Why Are You Doing This to Yourself?
Let’s be honest—fly-ins and lobby days can be exhausting and stressful. So, why are you still relying on them as a core part of your advocacy strategy?
When was the last time you evaluated whether your fly-in is truly delivering results? Have you asked your team, leadership, or event attendees whether the effort and investment are worth it?
If you haven’t, there’s a good chance you’re measuring success using outdated metrics. Even worse, your event programming and legislative asks might not be aligned with your broader advocacy goals.
It’s time to pause and ask: Why are you doing this to yourself? (and then perhaps pour a glass of wine so that you can stare into the oblivion appropriately…)
Are you advancing a legislative strategy?
The 119th Congress is in session, and this might be the year you introduce your organization’s legislative agenda. Perhaps you’re pushing for a must-pass bill that could significantly impact your industry or cause. If so, your fly-in might be a necessary tool to gain traction and build relationships.
Are you doing this to drive engagement from your advocates?
Your goal might be to strengthen relationships with key advocates, show appreciation to existing supporters, or recruit new members to your grassroots network. Perhaps you want to educate stakeholders and deepen their understanding of your issues. If engagement is your primary objective, your fly-in should reflect that through interactive sessions and networking opportunities.
Tailoring Your Fly-In for Maximum Impact
How you answer these questions should shape every aspect of your event:
- Who you invite
- Event size and scope
- Key legislative asks
- Educational programming
- Event location (local advocacy might offer a better ROI)
Most importantly, aligning your fly-in strategy with your organization’s advocacy goals can transform your event from a time-draining obligation into a powerful tool for policy change and member engagement. Plus, when your leadership sees the clear connection between your fly-in and advocacy success, it can positively impact your performance review.
What’s Next?
Over the coming weeks, we’ll dive deeper into these topics to help you refine your fly-in approach and ensure your efforts deliver results. Stay tuned and subscribe so you don’t miss our expert tips and insights!
It’s worth repeating: Fly-ins and lobby days are horrible. But we’re here to be your fly-in planning partner! Sage Solutions offers comprehensive event support to ensure your advocacy efforts run smoothly, including:
- Stress-Free Training Sessions
- Professionally Designed and Printed Materials
- Creative Attendee Engagement Strategies
- On-Site Event Staff Support
Let us handle the logistics so you can focus on what matters—advancing your organization’s advocacy goals.
Learn more or contact us today to see how we can support your next fly-in event!