Volunteer Iowa Day at the Capitol 2023 Handbook

Thank you for participating in Volunteer Iowa Day at the Capitol, hosted by Volunteer Iowa and Iowa MENTOR.

This page provides everything you may need to make your Day at the Capitol a success. While this page should answer many questions you may have about the event, please feel free to contact mentor@volunteeriowa.org or info@volunteeriowa.org or by phone at 1-800-308-5987 with any additional questions.

We hope that your participation in the Day at the Capitol will help us to:

  • Highlight the importance of service & volunteering in Iowa
  • Build legislators' awareness of policy issues important for supporting our sector
  • Provide the opportunity for volunteer & national service programs to connect with their local legislators

Quick Links

Here are some important materials and resources to help you:

Volunteer Iowa Day at the Capitol 2023 Toolkit

Preparation

1) Register to Participate

Please register for Volunteer Iowa Day at the Capitol by January 27, 2023. EACH ATTENDEE SHOULD REGISTER INDIVIDUALLY.

2) Review the January 18th Training Webinar

Click the link to watch the webinar recording. The webinar provides you details about Volunteer Iowa’s policy priorities for the current state legislative session. It also gives tips for talking to legislators and reminders about the differences between educating elected officials (which ALL of our partners and programs can do) and lobbying policymakers (which SOME staff, board members, and program alumni can do).

3) Invite your legislators

As a program affiliated with Volunteer Iowa it is essential for you to contact legislators BEFORE the Day at the Capitol to make arrangements to meet with them on February 2nd. They are very interested in hearing from their constituents and count on someone like you to be the expert to inform them about a subject matter. Legislators tend to be responsive to personal invitations from programs in their region, so make sure to mention that you are a constituent. We encourage you to make yourself available throughout the day to ensure they can select the time that works best for them to speak with you.

The best way to initiate contact with local legislators is to create a formal, yet personal, letter of invitation to be sent via email. Click the link for a sample email invitation for programs and commissioners.

Not sure which legislators to contact?

Visit https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/find to search for the names, contact information, and photos of your local legislators. If your program covers multiple legislative districts, we encourage you to prioritize meetings with any legislators who serve on key committees related to Volunteer Iowa priorities. Click the link for a list of relevant committees and their members.

Follow up after the initial invitation

If you sent an invitation to your legislators already, follow up via e-mail or telephone to remind them of the upcoming event. It is also helpful to ask volunteers, board members, and other supporters to write personal notes to local legislators encouraging them to meet with you during the Volunteer Iowa Day at the Capitol and to learn more about the impact of volunteerism and service in local communities.

4) Prepare to speak with your legislators

Develop a one-minute elevator speech about your program and how it connects to Volunteer Iowa and our 2023 Policy Priorities and Impact. Our 2022-2023 Programs Map will also help you identify other Volunteer Iowa programs that serve your legislator’s district. Because the schedules of your legislators will vary, some legislators may only be able to spend a few minutes speaking with you during our day at the Capitol. Practice the speech, but don’t memorize to the point that it becomes flat. Make sure your passion is the focus; you’re an expert in your field not only because you know facts and stories, but also because you believe passionately in the work that you do. Do your research well enough that you discuss your program and its impact knowledgeably and passionately, without relying on memorized soundbites. If a legislator asks a question you don’t have an answer to, tell them you will follow up. Then actually follow up later. Review the “Tips for Speaking with Legislators” that are provided in this handbook.

5) Watch your e-mail inbox for additional information

We will send additional information and updates, as needed, to the registered attendees via the email addresses provided. But, if further questions or comments arise, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@volunteeriowa.org or mentor@volunteeriowa.org  or by phone at 1-800-308-5987.

6) Prepare for social media

Prepare to take some photos with your legislator and with fellow advocates during the Day at the Capitol. Consider bringing a camera, or make sure your phone is fully charged. Keep in mind that social media can be a powerful tool when used as a platform for promoting a cause. Use it to your advantage. Be sure to incorporate some time into your day for a quick photo and have a few sample text posts on hand that promote your cause and draw attention to your legislator and to your organization. See the separate guide for social media tips.

Day of Event: Highlights

Overview of the Day

Volunteer Iowa Day at the Capitol will take place on Thursday, February 2, at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. Volunteer Iowa staff will be on hand from 11:00am-1:00pm, but you are encouraged to meet with your legislators at any time during the day that is mutually convenient.

  • All day: Meet with your legislators at a time that is mutually convenient
  • 11:00am-1:00pm: Volunteer Iowa commissioners & staff available to check you in and connect you with other attendees who plan to meet with the same legislators (South Capitol Rotunda)
  • Disperse throughout the Capitol to connect with your legislators, then stop back to our table in the South Capitol Rotunda to let us know how things went. Commissioners and staff will be available until 1:00pm to answer your questions, help you find the legislative chambers, check meeting schedules, or provide whatever other assistance you may need.
  • Complete an after-action report so we know who you met with and how the meeting went.
  • Post a thank you on social media, sharing information about your program and tagging the legislators and Volunteer Iowa in your post. Find our social media guide and social media graphics HERE.

