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Tools and Resources

Raise Farm Animal Awareness at a Town Hall Meeting

Elected officials commonly hold “town hall” meetings in their districts when the legislature is out of session. These public meetings provide constituents with an opportunity to have their voices heard. Town Hall meetings are one of the best opportunities we have to make an impact on our elected officials. In these public forums elected officials are poised to listen to their voting public, and your comments can do more to shape their position on an issue than a virtual swarm of cookie cutter emails. Not only will you be reaching your legislators and their staff, you will also be raising awareness of farm animal issues among the other attendees. So what are you waiting for? Check our listings to see when your legislator’s next town hall meeting will be, and go prepared to make things happen with our essential town hall tips below – it is far easier than you might think!
 
Upcoming Town Hall Meetings

Don’t know what legislative district you are in? Use our legislative lookup to find out.

Essential Town Hall Tips

Introduce Yourself: Sometimes people get up to speak and forget to start at the beginning. Who are you and where do you live? First, your legislator likes to know that you are a constituent. Second, they need to hear your name so they can remember it later when you follow up on the meeting with a letter or phone call.

Know your stuff: You don’t have to have a PhD in factory farming, but a little preparation goes a long way. While you will only have a minute to speak, be prepared by knowing the issue and the bill number (if there is one) and what you want your legislator to do. Before you go, check out what is pending either at the federal level (for your federal town hall meetings) or what is pending in your state. Just stay focused on one or two key issues. Often times, you may know more about animal issues than your legislator, and a polite, confident couple of sentences with good information will be sure to impress.

Make the ask: If step one is bringing up your issue, step two is asking your elected official to do something specific about it. Professional activists call this “making the ask.” If there is a bill pending in the legislature that would address the problem at hand, ask them to co-sponsor that bill. If there is no bill, ask them to introduce one. Check our listings below for suggestions.

Make it personal: A compelling personal story is the icing on the cake of a well-informed question or request. How has this issue affected you, your family or your community? Though modern living has removed many of us from routine contact with farm animals, the negative impacts of animal agriculture may still be felt when we find a factory farm polluting our water supply, when we see cruelty and unsafe practices exposed in the news or when we meet a sanctuary animal that has been rescued from abuse.

Bring some friends: There is always strength in numbers. Your legislator will pay more attention to a concern voiced by several people, and bringing backup can give you a shot of extra confidence when it is your turn to speak.

Be nice: The golden rule is golden for politics too—treat your legislators the way you would like to be treated. Those elected to office know very well how they got their job and who pays their salary; there’s no need to remind them. A courteous and respectful tone is always appreciated, so do your cause a favor and be on your best behavior.

Make it multimedia: People remember things that come to them through more than one channel, so be sure to reinforce your spoken comments with a printed fact sheet that presents the highlights. The fact sheet will get attention through the eyes and fingers of its readers, including not just the legislator but his or her staff.

Make friends in high places: If any of the legislator’s staff comes to the meeting, be sure to introduce yourself. Especially in the case of federal legislators, you are likely to spend far more time lobbying staff. These staff members have more time to hear your concerns, and if you can win them over, you’ll have a powerful ally in persuading their boss.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease – Follow Up: The town hall is only the beginning! After the meeting (within 72 hours), follow up with a friendly letter thanking the legislator for hearing your concerns; then restate your concerns and your ask. After a couple weeks, follow up on your email or letter with a phone call and ask (politely) whether you can count on the legislator to do whatever it is you have asked them to do. Farm Sanctuary has a number of fact sheets, publications and online resources that can help you get a firm grasp on the essential points, facts and figures, and you can offer these items to your legislator or their staff.  

Relationships, relationships, Relationships:  Consider each town hall as an opportunity to meet your elected officials and your neighbors and get to know them.  Much of the time people just need to hear about an issue to get involved, and if it can be delivered by someone nearby – it is all the more compelling. Have fun!

Coming to a town hall near you!
Check our listings to see when your legislator’s next town hall meeting will be.  Don’t know what legislative district you are in? Use our legislative lookup to find out.