
1. What is Grassroots Advocacy?
2. Why is Grassroots Advocacy Important?
3. Tools for Effective Grassroots Advocacy
  1. Dos and Don’ts
  2. In-Person Meeting with Elected Officials
4. General Tips for Legislative Advocacy
5. Sample Advocacy Letters

Steps for Hosting a Visit with an Elected Official
1. Planning a Successful Visit
2. Invite Email
3. Call Script
4. Thank you Email

Elected Officials in the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber Jurisdiction

Chamber Specific Information

Plan of Action Checklist

Grassroots Advocacy

WHAT IS GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY? WHY IS GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY IMPORTANT?

WHAT IS GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY?

“Grassroots advocacy” is the process of contacting elected officials in relation to important policy issues. “Advocacy” is defined as advocating, speaking, or writing in support of something. An “advocate” is a person who speaks or writes in support of something. Under this definition, we are all advocates. Grassroots advocates raise public awareness on issues to influence public perception, regulations, and public policy.

WHY IS GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY IMPORTANT?

One of the most important civic responsibilities of a citizen of the United States is to stay informed about the issues that are affecting their communities, and beyond. An extension of that duty is the responsibility to address the government through activism.
Grassroots advocacy lets citizens start powerful conversations around the issues they care about with their elected officials. By combining and channeling many voices around a single issue, you have a better chance of getting leaders to sit up and listen.

Congress.gov | Library of Congress

Who's My Legislator? (virginiageneralassembly.gov)

Board of Supervisors | Clarke County, VA

Board Members and Contact Info | Frederick County (fcva.us)

City Council | City of Winchester (winchesterva.gov)

2023 Legislative Priorities

The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber is focused on strengthening businesses in the City of Winchester, Clarke County, and Frederick County, Virginia, and fostering an environment in which businesses and community can thrive. The goal is to make our region a better place for all who work, live, and do business here. In order to elevate the voice of business, TVRC supports the following policy positions:

Transportation/Infrastructure

Sustaining a robust public infrastructure, focusing on improvements to I-81 and regional upgrades.
- Our members cited location, including proximity to Northern Virginia/Interstates, Dulles International Airport, & the Inland Port, as one of the top benefits to having a business in this region, and it is important that we continue to invest in these strengths.
- The Winchester Regional Airport is another great asset, and we continue to support its growth.
- Enhancements to local transportation should continue to be studied and prioritized.

Workforce Solutions

Focusing on workforce challenges such as childcare, mental health, education, & housing and continuing to align business needs with relevant training.
- The worker shortage continues to impact almost every industry, contributing to higher prices, supply chain woes, and production slowdowns.
- Access to affordable childcare and housing are major barriers to recruiting and retaining reliable workers and should be prioritized.
- Our community embraces the leadership role that businesses and industry leaders play in ensuring the quality of instruction, programs, and results from our K-12 schools and workforce training programs
- Increased investment in mental health, including the youth, will also support the workforce. All local law enforcement and hospitals support increased funding in this area.
- Minimum wage should not be increased above the rate that was enacted during the 2020 session until the state studies the economic impact of any further escalations. The pandemic and resulting labor shortage have naturally increased wages, and as the government also continues to increase wages, small businesses struggle to compete.
Government Collaboration
Building and maintaining strong synergy between local government and the business community, leading to proactive engagement on business policy, less regulations, and lower business and property taxes.
- Continuing to prioritize economic development, including support for small- and medium-sized businesses and more business-friendly legislation, is critical to robust business growth.

The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber’s Board of Directors adopted these 2023 policy priorities following their development by the TVRC’s Public Policy Committee. We thank our members, the elected officials who represent our region, as well as senior government officials who have participated in events throughout the year to discuss issues facing our region. That support and insight assisted in the development of this legislative agenda. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with the community to elevate the voice of business in our region.

TOOLS FOR EFFECTIVE GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY

Tools for Effective Grassroots Advocacy

Depending on what you are trying to accomplish, we can help effectively get your voice heard. Whether it is an official on the federal, state, or local level, advocacy can take many forms, including the following:

• Writing a Letter to the Editor (LTE - usually 250 words or less) or Opinion Editorial (Op-ed - up to 500 or sometimes 750 words)
• Making a phone call or sending an email about a policy issue, bill, or budget item
• Writing a letter to your elected officials
• Visiting your elected official(s) in person
• Organizing or attending rallies/media events
• Holding a lobby day
• Attending a committee meeting of the Virginia General Assembly
• Including a “Call to Action” in a company or industry newsletter
• Doing a social media post (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) on your personal or business page about issues impacting your business; Tag# your elected official, committees, etc.
• Scheduling an in-person meeting with your legislator. The best time is when the legislators are NOT in session because they have more time to spend with you. But DO feel free to stop by your legislators’ offices during session even if you do not have a set appointment. You may get to talk with a Legislative Aide (LA), who can be just as important as the elected official. They are the eyes and ears for the legislator and regularly make policy recommendations.
• Hosting an official at your place of business (see Section II)

