Policy & Politics

In Person lobbying involves face-to-face visits between you and your elected officials either in their Lansing office or in their district.  

Visiting Lansing

• Visit the Chamber’s Legislative Action Center to gather contact information on your lawmaker.
• Put together and email with a formal request to meet.  Just like when you send an email or make a phone call, it is best to focus on just one issue and be sure to include the following information to identify yourself:
  • Your name
  • Company name
  • Address
  • Phone number
  • E-mail
  • Indicate you’re a Michigan Chamber member
  • Identify the issue you want to discuss
  • Identify anyone else who might join you
• If you don’t hear anything after sending the e-mail request, follow up the next day to make sure they received the formal request.
• Wait another two or three days and then follow up with a phone call to see if there is time for you to meet with them.
• Be flexible in scheduling. You might not get in right away. If it is urgent you speak with them because of a pending vote, clearly state that in both the formal request and follow up call. Be respectful and look to them for scheduling options.
• When you arrive for the meeting, follow these tips:
  • Be on time, if not a couple of minutes early.
  • Be respectful.
  • Have a clearly defined agenda so you don’t waste your time or the legislator’s time.
  • Clearly state your position on the issue and ask them where they stand.
  • If you have any documentation to reinforce your position, be sure to bring at least two copies of that with you (for the elected official and their legislative aide).
  • Do not promise them anything in order to get them to vote a certain way.
  • Be sure to give a call to action (vote yes/no on a bill; please consider introducing this legislation; please become a co-sponsor of this legislation, etc.)
  • Ask them to follow up with you on the issue.
  • As a gesture to continue building the relationship, invite them to tour your company in the district to learn more about it.
  • Thank them for their time.
• After your visit, follow up with a written personal thank you and once again address your position and express the desire for follow up.
• Share with the Chamber. Please share with the Chamber how your meeting went and what you learned. Call or e-mail Grassroots Action Coordinator Jennifer Hoff at 517/371-7640 or jhoff@michamber.com. 

In District Meetings

• Lawmaker Coffee Hours. Each lawmaker holds “coffee hours” in their district.  These are informal meetings where no appointment is needed, and you can talk with the lawmaker about issues important to you. You can find out about lawmaker “coffee hours” by signing up to receive lawmaker newsletters. Click here for a list of House and Senate members.
  
• Attend “Chamber Chat” in your area. Chamber Chat is a new program offered by the Michigan Chamber for members. It is an informal, roundtable discussion with your state representative or state senator. This is not a fundraiser. It is your opportunity to talk directly with lawmakers about issues affecting your business, community and the state. Watch for details about these in your area. If you’d be interested in hosting a Chamber Chat, contact Grassroots Action Coordinator Jennifer Hoff at 517/371-7640 or jhoff@michamber.com. 
• Invite the lawmaker to visit your company. Lawmakers like to get out into their communities and from time to time participate in tours or visits to companies in their district. Why not have them visit yours? Much like scheduling a meeting in their office, it all starts with an ask. Put together a formal invitation for them to visit your company and send them an e-mail. Be sure to include the following information:
  • Your name
  • Company name
  • Address
  • Phone number
  • E-mail
  • Indicate you’re a Michigan Chamber member
  • Provide them a brief overview of your company, including when established and the number of employees.
  • Follow up the day after sending the email to ensure receipt.Follow up a few days after that to see if they are ready to schedule a visit. When the lawmaker comes to visit, be sure to greet them at the door, spend a little time giving them an overview of the company, provide them with a tour and, if you are able, allow them to spend a few minutes talking with the employees in a break room or general gathering area. After the visit, be sure to follow up with a written thank you to the office.
• Share with the Chamber. If you host a lawmaker at your company, let us know! We’d love to hear how it went. Call or e-mail Grassroots Action Coordinator Jennifer Hoff at 517/371-7640 or jhoff@michamber.com.