Advocacy Day is just around the corner! On May 22, Audubon members will flock to Raleigh (and Mountain chapters will do so virtually) to meet with lawmakers and advocate for our three priority issues--wetlands, conservation trust funds, and heirs property. 

Registration has ended. Contact Engagement Director Ben Graham at ben.graham@audubon.org to see if late registration is an option in your area. 

For our Mountain chapters--Blue Ridge Audubon, Transylvania Bird Club, and Highlands Plateau Audubon--Advocacy Day will be virtual. Mountain chapter participants will receive an email the day before Advocacy Day with Zoom links for your lawmaker meetings as well as links to watch the 8:30 a.m. briefing. 

For all other chapters, here is the schedule for the day in Raleigh: 

Advocacy Day Schedule, May 22 

• 8-8:30 a.m. Coffee/socializing at the Explore on 4 Classroom on the 4th floor of the NEC building at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences (11 W Jones St, Raleigh), directly across the street from the legislative building. (Directions and parking info: https://naturalsciences.org/visit/directions-parking)
• ​8:30 a.m. Policy briefing/pep talk in the Explore on 4 Classroom on the 4th floor of the NEC building 
• 9:15 a.m. Leave for lawmaker meetings in the Legislative Building and Legislative Office Building 
• Noon-1:30: Boxed lunches will be available in the Explore on 4 Classroom (vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options). Folks who want to eat outdoors can carry their boxed lunch out to the mall in front of the museum. 
• 4 p.m. Celebratory drinks, location TBD.  

Tips and Dress Code 

We'll be advocating for three specific priority issues in our lawmaker meetings, but it's also important that you make a genuine connection with your lawmaker. You can tell a personal story about birds or connect on one of the things you have in common (maybe a book or photo in their office will reveal shared interest or hobbies, kids around the same age, etc). 

It's okay if you don't know the answer to a lawmaker's question. They don’t expect you to be experts. Just make a note of their question and let them know Audubon staff will follow up, then be sure you include it in your meeting notes summary. 

As for dress code, no need to wear a jacket and tie to these meetings; business casual is great. 

Wear comfortable shoes - you will likely be walking back and forth between the legislative office buildings and the NEC building. Expect LOTS of walking.