**Remember that the effective advocate strikes a balance between the “emotional” and the fact-driven appeal. Too much emotion can be a turnoff to legislators and can undermine your message. On the other hand, an overemphasis on data and statistics lacks a personal touch. Try to strike a balance to be the most effective.**

In-Person Meetings with Elected Officials

How

• Get a small group together (no more than four unless it is a more formal event).
• Plan! Decide ahead of time what your main message will be. Pick no more than two items to focus on.
• Preferably, everyone will be from the legislator’s district.
• Call the office and ask to schedule the appointment.
• Explain what you would like to meet about.
When
• The best time is OFF session. But DO go DURING the legislative session, even if you only get 3 minutes and cannot get an appointment ahead of time. Sometimes you will need to stop by and wait until the legislator or the legislative aide has time.
• Call early for an appointment. You may have to wait a few weeks.
• Be as flexible as possible with your schedule.
Where Will the Meeting Be?
• Their place of employment
• Their district office
• Your house
• Restaurant
• If it is during the session, it will be in their office at the General Assembly Building in Richmond or Capitol Offices Buildings in Washington, DC.

Who

• You may or may not get to meet with the member directly, which is fine. Staff are the eyes and ears, and often meeting with them is the most effective and efficient. It is these individuals that know the issues and do the detailed work. Roles include:
~ Chief of Staff: Reports directly to member. In charge of office operations, including the assignment of work and the supervision of key staff. Generally, they are responsible for evaluating the political outcomes of legislative proposals and constituent requests.
~ Deputy Chief of Staff: Provides policy research, programmatic support, and other tasks to support the Chief of Staff.
~ Legislative Director (LD): Monitors the legislative schedule and makes recommendations regarding the pros and cons of key issues.
~ Legislative Aide (LA): Monitors pending legislation, conducts research, drafts legislation, and makes recommendations to LD.

Agenda

• Introduce yourself.
• Describe the problem or issue.
• Tell a personal story. Remember the three keys to successful personal storytelling: Keep it short (hard as that may be); Have a point; And tie it to a solution or your position (“That’s why I’m asking you to please support XYZ”).
• Offer solutions.
• Talk about what is happening in their district and why they should care about the issue.
• Ask for their position.
• Thank them – no matter what.
• Lastly, get a picture with the member if possible. Post it to social media, tag (#) the member, and encourage others with a Call to Action!
Remember…
• Be succinct – you may only have 15 – 20 minutes! Sometimes the member may only “drop-in” and join for five minutes, allowing the staffer to handle the additional meeting time. Don’t be offended, and remember this could be for the best. Do not waste the first few minutes being awestruck. For the most part, these people are regular citizens like you and I, and their job is to work for you.
• Be on time.
• Know what committee(s) they are on. Look it up beforehand.
• Refer to legislator as “Delegate/Senator/Representative Last Name____”.

Dos and Don'ts

• Be positive and friendly.
• Be brief and concise; limit the number of issues.
• Use fact sheets and have a leave behind ready.
• Give reliable information.
• If you do not know something, say that and offer to find out. It gives you an excuse to follow up with the office.
• Be clear about your position (“I support because/I oppose because”).
• Thank them for their time.
• Write a thank you letter when you get home.

Don't

General Tips for Legislative Advocacy

Spend time developing relationships with the legislative aides and other key staff members.
Don’t be offended if a legislator cannot meet with you and requests that you meet with their aide or staff instead. Meeting with the legislative staff can be as valuable as meeting directly with the legislator.
Don’t overload a personal visit or phone call with too many issues. One or two topics per contact are appropriate.
Be courteous, remember names, and thank those who help you, both in-person and with a follow-up note.
Your word is your bond. Maintain your integrity.
Never lie or exaggerate your cause.
Use accurate fact sheets and talking points to explain your position on an issue or proposed policy/law.
Admit when you do not know the answer. However, always offer to find the answer and get the information. Follow through!
Don’t make promises you cannot deliver.
Spend time with legislators even if their position differs from yours. You may be able to lessen the intensity of their opposition and perhaps change the legislator’s view of an issue.
Don’t threaten, pressure, attack or beg a legislator to get a vote.
Remember, today’s opponent may be tomorrow’s ally.
Look for friends everywhere. In politics, a friend is someone willing to work with you on an issue regardless of party affiliation or liberal or conservative viewpoint. The person may disagree with you on every other issue.
Know your allies, inside and outside the field. Use them to broaden your support base by letting your legislator know the other supportive agencies, both in the district and throughout the state.
Become familiar with the legislative process in Virginia, i.e., how a bill becomes a law, etc.
Don’t expect them to know everything. Legislators in Virginia deal with approximately 2,500-3,000 bills in a single session.

