Inside IECA Government Relations

Legislative Day 2018

Join the Iowa Extension Council Association at the Capitol on February 28

IECA has planned their annual Legislative Day for Wednesday, February 28 starting at the Wallace Building.  Our goal is to have at least three council members and 4-Hers from each county this year.  We encourage you to also invite your local Master Gardeners and other Extension Supporters.

You will be briefed on the issues that will impact ISU Extension and Outreach, find out about upcoming legislation, and learn how to work with your legislators.  Then we will spend time on Capitol Hill sharing Extension with the senators and representatives that serve your county. This will be a great opportunity to model public leadership to 4-Hers in your group.

Let’s make an impression!  Come wearing red to support ISU Extension.  Alternately, you may wear green to support 4-H.

 

Registration for the Legislative Day

Please fill out the online registration form.  You may register for more than one person on the same form, which makes it easy to help out your friends and neighbors who may not have internet access.  You may also send an email message to IECA if you prefer.

Pre-registration is strongly encouraged to help ease the morning check-in process.  However, we will welcome anyone who comes on that day even if they have not yet registered.

You can download the information flyer to share with Extension Council members and supporters.

 

4-H Public Leadership Experience

As a part of our legislative day this year, the association is inviting our senior 4-Hers to receive more information about the legislative process.  4-Hers from each county will have the opportunity to meet with legislators, tour the Capital, and learn about the legislative process and what bearing it has on Iowa State Extension and Outreach. More information is available on the IECA Legislative Day and 4-H Public Leadership Experience webpage.

 

Agenda

9:00 a.m. Registration, coffee & refreshments at Wallace Building
9:30 a.m. Legislative Update & Conversations with Legislative Pages
10:30 a.m. Visit with Legislators at the Capitol
  Lunch on your own
1:00 p.m. Capitol Tour (optional)

 

Logistics for the day

We will meet at the Wallace Building just northwest of the Capitol Building.  Parking is available in the ramp to the east.  A map of the Capitol Complex shows public parking.  There are a limited number of on-street metered parking spaces in the vicinity as well.  

You may use the driveway in front of the Wallace Building for dropping-off and picking-up.  A shuttle is available to the take people with limited mobility from the Wallace Building to the Capitol after the legislative training.

 

Prepare for the legislative day

Council members and 4-Hers are strongly encouraged to contact their legislators ahead of time to let them know you will be visiting on February 28.  You may even wish to plan on dining together that day.  We have provided a sample e-mail letter you may wish to use to initiate contact with your legislator.

You will also want to familiarize yourself with some impacts that Extension has made in your county.  Bring along enough of your county stakeholder reports for each of the legislators you plan to visit.  Additionally, you can find some quick facts about how Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is making Iowa Strong.       

Read the handout Effective Education to help familiarize yourself with effective strategies for talking with legislators.

Read the document Making Contacts for ISU Extension and Outreach for some helpful tips before you go.

If you’ve never been to the legislative day before, you might want to talk with someone who has been before to find out what to expect.  You can talk with a fellow council member from your county or you can e-mail IECA Executive Director Terry Maloy and board member Jayne Lupkes with your questions.

 

Additional Activities

In case you're looking for some additional activities to take in while you are in Des Moines, below are some links to consider.