|
DO:
·
Get in
contact!
·
The most
effective means of contact are, in this order: personal office visit; letter
mail; fax; telephone call; email. But any of those choices are better than
not making contact at all.
·
Let
government official know when you agree with them, not just when you
disagree.
·
Be brief
and to the point; discuss only one issue, and include a bill or ordinance
reference if possible
·
Clearly express
your opinions or ideas
·
Use your
own words to express your opinion—they are more effective than form letters
·
Include
your address and signature
·
Be
courteous and reasonable
·
Make
contact early, before a bill or other action has been introduced, or if you
have ideas about an issue you would like to see incorporated in legislation
·
Contact
the chair and members of a committee holding hearings on legislation in
which you are interested
·
While
you have more influence with the representative from your own district, you
are not precluded from contacting representatives from other districts
·
Contact
each government official individually; it’s courteous and more effective
DON’T
·
Apologize
for contacting them—your opinion is not an imposition, and your
representative is elected in part to hear your views
·
Begin on
the righteous note of “as a citizen and taxpayer”
·
Be vague
·
Be rude
or threatening
|
