Program
Tuesday, June 3
Know Before You Go Session, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. ET
This pre-conference session will provide an overview of the event platform, program schedule, and the logistics of participating in group virtual Hill visits with members of Congress and/or their staff through the virtual lobbying platform. Registrants will receive a link for the preconference session via e-mail.
Monday, June 9
General Session, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm EDT
Hear directly from members of Congress; learn about NARFE’s advocacy priorities and how we’re advancing them; and gain insight from experts and congressional staffers regarding how to be an effective advocate. See below for descriptions of specific general session presentations. We will add more as they are confirmed and finalize (and post) the schedule of general session presentations in advance of the conference.
Break, 3:00 pm – 3:15 pm EDT
Breakout Sessions (Rotating Groups), 3:15 pm – 4:30 pm EDT
During the three breakout session time slots, you will split up into one of three region- and state-based groups and rotate between three different breakout sessions during the time slots. The breakout sessions, described more fully below, will prepare you for your virtual meetings on Wednesday, June 11, provide you with the roadmap and tools to continue your advocacy year-round, and inform you on how to utilize NARFE-PAC to build the relationships critical to advancing NARFE’s advocacy priorities. Each session will include a question-and-answer portion at the end.
Congressional Speakers
Hear the latest from those directly engaged in the decision-making on Capitol Hill and engage with them during a question-and-answer session. NARFE members will hear from the following members of Congress:
Break, 3:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. ET
Breakout Sessions (Rotating Groups), 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. ET
See description above.
Tuesday, June 10
General Session, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm EDT
See description above.
Break, 12:00 pm – 12:15 pm EDT
Breakout Sessions (Rotating Groups), 12:15 pm – 1:30 pm EDT
See description above.
Lunch Break, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm EDT
Breakout Sessions (Rotating Groups), 2:30 pm – 3:45 pm EDT
See description above.
Break, 3:45 pm – 4:00 pm EDT
General Session, 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm EDT
See description above.
Wednesday, June 11
Virtual Advocacy Day
Join fellow NARFE members from your congressional district and/or state to take NARFE’s message directly to members of Congress and/or their staff. Meetings will lawmakers and/or staff will be scheduled for you in advance and occur throughout the day using the Advocacy Day platform.
General Session Presentations
Advocacy Update
Speaker: John Hatton, NARFE Staff Vice President for Policy and Programs.
Learn what NARFE has accomplished through its – including YOUR – advocacy, and about our current advocacy priorities: what they are, where they stand, and what we’re doing – and what we’re hoping you will do – to advance them.
Congressional Staff Speaker Panel
Speakers: TBD congressional staffers
Looking for the inside scoop on how you can be most effective with those working on Capitol Hill? Join in as NARFE sits down with a panel of congressional staffers as they share their insights on the legislative process and working with advocates like you. Learn from the experts themselves as they go through their experiences working with lawmakers and explore ways to boost your advocacy in ways that Hill staffers think are most effective.
Members of Congress Officials
Speakers: TBD
Straight from the source: hear the latest from Capitol Hill directly from those engaged in the decision-making.
Advocacy Experts
Speakers: TBD
Hear from additional speakers sharing their expertise on grassroots advocacy and the legislative process on Capitol Hill.
Breakout Session Presentations
Maximize Your Impact: How to Engage in Effective Meetings
Speaker: John Hatton, NARFE’s Staff Vice President, Policy and Programs
Learn how to prepare for and conduct your virtual meetings with lawmakers and/or their staff. What are the dos and don’ts for these meetings? How do you tailor your approach with different lawmakers? What do you want to get out of these meetings, and how should you follow up after? Make the most of the limited time you have to advance NARFE’s advocacy priorities.
Grassroots; Marathon, Not A Sprint
Speaker: Nicole Blackstone, NARFE’s Manager of Grassroots and Policy
Just like every law starts as a bill, every influential advocate starts as a beginner looking for guidance. This session is dedicated to helping attendees, whether seasoned champions or lobbying novices, understand that grassroots advocacy takes time. The path from legislative proposal to the President’s desk is a journey that requires collaboration between stakeholders, as well as a robust campaign to educate lawmakers and the public. Therefore, NARFE’s advocacy is a long- term commitment that requires the continual spread of information and mobilization of supporters to ensure that our legislative priorities do not fall victim to inattention, attacks from the opposition, or the congressional revolving door.
In this session on long- term advocacy, we will discuss;
- How to view it
- How to plan for it
- How to prepare yourself and other members for participation, &
- How to commit to it
Leading NARFE-PAC in 2025 and Beyond
Speaker: RJ Thacker, NARFE’s Manager of Political and Legislative Affairs
NARFE-PAC is an integral to boosting NARFE’s top issues among lawmakers, but how exactly does it do so and how does it integrate with NARFE’s broader advocacy efforts? Learn how the work of NARFE-PAC — from individual NARFE members to lobbyist and leaders in Washington, DC — works to amplify NARFE’s message and provide additional opportunities to educate those in charge of federal pay and benefits. This session will go into how NARFE uses its political action committee in conjunction with grassroots advocacy and lobbying to make the most of member contributions to NARFE-PAC and how you can get involved in that effort.
Session Title: Advocacy in the Age of Trump
Speaker: Bradford Fitch
In President Donald Trump’s second term, it seems that everything related to government has been upended. This webinar will start an assessment of what’s different and what’s the same in the Age of Trump. Participants will learn what basic elements of advocacy they can employ to ensure their voices are heard, and what tools still work. The program will also cover basic advocacy techniques in state/federal capitals and back home.