HOSTING A SUCCESSFUL VISIT

The following is a step-by-step guide for inviting your elected representatives to tour your facility. Note that state and local officials have a very small staff (if any), while federal officials have a whole team and multiple offices to navigate. This guide is not meant to address every scenario, and the TVRC team is happy to assist however we can along the way.

Step 1

Step 1: Identify your elected representatives, which will compose of two U.S. Senators, one Member of Congress, one State Senator, one State Delegate, and one Board of Supervisor/Council Member using the links below. Make sure to put in your business address. Determine who you would like to contact and the purpose of the communication, e.g. general awareness of the business, a particular legislative issue, etc.

Congress.gov | Library of Congress

Who's My Legislator? (virginiageneralassembly.gov)

Board of Supervisors | Clarke County, VA

Board Members and Contact Info | Frederick County (fcva.us)

City Council | City of Winchester (winchesterva.gov)

Step 2

Compose a formal letter to the Member (see example attached) inviting them to tour your facility. Personalize it as much as possible and include information about the company, the company’s footprint in the district/state, and a timeframe for the visit. You should anticipate a lengthy lead time and must consider opportunities when elected officials will be in the district (typically when they are not in session). If you know or have met a staffer in the office, reach out to that person first to let them know what you are trying to accomplish and obtain the correct contact information. If you are not familiar with anyone in the office, use the general contact information provided in the links above.

For federal officials, call the district office first. You can also call the DC number and ask for the contact information for the scheduler to inquire about a meeting/facility visit in the district.

Step 3

Step 4

Once you have settled on a date with the scheduler, announce it to your employees to generate excitement…but also caution that it is not unusual for a Member’s schedule to change and affect the visit. Also, make sure to inform staff at TVRC about the visit. We can help prep your staff and executives with background information on the official and their policy priorities, as well as help to ensure a successful visit overall.

Step 5

Create a background memo in advance of the visit. The memo should include: 1) company information (history, footprint in the district/state, number of employees), 2) biographies of executive attendees, 3) itinerary for the visit, 4) on-site point of contact and any visiting instructions (security, parking, specific points of entry to the building), and 5) media attendees and biographies, if applicable.

Step 6

Step 7

Step 8

Understand ethics rules. Elected officials may generally accept food and beverage of “nominal value” (i.e. light snacks and beverages), however a plated meal is not considered nominal. In addition, elected officials may not accept gifts from constituents valued at more than $50. The ethics rules are complex, so please consult the TVRC staff before deciding on food/beverage and if a gift will be involved.

Step 9

Step 10

Hosting a Member is just the beginning of establishing a very valuable relationship. Make sure to keep in contact with the staffers, making them aware of any legislative issues that are currently affecting or could potentially affect your business. It’s important to strike a nice balance between staying in touch and not being overbearing.

The Top of Virginia Regional Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Positions:

The Public Policy Positons of the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber of Commerce are presented by the Chamber’s Public Policy Committee. As the Chamber seeks to demonstrate its ability to represent the business interest of our community, we have outlined general positions to assist our business community’s growth and the prosperity of our community.

The Chamber represents a diverse membership of large and small businesses and organizations. This diversity also provides diverse opinions on particular or specific issues. However, the Chamber is presenting positions which represent the greater organization with two requirements:

Is it important to its member?
Does it reflect the opinion of the clear majority of the business community?

We respect our members and understand some may disagree, however as issues evolve and the environment changes, positions may also change. With this evolution, the Chamber welcomes and encourages well informed discussions on the issues facing business. We also encourage the expression of various opinions from our members and participation with our Public Policy Committee.

GOVERNMENT REGULATION

Position Statement: The Chamber supports a reduction in harmful regulations placed by government upon businesses and generally opposes efforts to increase governmental regulations. The Chamber supports a reduction in the level of current government regulation, and opposes further regulatory action except in the most necessary of circumstances. Of course, the Chamber realizes there are limited circumstances in which it is necessary for the government to take regulatory action. The Chamber realizes governing officials strive to serve the legitimate needs of those by whom they are elected. However, no matter how important the goal, it is not wise or fair for the cost of measures meant to promote the general welfare to be borne solely or primarily by the business community. Thus, the Chamber hopes all parties will agree to strike a fair and just compromise.

TAXATION

Position statement: The Chamber supports a revenue system fostering a favorable business climate and encourages the economic development, which means taxes should be few in number and should not disproportionately burden one sector of the economy over another. Taxes administered should maintain a balance between tax growth, population growth and economic activity.

