Connecticut Water Trails Association
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Connecticut Water Trails Association |
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Connecticut Water Trails Program
Connecticut Water Bar
Communicating Your Message
Patience
and persistence are the primary characteristics of good legislative
advocates.
Building relationships
and credibility are key and can be accomplished with time and effort by
following these dos and don'ts:
Do:
Do your homework -- know your district, the issues and your legislators.
Develop rapport over time. You do not need to be
chummy with a legislator, but you do need to be respected.
Don't:
Don't be rude, offensive or
argumentative. A good guideline to follow is "Will the legislator invite
me back or avoid me in the future?"
Don't
give an ultimatum. Learn to accept rejection without having it destroy a
relationship; this week's enemy is often next week's ally.
Don't
ever resort to name calling. If you use strong negative labels for those
who oppose your proposals, you may alienate them forever.
Don't
expect to change a legislator's mind immediately.
Don't
get frustrated. We can't expect victory overnight. We often have a
difficult task and have to learn to rejoice in small victories.
Don't
take a shotgun approach. Focus on your board's priorities for the
district, rather than trying to accomplish everything at once.
Don't
forget that legislators are faced with hundreds of bills and
thousands of constituents, but only a few are also elected officials with
policy-making responsibilities. You are both accountable to many of the
same constituents.
Building relationships
and credibility with your legislator can be difficult if you don't
communicate effectively what it is you want. This section provides a
number of tips on phoning, writing and visiting with your legislators and
their staff.
Phone calls may be best when time is of the
essence, when a bill is up for a vote in committee, for example. Phone
calls can also be used immediately following a favorable vote to extend
your appreciation.
Ask to speak with the legislator, but if
necessary, spend some time talking with the education staff person. You
can also call the Legislative Access Number and leave a message for the
legislator to return your call.
Clearly identify yourself as a board member and
identify your district.
If you have spoken to or seen the legislator
recently, remind him or her of the contact. Legislators meet with many
constituents and may not remember precisely when they saw or heard from
them last. This can help to break the ice and lead into your reason for
calling.
Identify the specific proposal you are calling
about, by bill number if possible. Call about only one issue at a time.
Briefly state your position and how you'd like
your legislator to vote.
Ask your legislator's view on the issue or bill.
If necessary, offer to provide information the
legislator needs to make an informed decision on the issue.
If the legislator is unsure of his or her
position or vote, offer to follow up the phone call with another call or
visit.
A phone call is a good way to let your legislator know
how you or your organization feels about a particular issue. Congressional
offices pay close attention to these calls as a measure of voters'
sentiment. An outpouring of calls can sometimes change the vote of a
legislator, but even a small number of calls can make a difference.
Each member of Congress has a professional staff
in Washington, DC. Some are assigned to the legislator's personal staff;
others, to a committee or subcommittee. Staff members schedule
appointments, track legislation, and make recommendations concerning
legislative issues. Because of the busy schedules legislators keep, it is
important to develop and maintain a good working relationship with staff
members responsible for health or related issues. When you call the
Washington office, ask to speak with the staff person responsible for the
legislation you are calling about. Don't be upset or take it personally if
that staffer is not available. The average Legislative Assistant handles
six or seven major subject areas and is under constant deadlines to help
the member with speeches, hearings, etc. By asking for the "health
Legislative Assistant," your comments that constituents are concerned
about an issue will get to the right person.
When you call, ask if your Senator or
Representative could send you a written response. This will help ensure
that your call gets counted. The volume of calls often makes it hard to
get through - you may get a busy signal, get a taped message, or be asked
to leave a voice message on a machine. Remember congressional staffs are
surprisingly small, so don't give up! Please keep trying, or try a
district office number in the Member's State. They will pass on the
messages and are often less harried.
Where to call:
Most Senators and Representatives maintain one or more offices in the
state or congressional district they represent. You can find the phone
number for that office in the U.S. government section of your telephone
directory or by calling information.
If you wish to call the Washington, D.C. office,
you can reach your Senator or Representative through the Capitol
switchboard. Simply dial (202) 224-3121 and ask for your Representative's
or Senator's office.
Communicating Your Message - By Letter / Email/ Fax
Putting your thoughts in writing is important
when you are introducing a complicated topic. It will allow your
legislator time to mull over the issue before responding, and will help
you to organize your thoughts so that you can explain them more clearly
when you meet.
Put your mailing address and phone number on all
correspondence so that the legislator can easily contact you with
questions or for more information.
Do not use postcards.
Keep your letters to one issue, short and to the
point. Refer to the issue specifically or by bill number, if possible.
Clearly state what it is you want them to do.
Support a bill on the floor? Oppose a bill in committee? Draft a bill or
an amendment?
Offer specific information on why it is
important. What is the bottom line on this issue for your district?
Timing is critical. If the letter arrives too
early, it may be forgotten before the vote. One or two days before the
vote is taken is generally the best.
Ask that the legislator state his or her
position in the reply.
Legislators
appreciate thank you notes, as they often use them for materials for
newsletters or other materials being mailed to constituents.
How To Write Letters To Congress
The Do’s And Don’ts Of Legislative Letter Writing
Communicating Your Message - By Personal Visit
Visits are important on key issues when your
legislators' votes really count. It is more difficult to say no in person
than over the phone, or in a letter! They also serve to keep you in mind
as a source of information if your legislators can put a specific issue
together with your name and face.
Call their office or drop them a note before
your visit. Let them know specifically what you wish to speak to them
about, and offer them two or three alternative times you are available.
Address legislators as "Representative" or
"Senator".
Legislators are often between votes and your
time with them is limited. Get to the point or you may miss your
opportunity.
Be prepared when you arrive. Do your homework in
advance so you can speak clearly and concisely on the issue.
Have something in writing to leave behind with
the legislator, preferably a one-page fact sheet on your issue and
position.
Always thank legislators for their time and
express interest in keeping in touch, even if they disagree with your
position this time
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