Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Smoke Free Minnesota Day at the Capitol?
The Smoke Free Minnesota Day at the Capitol is a lobby day on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 at the St. Paul RiverCentre and the State Capitol. The day will run from approximately 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and participants will have the opportunity to meet with their legislators in groups to discuss the importance of comprehensive smoke free workplace legislation.
The Smoke Free Minnesota Day at the Capitol is presented by Allina Hospitals & Clinics, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, ClearWay MinnesotaSM, and HealthPartners, in collaboration with not-for-profit and other organizations committed to the health of all Minnesotans.
These organizations decided to join together in support of comprehensive smoke free workplace legislation with the goal of bringing hundreds of advocates from around the state of Minnesota to the Capitol to lobby for this issue.
Our goal is to educate policy makers about the negative effects of secondhand smoke and encourage them to support statewide smoke free workplaces.
Who can participate in the day at the Capitol?
This event is open to all employees of the sponsoring organizations, advocates committed to this issue and any person who cares about the health of Minnesotans and is interested in supporting comprehensive smoke free workplace legislation.
Will I talk to my legislator?
Every effort will be made for participants to meet the Senator and House member that represents the district they live in.
Will I meet with my legislator alone, or in a group?
Participants will meet with legislators in groups. Each group will be led by a well-trained “Group Leader.” On the morning of the event, participants will meet Group Leaders, role-play talking points and discuss general questions about meeting with legislators and navigating the State Capitol.
What is a Group Leader?
A Group Leader is an advocate with some government relations experience. Group Leaders will participate in a training session prior to the Day at the Capitol. During the day, they will lead the group to legislative appointments, initiate discussions and field questions from legislators or group members.
If you are interested in being a Group Leader, please provide details in the appropriate box on the Sign Up form.
What is the format for the day?
See “Day at the Capitol Schedule” on the Smoke Free Minnesota Day at the Capitol website.
What is lobbying?
Defined by an Encyclopedia, lobbying is the practice of private advocacy with the goal of influencing a governing body, in order to ensure that an individual’s or organization’s point of view is represented in the government.
In practical terms, lobbying is communicating your views and opinions to members of the government (in this case, State Legislators), with the hope that your actions and messages will impact their decisions.
For additional questions, please contact Kristi Ryman, Allina Public Policy Coordinator, at 612-262-4932 or Kristi.Ryman@allina.com.
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