Find your group's message and decide what your focus will be.


Develop A Core Message
Decide on a primary focus for your group. For example, if you are trying to stop spraying at your local schools, children’s health should be a the center of your message. Different areas to focus on include:

• Human health effects of pesticides
• Children and their unique vulnerability during critical periods of development
• Effects on the elderly or chronically ill
• Environmental effects like drift and runoff into bodies of water, persistence of chemicals, harm from synthetic fertilizers
• Harm to wildlife, i.e. pollinators

Focusing on the health of children is very effective, as it is natural to want to protect the young. If the community is older and established, focus on dementia and Alzheimers, and cancer that has also been linked to pesticide exposure.


Keep It Simple
Try to keep your message clear and concise. Use examples your audience can relate to. Using analogies can be helpful, also visual aids like photos, charts, and graphs can help reinforce your message and make it memorable.


Adapt The Message
You will want to tailor your message to fit your audience. Know who you will be talking to and research them if possible. Think about the values they may hold and what is relevant to them. Example issues to target:

• Uniquely vulnerable populations, like children, elderly, and pets
• Economic impacts of pesticides, like lower IQ, cancer, and diseases linked to EDC’s
• Fiscal benefits, like the long-term savings of a natural systems approach to turf
• Success stories of places that have made the switch to ‘non-toxic’
• Appeal to tourists, families, and homebuyers who value clean air and water

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