Connecting With Your Legislators. 10 Ways to Contact Your Legislators 1.Send a letter (via fax...
-
Upload
sophie-williamson -
Category
Documents
-
view
217 -
download
0
Transcript of Connecting With Your Legislators. 10 Ways to Contact Your Legislators 1.Send a letter (via fax...
![Page 1: Connecting With Your Legislators. 10 Ways to Contact Your Legislators 1.Send a letter (via fax preferably) 2.Send an email 3.Call on the phone 4.Meet.](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062422/56649e835503460f94b84bb7/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Connecting With YourLegislators
![Page 2: Connecting With Your Legislators. 10 Ways to Contact Your Legislators 1.Send a letter (via fax preferably) 2.Send an email 3.Call on the phone 4.Meet.](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062422/56649e835503460f94b84bb7/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
10 Ways to ContactYour Legislators
1. Send a letter (via fax preferably)
2. Send an email
3. Call on the phone
4. Meet in Washington
5. Meet in their Congressional District Office
![Page 3: Connecting With Your Legislators. 10 Ways to Contact Your Legislators 1.Send a letter (via fax preferably) 2.Send an email 3.Call on the phone 4.Meet.](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062422/56649e835503460f94b84bb7/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
6. Participate in local meetings
7. Participate in virtual forums
8. Make a speaking invitation
9. Respond to a survey
10.Get to know staff
![Page 4: Connecting With Your Legislators. 10 Ways to Contact Your Legislators 1.Send a letter (via fax preferably) 2.Send an email 3.Call on the phone 4.Meet.](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062422/56649e835503460f94b84bb7/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
How To Be Heard
![Page 5: Connecting With Your Legislators. 10 Ways to Contact Your Legislators 1.Send a letter (via fax preferably) 2.Send an email 3.Call on the phone 4.Meet.](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062422/56649e835503460f94b84bb7/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Making Your Case Effectively
• Be factual
• Be clear and concise
• Be personal
• Be inclusive
![Page 6: Connecting With Your Legislators. 10 Ways to Contact Your Legislators 1.Send a letter (via fax preferably) 2.Send an email 3.Call on the phone 4.Meet.](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062422/56649e835503460f94b84bb7/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
• Be constructive
• Be informed about Congress
• Be a listener
• Be courteous
• Be aware of rules
![Page 7: Connecting With Your Legislators. 10 Ways to Contact Your Legislators 1.Send a letter (via fax preferably) 2.Send an email 3.Call on the phone 4.Meet.](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062422/56649e835503460f94b84bb7/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
• Be open to compromise
• Be patient
• Be persistent
• Enjoy yourself
![Page 8: Connecting With Your Legislators. 10 Ways to Contact Your Legislators 1.Send a letter (via fax preferably) 2.Send an email 3.Call on the phone 4.Meet.](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062422/56649e835503460f94b84bb7/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Some Basic Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
• Schedule your appointment well in advance
• Be punctual for your meeting
• Dress appropriately for the occasion
• Prepare adequate materials, handouts and a brief leave behind
![Page 9: Connecting With Your Legislators. 10 Ways to Contact Your Legislators 1.Send a letter (via fax preferably) 2.Send an email 3.Call on the phone 4.Meet.](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062422/56649e835503460f94b84bb7/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Do:
• Stay focused on your issue
• Provide relevant, specific examples from the legislator’s home district
• Follow up after your meeting to answer any questions or unresolved issues
![Page 10: Connecting With Your Legislators. 10 Ways to Contact Your Legislators 1.Send a letter (via fax preferably) 2.Send an email 3.Call on the phone 4.Meet.](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062422/56649e835503460f94b84bb7/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Don’t:
• Show up 15 minutes late
• Wear out your welcome
• Talk about your recent doctor’s appointment
• Wear your work boots
![Page 11: Connecting With Your Legislators. 10 Ways to Contact Your Legislators 1.Send a letter (via fax preferably) 2.Send an email 3.Call on the phone 4.Meet.](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062422/56649e835503460f94b84bb7/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Don’t:
• Bring everyone you know to the meeting
• Get upset if you only get to meet with staff
• Mix personal and professional agendas
![Page 12: Connecting With Your Legislators. 10 Ways to Contact Your Legislators 1.Send a letter (via fax preferably) 2.Send an email 3.Call on the phone 4.Meet.](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062422/56649e835503460f94b84bb7/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Consider Hostinga Conservation Tour
• Plan tours during Congressional recess periods
• Send a written letter of invitation to lawmakers and staff, offering multiple dates
• Confirm the visit
![Page 13: Connecting With Your Legislators. 10 Ways to Contact Your Legislators 1.Send a letter (via fax preferably) 2.Send an email 3.Call on the phone 4.Meet.](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062422/56649e835503460f94b84bb7/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
• Engage your local, state, and national conservation association representatives
• Invite local news media
• Invite local government officials
• Consult the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) Legislative Affairs staff for guidance on current federal issues. (202) 547-6223
![Page 14: Connecting With Your Legislators. 10 Ways to Contact Your Legislators 1.Send a letter (via fax preferably) 2.Send an email 3.Call on the phone 4.Meet.](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062422/56649e835503460f94b84bb7/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
• Develop an agenda and a briefing on the issues
• Prepare handouts for the legislator and staff
• Take pictures of the legislator and staff throughout the tour.
• Send a note of thanks
![Page 15: Connecting With Your Legislators. 10 Ways to Contact Your Legislators 1.Send a letter (via fax preferably) 2.Send an email 3.Call on the phone 4.Meet.](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062422/56649e835503460f94b84bb7/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Ideas for Effective Tours
• Visit local producers who have utilized the services of the conservation district
• Conduct a boat tour• Showcase demonstration projects• Coordinate walking tours highlighting
• Neighborhood conservation practices• Sustainable forestry practices
![Page 16: Connecting With Your Legislators. 10 Ways to Contact Your Legislators 1.Send a letter (via fax preferably) 2.Send an email 3.Call on the phone 4.Meet.](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062422/56649e835503460f94b84bb7/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Develop Relationships with Legislative Candidates
• Invitation to your conservation district’s board meeting.
• Invitation to your annual banquet
• Invitation to a conservation tour in their congressional district.
![Page 17: Connecting With Your Legislators. 10 Ways to Contact Your Legislators 1.Send a letter (via fax preferably) 2.Send an email 3.Call on the phone 4.Meet.](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062422/56649e835503460f94b84bb7/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Minnesota’s Civic Engagement Training
![Page 18: Connecting With Your Legislators. 10 Ways to Contact Your Legislators 1.Send a letter (via fax preferably) 2.Send an email 3.Call on the phone 4.Meet.](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062422/56649e835503460f94b84bb7/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Democracy is a work in progress.
Will you sit on the sidelines or will you engage in our representative democracy?
![Page 19: Connecting With Your Legislators. 10 Ways to Contact Your Legislators 1.Send a letter (via fax preferably) 2.Send an email 3.Call on the phone 4.Meet.](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062422/56649e835503460f94b84bb7/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Sources:Center on Congress at Indiana Universitywww.centeroncongress.org
National Association of Conservation Districts “The Resource,” Summer 2009, http://www.nacdnet.org/news/publications/resource/Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
University of Minnesota Extension