The Pre-Session Two Step

Our May 23rd blog featured a legislative 10-step program.  This week we would like to reiterate the first two steps from that program:

Pre-Session:

1. Your “ask”.  Have a simple and clear objective, fact-based with stats and numbers to back it up. Have a consistent message. Blanket all legislators with the message – if your law-maker, tell a personal story.
2. Your law-maker.
   • Make contact. Visit, email, call. Meet the staff, equally as important as the elected official.
   • Offer a ride or field trip to have them experience what you experience.
   • Continue to contact. Follow up on any questions / concerns, update with new information.
   • Follow your law-maker (“stalking”). Send a thank you if they made the news for a good thing, be friendly if you see them in public, always say HI. Get to know what they are interested in and their platform.

In case you are wondering, pre-session is NOW.  How is your two-step coming along?

Mine is coming along just fine.  I saw District 16 Senator Jack Latvala, to which I am a constituent, at an Oldsmar function and thanked him personally for his service during the past session.  I thank Senator Latvala for his service to the public every chance I get and on this last occasion, I got the feeling the Senator is starting to recognize me.

I attended a meeting with John Komoroske, president of Sumter Landing Bicycle Club (SLBC), and Senator Dennis Baxley, District 12, to discuss the refiling of SB 432 and how we wish to assist with the success of this important vulnerable road user bill.  John and I also pitched FBA’s Move Over for People initiative, to which the Senator was interested.  John is drafting up language for the Senator to review (John serves on the FBA legislative committee).

Senator Baxley was invited and accepted to be a guest speaker at an upcoming SLBC monthly meeting.  John is also setting up a meeting with Representative Charlie Stone of District 22, who filed the house companion bill, HB 541.  Members of Sumter Landing Bicycle Club (over 700 strong) are constituents of both elected officials.  I look forward to these meetings as a member of SLBC and will be happy to assist any bicycle club with setting up a meeting with their elected officials, regardless of my membership status.

I am waiting to hear back from Representative James Grant, District 64, regarding a meeting in August.  I am a constituent of Representative Grant and I look forward to discussing his initiatives, our legislative platform and how we can work together to support each other.

The summer pre-session two-step, crucial to the success of our legislative platform.

Do you have a bicycle story to tell?  Photos to share?  Be our guest and be our next guest blogger!  Send your story and photos to Becky@floridabicycle.net.

Speaking of stories, our quarterly Messenger newsletter is available online for your internet reading pleasure.  Visit the FBA website Home page or click here.  Want a hard copy of our Messenger?  Join Florida Bicycle Association or visit one of our bicycle shop members!

Complete Streets Savvy, or CSS, is a general bicycle educational presentation.  The purpose is to provide basic information with regards to the Florida Department of Transportation’s adoption of Complete Streets policy and how cyclists and motorists can share the road safely. This presentation runs 10 – 15 minutes and is designed for legislators, civic organizations and other entities that meet regularly and need informative content.  There is no fee.  Make your request for CSS today!

Bike Florida and Florida Bicycle Association share a common cause in bicycle education for residents and visitors to the Sunshine State.  Share the Road license plate proceeds benefit Bike Florida and Florida Bicycle Association to further these bicycle educational efforts.  What’s on your motor vehicle?  Get the Share the Road license plate!