This paper urges colleges to take an active role in the political decision-making process and uses the lobbying efforts of Miami-Dade Community College (MDCC) as an example. The paper first notes the inability of the Florida community colleges to foster a concise public image, the concomitant lack of attention paid by the state legislature to the colleges, and problems that will be faced by the colleges in the 1980s as a result of decreased public support and increased competition from industry and four-year educational institutions. After noting the creation in 1980 of the State Community College Coordinating Board, which, among other tasks, was charged with establishing a legislative program, the paper presents a case study describing MDCC's lobbying efforts during the 1981 Florida legislative session. Reasons for becoming involved in lobbying are first discussed in the case study, followed by an outline of ten tasks undertaken by MDCC's College-Wide Legislative Committee. These tasks include learning legislative processes, compiling a calendar of legislative events, planning workshops, regularly contacting legislators and their aides, conducting a letter-writing campaign, and publishing a biweekly legislative bulletin. Finally, the paper outlines beneficial outcomes of these efforts and enumerates recommendations for improvement. Appendices include summaries of the Florida state legislative process, pointers for effective legislative testimony, and MDCC's 1981 legislative report. (JP)