Take your chapter to the state capitol for a day trip! Plan to visit your state legislators and other leadership, tour the capitol building, observe a legislative session or committee hearing, and tour other special buildings, monuments and museums. Cap off your day with dinner together!
This activity could also be used to lobby your representatives or express your appreciation for a job well done! As a way of inspiring the next generation of conservatives, encourage your members to bring their children, and if your chapter is sponsoring a Young Patriots group, invite them to join you.
Register your chapter below for this activity
| Prep Time | 2-4 hours |
| Event Time | 8-10 hours |
| Supplies | Sign-in sheets, palm cards, lapel stickers |
| Estimated Cost | Variable (meals, transportation) |
PLAN AND PREP
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Inform your state chairs that your chapter is planning to visit the state capitol so they can provide guidance. Invite them to join you! |
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Choose a future date that gives you enough time to create a good plan. |
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Prepare a trip itinerary and share it with your group. Ask for input from your members. |
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Discuss transportation. |
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Many capitol buildings are open for tours through the week, with limited schedules on weekends and holidays. Be sure to check their hours, as you plan your itinerary. |
| Call your legislators’ offices to schedule an appointment to meet privately. If they are in session, this may be more difficult to arrange. If this is an important part of your purpose for your trip, plan accordingly. |
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Ask your local legislator if there are any committee meetings or hearings which are open to the public. |
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Reach out to the committee chair/leadership to confirm your groups's attendance. |
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If your group wants to take an “official” tour of your capitol building, see if advance sign up is available. |
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Allow time in your schedule for meals, restroom breaks and security checks. |
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Check out your state’s website for tips, parking suggestions, and ideas of other places of interest. Don’t hesitate to call to get more information. |
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Encourage everyone to wear comfortable shoes and bring along an umbrella. |
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While at the state capitol, if you discover an important issue that needs to attention, contact your state chairs so they can inform Patriot Voices staff for consideration as a state-wide effort. |
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If you’re planning to lobby your legislators about a specific issue, prior to your trip please check in with our Political Director, Jessica Colón at jessica@patriotvoices.com to discuss. |
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Take along Patriot Voices palm cards and information about your chapter to distribute to those you visit. |
PROMOTE
| Promote your chapter's visit to your state capitol well in advance. |
| Invitations can be delivered by personal invitation, fliers, email, text, phone, Facebook event, US Mail, or an announcement at church or GOP and tea party meetings. |
| Encourage your members to bring spouses, children, friends, neighbors and co-workers. Inviting others will help your chapter grow! |
TRIP DAY!
| Plan to arrive a few minutes ahead of your first scheduled appointment. |
| Pass out itineraries. |
| Check everyone in with a check-in sheet (make sure you have mobile numbers). Click here for a template. |
| Talk about decorum with your members. Ask everyone to remain respectful no matter what. |
| Have fun and take lots of photos to post on Facebook and Twitter! Use @patriot_voices and your state's GOP hashtag, e.g. #IAGOP, #ALPolitics #RedIN #PAGOP |
FOLLOW UP
| Send us an email report with photos: chapter@patriotvoices.com |
| Thank everyone who participated - a phone call or email is a great idea! |
| Provide your group with a list of those you met with and encourage them to write a follow-up note. |
| Encourage your members to write a letter to the editor about your trip. |
| To help promote your chapter, send one of your photos to your local newspaper. |
| If your project attracts new people who are not yet members, ask them to join your chapter! |
| Encourage everyone to visit www.patriotvocies.com and sign up for email updates. |
| Ask folks to get connected on our social networking channels. |
| Add your members/volunteers to our network using this grassroots tool. Obtain the password here: chapters@patriotvoices.com. |