Be sure to take pictures with your legislators to share on social media, both during and after the event. If you meet with legislators in the morning and are unable to stay until the afternoon, you can provide feedback to us on your meetings through the evaluation we’ll distribute by email following the event.

Arrival at the State Capitol

Parking

Please use one of the visitor parking lots which are clearly marked around the Capitol Complex. Persons with disabilities may be dropped off at the ground floor/West entrance. A parking map is available at: http://publications.iowa.gov/1644/1/capitol_parking.pdf.

Capitol Entrances

Visitors must use the ground floor entrances that are located on the West or South side of the Capitol. Entrances are not available on the North side of the building. All persons and packages are subject to search. No weapons, explosives, balloons, candles, or cooking devices are allowed, and electronic items may receive additional screenings. Identification may be requested.

Volunteer Iowa Meeting Location: Capitol Rotunda (south) from 11:00am-1:00pm

Our registration table will be located in the South Capitol Rotunda with a sign identifying our Day at the Capitol. Please stop by to register your attendance. However, you may schedule legislative meetings anytime throughout the day that is convenient to you and your legislator. After holding your meetings, please stop back at our table to report back to us on how your meetings went.

Not Able to Attend? 

If you are unable to attend the day at the Capitol, we hope you will still communicate with your legislator about your service program and the Volunteer Iowa legislative priorities. If there is inclement weather on the date of the event and you are unable to attend, please e-mail or call your legislators and follow up with them at a later date.

Meeting with Your Legislators

Tips for speaking with legislators.

  • Do identify yourself and who you represent  
  • Do be brief; legislators are busy  
  • Do be specific and practical. Relate your work to situations in the legislator’s home district  
  • Do consider yourself a potential consultant to legislators.   
  • Do share via email a one-page flyer or brochure
  • Do keep a positive attitude and remember that your legislators are genuinely interested in the thoughts of their constituents
  • Do thank legislators for their time  

 

  • Don’t overwhelm legislators with too much information or jargon  
  • Don’t be afraid to say you don’t know; and offer to find the answer to a question and send it back  
  • Don’t confront, pressure, or beg  
  • Don’t ask the impossible

The House and Senate are located on the second floor of the Capitol. If you do not have a previously scheduled appointment and meeting location, you should use the following procedure to call a Senator or Representative out of the legislative chambers for meetings:

  1. Go to the main door of the appropriate chamber located on 2nd floor of the Capitol. The Senate chamber is on the south side of the Rotunda and the House chamber is on the north side.
  2. Fill out a message slip (see examples below) and hand to the doorman. He/she (or a page) will deliver the message slip to the legislator. Walk back down the chamber steps and wait in the Rotunda near the chamber. (Be sure to check the area where you will be waiting on the Senate message slip).
  3. If available, your legislator will come out and call your name. If the legislator cannot talk with you at that time, a page will alert you that he/she is not currently available. If your legislator is not in the chamber, leave your materials with the doorman.
  4. Photos of legislators are available at https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/find.

Talking Points/Script for Meeting with Legislators

1) Introduce yourself/your group
  • Your name(s)   
  • Your agency/program name   
  • Where your agency/program is located and what areas you serve
2) Explain why you are here - to participate in Volunteer Iowa Day at the Capitol

a. Give the legislator a copy of the Volunteer Iowa Day at the Capitol handout   
b. Share how your agency is connected to Volunteer Iowa and/or Iowa MENTOR   
c. Explain how the 2023 Volunteer Iowa legislative priorities relate to your work (printed on the handout and next page of this toolkit).

3) Share a story and data about your agency/program

a. The best way to connect with a legislator is often a personal story that connects to the policy issues being discussed.   
b. Legislators may also want to know about the impact of your agency/program in terms of numbers served, cost savings, etc. (If you do not have the data they seek, ask if you can investigate and get back to them later). You can also share data on Volunteer Iowa’s overall impact as noted in our 2023 Policy Priorities and Impact handout.

