Advocacy Tool Kit
Making a Difference: What You Can Do!
- Identify yourself as a constituent
- Have a concrete request up front
- Be polite and say thank you for consideration of your request
- FOLLOW UP!
Calls
- Prepare talking points/notes in advance
- Identify yourself as a constituent and explain briefly why you are calling
- Have a concrete “ask”
- Be polite and brief
- FOLLOW UP!
Request a Meeting
- Meetings can be requested by emailing or calling a representatives local or district office.
When meeting with a Member or staff
- Identify yourself as a constituent
- Express thanks and appreciation
- Share a brief personal story
- Have a concrete “ask”
- Be polite and respectful
- Be a good listener
- Exchange contact info
- Try to get a commitment
- Bring informative materials to leave behind
- FOLLOW UP!
Attend a town hall meeting
- Town Hall Meetings are held in a variety of locations (check your member’s website), and they often lead to good connections, including with local media.
- Invite someone to go with you
- Ask a question!
- Thank the representative if he/she has taken the action(s) you recently requested
or
- Reiterate your requests and express concern if he/she has not yet been responsive
- FOLLOW UP!
Following Up
- After a phone conversation, email response, in person meeting, or town hall it is always appropriate to send a follow up communication (email preferred) thanking the congressperson or staff member for taking time to consider your concerns and requests.
- Reiterate your request and provide brief information about your organization.
- Identify and express thanks to any staff person who met with you.
- Be polite and respectful even if member or staff person could not commit to any of your requests.
Recipe for a successful relationship
- Remember: staff are the gatekeepers and decision-makers, spend time getting to know them
- Invest time into developing and sustaining it
- Keep communication lines open
- Be a good listener and be helpful (send articles of interest, but not too frequently)
- Be polite, persistent, but not a pest
- Say thank you and appreciate their time and attention
- Offer yourself as a resource (e.g., occasionally send an article or item of interest)
- Always ask how you can be of assistance and follow-through (be reliable!)