How
to Communicate Effectively with My Legislator
Who Are My Legislators?
For the
easiest way to find out exactly who your legislators are, and for direct
links to their contact information, go to
http://www.senate.state.mo.us/zipcode/leg_lookup.htm.
How to Communicate Effectively with My Legislator
by Lorinda Daniel Moore
Once upon a time I worked on Capitol Hill and had the regular
opportunity to meet and talk with individuals representing special
interests, as well as regular citizens in Washington, D.C. for the day or
week, who wanted to send a message to their Senator. Some did better than
others, but all were a pleasure to meet.
When meeting with constituents, even professionals
representing organizations, I often left the meeting having enjoyed a
discussion but with no clear sense of what they wanted, when, where, or
how. Not that I could have always delivered, but my job was to report back
to the Senator and take action if so warranted. So, what does verbal
communication with Congress, the State legislature, or other component of
government look like when at its best and most effective?
Most importantly, set your agenda as an organization or
individual and stick to it. It is critical that the message is consistent
and clear. When meeting with a staffer or calling the office, have three to
five, or even one, key point(s) to get across. If you go forward with a
laundry list, you’ll seem unfocused, and, ultimately, it will be difficult
if not impossible for the staffer to determine why you just spoke and what
the goal of the conversation was.
And, all pleasantries aside, don’t let yourself get
sidetracked just because you find out the staffer is from your hometown or
went to your school. That’s nice, but you only get so much time to convey
your message, and you don’t want to spend all that time reminiscing.
Staffers typically allow about twenty to thirty minutes in their schedule
for an in-person discussion with a constituent. You’ll get ten minutes, most
likely, if it’s a phone conversation. If it’s a meet and greet with your
political representative, you’ll be lucky to get that before the official is
politely interrupted and excuses him/herself. If a staffer comes in to
complete the discussion, don’t be insulted. This individual likely has
responsibility for being responsive to your issue and your opinion or
position does count with them.
With each and every point
you have, make sure you have supporting documentation or information that
justifies your position. Follow-up questions related to your position will
be asked, and your key points will be much more effective if you drive them
home with statistics or even personal experience. Be sure you know how the
political official’s position relates to your agenda, and, with the
questions asked of you, always try to bring your message and key points back
into the answer you provide. Repetition is effective.
When you’ve addressed your key points, restate what you’re
ultimately asking, whether it’s an amendment to a law, a vote against or in
favor of a bill, or a veto. Make it concise and strong. And, be
professional, polite, and courteous. Personalized, unpleasant reactions to
likely well-intended statements made by a staffer will not give you an “in.”
Finally, whenever possible, leave written documentation of
your position behind with the staffer. Keep the main document to one page,
with bulleted points, key messages in bold, with your contact information
included. This will help ensure that the staffer is clear on your message
and will also ensure that, if your meeting is cut short, your message
remains and follow-up is possible.
Constituent opinions and organizational positions do matter,
particularly when communicated well and clearly. No matter how you choose
to get involved, it’s important that your message and position is clear.
And, of course, many voices often do work better than a few, but don’t let
that stop you as an individual. We’re all individuals until our voices
collect, and voices in this country are meant to be heard. However, none of
us can complain about any law or any political action if we, as individuals,
have not taken action ourselves.
Here are some websites to help you get involved:
-
www.visi.com/juan/congress/
: Contact information for the 108th Congress, including email,
phone numbers, and mailing addresses.
-
www.moga.state.mo.us:
A searchable database for the Missouri legislature, including pages for
members of the legislature, contact list, committees, and text of statutes
and laws.
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