The Chamber supports local and state tax policy encouraging business opportunities and investments for general business. Industry-specific taxes should generally be avoided. Income taxes should not have a high marginal tax rate nor have excessive brackets. The Chamber supports a competitive sales tax rate applied to a broad base and designed to encompass true consumption. The Chamber also supports the continuation of the long-standing state policy of not placing a sales tax on goods acquired for production.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Position Statement: The Chamber believes a strong education system and the availability of technically skilled people are vital to our region’s future prosperity and quality of life. Business has a critical role to play, in partnership with our educational institutions and those providing workforce training services, to ensure we have the talent to remain competitive.

The Chamber supports continued education and training at all levels, including pre-K-12 education, post-secondary education, adult literacy, vocational and certification programs, as well as on-the-job and customized training programs. The involvement of business in workforce development is essential to our attractiveness and effectiveness as a business location.

TRANSPORTATION

Position Statement: The Chamber supports increased long-term investment in transportation infrastructure to promote economic development and quality of life in the region.

Effective transportation systems are essential to continued economic growth and development in the upper Shenandoah Valley region as well as Virginia. All modes of transportation are becoming increasingly important to the prosperity, health, education. Safety, security, environment and overall quality of life--but the resources are not available to meet demands. The Chamber supports increased investment in transportation infrastructure and coordinated land-use planning, with appropriate emphasis and funding given to the Shenandoah Valley region, to support the growing economy and population. Further, the Chamber supports the development of a comprehensive, long-term solution addressing the following criteria: transportation safety and security; improvement in the mobility within and across all travel modes; community goals as it relates to economic development; maximizing transportation operations and efficiency in the region; and providing adequate funding for roadway maintenance, maintenance of secondary roads and balances concerns with respect to aesthetics.

INTERSTATE 81

Position Statement: The Chamber supports conservative, cost-effective solutions of improving Interstate 81.

The solution should be as least costly and as conservative as is required to meet the legitimate needs for upgrade, repair and improvement of Interstate 81. Solutions requiring expensive and wholesale changes along the length of Interstate 81 without justifying a need are not favored by the Chamber. The aesthetic beauty of our home region provides our residents with enjoyment and tourism is vital to our economy and livelihoods. Any solution should minimize the impact of construction and repair on our natural resources.

MINIMUM WAGE

Position Statement. The Chamber opposes any effort to establish a minimum wage higher than the federally mandated minimum wage for the Commonwealth of Virginia, or any of its localities.

The proponents of these so-called “living wage ordinances,” while perhaps well-meaning, ignore certain economic realities. First, these measures put the state or locality at a competitive disadvantage in comparison to its neighbors. Second, increases in the minimum wage intended to address poverty can actually have an adverse effect of increasing poverty by eliminating certain entry-level jobs. Finally, these “living wage” laws hurt both the businesses who must divert funds away from job creation and benefits to fund the mandate, and their employees who miss out on these benefits and opportunities. Instead, the Chamber encourages localities and businesses to focus on providing people with workforce training and advancement opportunities so employees can get the skills needed to advance in the workplace and earn more without a mandate.

HEALTHCARE

Position Statement: The Chamber supports public and private initiatives undertaken to ensure that high quality and affordable health care for the people living in the region can be sustained over time.

Delivery of health care locally should reflect cost efficiencies, accountability, and excellence in the delivery of services. We believe long term sustainability and viability of our businesses, both small and large, will be dependent upon management of health care costs. Affordability of medical care significantly affects the quality of life for people living in our region.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Position Statement: The creation of jobs and economic prosperity through expansion of existing businesses and the attraction of new business activity to the area is a priority for the Chamber. Effective economic development includes removing unnecessary regulation, tax burdens and governmental interference to allow free enterprise to work. The Chamber also recognizes, in some cases, economic development may require governmental support in the form of enhanced infrastructure of tax adjustments to attract new businesses.

Local governments need the ability to make decisions which creating a climate which is attractive for business and conducive to expanded business activity by both new and existing companies. The Chamber believes an economic development program is crucial to success for our communities and businesses -- and such a program is best conceived and conducted through a cooperative and supportive partnership between the public sector and the business community.

RIGHT-TO-WORK

Position Statement: The Chamber would oppose any effort to weaken Virginia’s right-to-work laws.

Virginia’s economy has improved under the state’s pro-growth focus. As one of 21 Right-to-Work states, we pride ourselves on a positive labor relations climate.

The Chamber opposes efforts at the federal level to change the process through which workers decide whether or not they want to be represented by a labor union. Today’s process assures workers a secret ballot election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Their long-protected right to make their decision privately and in secret -- free from public scrutiny, visible goading, or tacit manipulation -- would be stripped away. We believe that the right to a secret ballot is a cornerstone of our democracy.