4) Seek their support and get a clear answer

a. Ask the legislators if they are supportive of the Volunteer Iowa priorities you have discussed   
b. If you cannot lobby, do not make an ask related to specific legislation or funding requests. (But you can still ask the legislator’s general stance towards your program)

5) Say thank you

a. Remember to always be polite even if they disagree with you   
b. Be respectful of the legislators’ time; remember they may have many other meetings and appointments   
c. If you are meeting via video conference, ask if you can take a photo and then share it on social media with a thank you message, and be sure to tag them in the post.   
d. At the conclusion of your meeting, thank them and follow-up later with a letter or e-mail

Volunteer Iowa 2023 Legislative Priorities

AmeriCorps Seniors Priorities (including RSVP)

  • Legislative Priority: Provide sufficient state funding to maintain support for all federally-awarded Iowa programs ($418,698). Annual RSVP state funding is awarded in the Health and Human Services (HHS) appropriations subcommittee (transfer from Dept. on Aging Appropriation). For FY21, 19 new federal grants were awarded, meaning an increase of $139,698 is needed to keep existing programs whole.
  • Impact: In 2021-2022, over 3,400 RSVP volunteers served Iowa communities, including over 197,000 hours served to support community needs such as disaster relief, financial literacy, and food security, at a value of $4.9 million.

AmeriCorps Priorities (including AmeriCorps VISTA, AmeriCorps State, AmeriCorps NCCC)

AmeriCorps Tax Burden
  • Legislative Priority: Exempt the AmeriCorps living allowance from state income tax.
  • Impact: AmeriCorps members have a tremendous impact, both directly and by leveraging additional volunteers (5,103 in 2021-2022), yet their compensation is little over the poverty level. Removing the income tax burden would help recruit and retain high-quality members. Tax proposals will be considered by the Ways and Means committees.
Reading Corps
  • Legislative Priority: Dedicate funding towards expanding the Iowa Reading Corps.
  • Impact: The Iowa Reading Corps program has been shown to help struggling students’ progress at 1.5 to 2 times the target rate. Funding would help expand the Reading Corps to rural areas.
RISE AmeriCorps
  • Legislative Priority: Restore appropriation of $300,000 to support RISE AmeriCorps.
  • Impact: Current programming leverages over $650,000 in federal funding and serves as a national model for effective community refugee transitional programming. With influx of new refugees and on-going waves of secondary migration refugees, RISE provides needed workforce navigation and other support services to help integrate these new Iowans into our communities with members helping bridge cultural and language barriers. (HHS appropriations subcommittee)

Iowa MENTOR (Iowa Mentoring Partnership) Priorities

  • Legislative Priority: Maintain annual funding awarded for program grants in the Health and Human Services appropriations subcommittee (with Iowa Department of Public Health appropriation).
  • Impact: State funding supports grants to certified mentoring programs to connect young people with supportive adult relationships and provide specific substance abuse prevention training. Mentoring is an effective evidence-based prevention and intervention strategy with positive effects on school attendance and achievement, mental health support, violence prevention, and workforce development.
  • Legislative Priority: Support the Governor’s funding recommendations for a Volunteer Mentoring Program in the Future Ready Iowa Bill to boost student success. (Economic Development appropriations subcommittee)
  • Impact: Mentoring is a proven strategy for increasing student success and will help protect our investment in Last Dollar Scholars.

General Volunteer Programs Priorities (including VGF, Service Enterprise, Give Back Iowa Challenge, volunteer awards, etc.)

  • Legislative Priority: Fully fund the $265,000 Volunteer Iowa operating budget as needed for federal match. Volunteer Iowa received $168,201 last year from administration of grant programs and Iowa MENTOR. (Economic Development appropriations subcommittee)
  • Impact: Underfunding operating expenses means more charges passed on to local programs, draining available local resources. Between 2019 and 2021, the percent of Iowans who volunteer dropped over 10 percent, from 53% to 42%, while the need for volunteer support has grown. This decline represents millions of dollars in lost labor to Iowa communities and charitable efforts, and while caused by the COVID 19 pandemic, has the potential to continue without specific reengagement efforts. Furthermore, research shows volunteering helps improve physical and mental health, and with the current mental health crisis, Iowans could especially benefit from volunteering’s prosocial protective factors. Now more than ever, it is critical to support and grow volunteering in Iowa.

Follow Up

Send a thank you

Don't make participation at the Day at the Capitol the last contact you have with your legislators, make it the beginning! Start by sending a thank you for their time and ask for other ways that you can work with them. For example, consider inviting legislators to upcoming events at your organization or adding them to your newsletter distribution list.

Follow the legislative session

Use the resources available on the Iowa Legislature’s website to see what happens with bills of interest to you over the course of the session.

Alert local media that you participated Volunteer Iowa/Iowa Mentoring Partnership Day at the Capitol

Many news outlets are happy to share information about a local organization’s participation in Volunteer Iowa’s Day at the Capitol. You can find local newspaper contacts at: www.inanews.com while radio and television contacts are available at: www.iowabroadcasters.com.

Complete the after-action report

Let us know what went well and what didn’t and tell us more about your conversations with elected officials. The report is found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZHM6RRP.

Volunteer Iowa Service Map