Tips for being effective with lobbying:

1. Have your topics clearly sorted out. Know the purpose of your meeting or letter.

2. Prepare background information. This can be in the form of a fact sheet.

3. Keep to a few topics only to get your message across. Focus on horse issues Have a list of by how supporting horse issues in the candidate’s electorate, it will benefit them/their party

4. Create impact. Tell a personal story to highlight your issue

5. Personally visit your representative. In this world of emails, this type of campaigning has limited personal effect on a Rep. Contact your Rep. and ask for a personal meeting and keep turning up at functions and public meetings or “meet and greet” sessions featuring your candidate. Include your full contact details and request a response.

6. Use a formal letter structure when writing, even in Emails. Follow up a day or two later to make sure that the letter has been recorded as being received and when you can expect to receive a response.

7. Keep your voting friends and your horse industry groups up to date with copies of responses.

8. Horse groups have great opportunities to engage representatives,e.g. handing out trophies, invites to annual dinners, photo opportunities with a horse. Make sure all your Reps are on your newsletter list!

** Reps are local Ward Councillors, Mayors, State & Federal Members of Parliament.