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Agenda
Access Program
Presentations
PowerPoint Presentations - Password protected and available to registered attendees only. Contact Gail Croom (gcroom@eei.org) for username and password to access.
Hotel
Hamilton Crown Plaza Hotel - Hotel block is full.
1001 14th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20005
Reservations: 1-800-263-9802
Room Rate: $189.00 until the hotel cut-off date of January 4, 2008.
Alternate hotels either within walking distance or a short taxi ride to the Hamilton Crown Plaza offering rooms under $200 per night.
Advocacy 101
Advocacy 101 is designed to be your virtual guide to advocacy reference, tips and techniques. That is, we hope it will help you get started NOW toward making your LIHEAP Action Day effort a success!
Your virtual guide includes a Virtual Q&A section, an Advocacy Reference Library (2007 and 2008), and Other Advocacy Opportunities. Updates will be provided via email in advance of the D.C. workshop, beginning in November. So be sure to "bookmark" this page as a browser favorite, and drop by every two weeks or so to see the latest information.
During the actual conference on January 28-29, you'll hear from several LIHEAP experts and receive updates on the latest and greatest related to LIHEAP in Congress, as well as some last minute directions on how to make LIHEAP Action Day as productive as possible.
2008 Advocacy Reference Library
Advocacy 101 is pleased to provide this Advocacy Reference Library, designed to provide information, examples, models and other relevant reference that may prove useful as you develop your own 2008 LIHEAP Advocacy Plan. The information provided comes from various sources, and may be adapted for use based on the needs of your company or customers.
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- LIHEAP Action Day - "Planning Your Visit" Audio Guide 1
 - this audio file, about 6 minutes long, provides some helpful ideas on how you might conduct your LIHEAP Action Day visit. It offers guidance on how to conduct your meeting with the Congressional reps, and also offers some tips on follow-up to ensure maximum value from the new contacts you've made. Our thanks to Betsy Bolding (Tucson Electric Power), Andrew Burch (Alliant Energy), Louis Gonzalez (FPL), Ed Rissing (Rissing Strategic) and George Coling (NFFN) for their expertise in developing this audio program.
- LIHEAP Action Day - "Planning Your Visit" Audio Guide 2 - This audio file, about 7 minutes long, provides some helpful ideas on how you might plan for your LIHEAP Action Day visits. It offers guidance on visit scheduling, preparation of discussion materials and more. Next week, we'll provide a second audio guide on "Conducting Your Visit." Our thanks to Betsy Bolding of Tucson Electric Power, Andrew Burch of Alliant Energy and Louis Gonzalez of FPL for providing this audio planning guide.
- LIHEAP Op Ed - FPL This model may be used as an op-ed for release to local newspapers and other communication channels. It is provided in Word to facilitate editing to a message appropriate for your company and/or state. It focuses on the need to increase LIHEAP funding, and provides the opportunity to tell what your company is doing on behalf of customers in need. It is less than 600 words, which is supposedly the "magic number" when it comes to getting op-eds published.
- LIHEAP Action Day Press Release - Alliant Energy This document/model highlights the utility's efforts on behalf of customers in need, and is a great way to shed light on the needs of your customers and the actions your company is pursuing on their behalf. Our thanks to Andrew Burch of Alliant for sharing this great example.
- Your State's Home Energy Affordability Gap - FL 2007 This document provides excellent data and findings related to your state's home energy affordability gap. The data offers great insight into the needs - both met and unmet, including poverty data and more. It may be one of the key worksheets you can present during your congressional visits. Our thanks to Roger Colton at Fisher, Sheehan & Colton for this insightful information. Visit their Web site at http://www.homeenergyaffordabilitygap.com
- Your State's LIHEAP Fact Sheet - Minnesota This example provides excellent data related to the energy burden, assistance funding and action needed for your state's LIHEAP program. Our thanks to Andrew Burch of Alliant for sharing this model.
- NEADA - LIHEAP FY 2008 Appropriations Status - by State
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Utility Contributions Matrix for Low Income Energy Assistance - We are pleased to provide two variations of the same model, offering a simple matrix that each state can adapt as needed. It offers a clear and concise answer when your Congresspeople ask "so what are you doing in your home state to help solve the problem?" Our thanks to Betsy Bolding and Tucson Electric Power for sharing this simple but powerful model.
AZ Utility Contributions to Low Income Energy Assistance 
Putting LIHEAP into Context
2007 Advocacy Reference Library
Virtual Q&A
Do you have any specific questions about LIHEAP Action Day? Any general advocacy questions or concerns? We can help! Just click on the link below to generate an email to your Advocacy 101 Team. All relevant questions and responses will be posted here, and we'll do our best to provide updates at least biweekly between now and the conference. Don't be shy - get those questions in asap.
Other Advocacy Opportunities
Provide accurate information. Make it relevant, short, and easy to reference. Keep written materials to one page. You may provide additional background material with your main message, but don’t leave reams of paper. Include your contact information. Another option is to let staff know what kind of resources you have available should they need them. The appointment is especially important if your Senator or Representative is a member of one of the Committees listed in the appendix, particularly the Appropriations Subcommittees listed there.
Create a “District/State Action Day for LIHEAP” - NFFN Toolkit for LIHEAP Action Day
What better way to raise awareness back home about LIHEAP, and about the lack of resources to help families in-need. Consider partnering with local fuel funds, utilities, energy marketers, fuel oil companies, social service providers, weatherization programs to conduct your own Action Day. A good location might be at your state capitol, and a good time might be when your state sessions are taking place.
Consider inviting:
- Local/District Congressional staff
- Local legislative representatives, state, county, and city representatives, public utility commissioners, etc.
- Energy assistance recipients.
- Other low-income advocates, such as housing programs, hunger advocates, etc. Ask them to talk about the link between hunger or housing and the need for energy assistance.
- Media members.
Our thanks to George Coling and the NFFN team for this wonderful idea. Visit their Web site at http://www.nationalfuelfunds.org/
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