The 111th Congress is now in session.

Are you prepared for the year that will change advocacy? Follow these steps:

1. Arm your team with Knowlegis' online suite of accurate congressional staff data and lobbying tools.
2. Download the resources below and/or bookmark this page for later.
3. Start planning your 2009 legislative outreach.

RESOURCES
These articles are written by Brad Fitch, CEO of Knowlegis. Brad worked for members of Congress as press secretary, chief of staff, and consultant for 18 years. The concepts and strategies included in these articles are based on research conducted for his upcoming book, The Citizen’s Handbook for Influencing Elected Officials.

	5 Ways to Engage and Influence Freshmen Legislators The election is over. By now, you and your team are outlining your 2009 legislative strategies and identifying key figures to shape your agenda. Out of the new lineup of Members, which ones will you gain as champions for your cause? Why You Need This? Significant time and resources are required to reach these folks at this “young and impressionable” phase however a measurable return on investment makes all the heavy lifting well worth it.
	2009: The Perfect Storm of Advocacy and Lobbying Review the unusual convergence of events in 2009, mostly around Congress that will bring about substantial changes in legislation and regulations, profoundly impacting millions of Americans for decades to come. Why You Need This? Gain a bird eye’s view of how the election of 2008 and what this transition means for advocacy and lobbying professionals.
	Creating a Grassroots Boot Camp Transform your supporters from Cub Scouts to Navy Seals using traditional grassroots practices and innovative technology. Why You Need This? Learn how to motivate and mobilize your member-activists and arm them with confidence when engaging with legislators and policymakers.
	Mapping Your Influence Explore the concept of asset mapping and illustrate how careful analysis of your economic and political footprint can change governmental outcomes. Why You Need This? Learn how to use technology to communicate your outreach and to pinpoint your areas of strengths and weaknesses.
	Thinking Like a Legislator Gain an inside analysis of legislators’ decision-making process, and outline what it takes to frame your issue. How do you win over legislators' hearts, minds and votes? Why You Need This? Learn how to apply the lessons learned by Hill insiders to maximize your legislative performance in 2009.
	10 Best Practices for E-mailing Congressional Staff Ensure your e-mail gets read, saved, and genuinely integrated into a staff and the congressman’s decision-making process. Why You Need This? Learn how to hit the mark, time after time, with congressional staffers using e-mail.
	Managing a Three-Ring Circus Juggling your annual fly-in is no small feat; conducting a fly-in with your supporters or members can be one of the most difficult, challenging, pull-your-hair-out part of a government relations job.  Why You Need This? Learn how to coordinate and conduct successful fly-ins that deliver legislative results.
	10 Strategies for Using Congressional Town Hall Meetings to Advance Your Legislative Agenda Raising a question at a town hall meeting is one of the most effective methods for influencing undecided lawmakers. What are the best tactics for preparing your advocates for these crucial interactions with legislators? Why You Need This? Learn how to strategically plan for upcoming town hall meetings and point your advocates in the right direction when engaging with legislators.

Call Knowlegis at (703) 289-9816 for accurate congressional data and time-saving lobbying solutions.