ESPC offers Citizen Lobbyist Training
— posted January 29, 2014
(Press release) — The Equality State Policy Center’s next Citizen Lobbyist Training will be conducted Feb. 12 (check in time is 7:30 a.m. and the session begins at 8 a.m.) at the Plains Hotel in Cheyenne. The training will include a “Budget 101” workshop.
Participants in the training will learn how a bill becomes law. Experienced lobbyists who work for ESPC member organizations outline the attributes of an effective lobbyist and teach attendees how to testify before a legislative committee. Other presentations outline how citizens can get the attention of legislators and affect their policy deliberations from home. Sitting legislators offer their perspectives on lobbying and discuss approaches that work – and that don’t work – with them.
ESPC will offer a virtual tour of the Legislature’s website, which has become a key resource for tracking developments during and following each session. The training also will include a real tour of the Wyoming Capitol and the opportunity to practice new lobbying skills on legislators.
ESPC will again offer workshops on three issues that will be discussed during the coming legislative session. These include a basic “Wyoming Budget 101? workshop led by Ken Decaria, a former state senator and now the government relations director for the Wyoming Education Association. Rebekah Smith of the Wyoming Women’s Foundation will lead a workshop on the minimum wage and how it affects the gender pay gap. And Marguerite Herman of the League of Women Voters will conduct a third workshop to discuss options to extend Medicaid to Wyoming’s low-income adults without children. Attendees will choose their workshop on the day of the training.
The training attracts citizens from all walks of life, including students, representatives of nonprofit groups and people who simply want to learn more about lawmaking in Wyoming. The cost of the training is $50 per person. The fee helps us defray the cost of materials, lunch and refreshments. We offer a discounted rate of $25 for attendees affiliated with ESPC groups.
The registration fee is not meant to be prohibitive, however, and we offer scholarships to participants who need assistance.
Register online here. If you have other questions or do not wish to register online, please email Dan Neal at dneal@equalitystate.org or call 307-472-5939 to make arrangements.
Kathy,
We don’t have anything planned in the Jackson area. In the past, we have staged abbreviated workshops in Casper and Sheridan. If you’d like to talk about this, please send an email to dneal@equalitystate.org. We may be able to set something up, though at this point, it would have to be after the 2014 Budget session.
Dan N.
Is there anything in Jackson Hole like this?