When you write or call your lawmakers, remember they are people with families and lives like you. They want to know how your problem will affect you, your family, your neighbourhood, your business, and the rest of the world.
That's why talking to your lawmakers and their staff is important. Follow these tips to help your communication go easily and get the desired results by email, phone or in person. When talking to lawmakers, it's always best to keep things short. Legislators have a lot on their plates, so they don't have time to listen to long messages that go on and on. If you must leave a voice mail, quickly get to the point. At the beginning of the message, give your name and phone number. If you are a constituent, say who you are and what area you live in. It will let the person who gets your mail know they should pay extra attention to it. In the main part of your letter, explain why the issue bothers you and what you think should be done to fix it. Using personal stories and examples can help people understand the problems better. If you don't talk to legislators promptly, your word might not be heard. Email, fax, and phone calls are just some ways voters can reach their representatives. Being clear and direct is the most important part of any conversation. Ensure to include important information, like the name of the bill or problem you're discussing and how it affects your business or community. Even if your elected officials don't change their minds about a bill because of a well-written letter or email, they are likelier to listen to what you say and address your worries. Writing a truly effective message will pay off in the long run because it will affect your legislator's choices, which will help you and your community. Whether it's a phone call, an email, or a letter, how you say something is just as important as what you say. When you talk to your lawmakers, the most important thing is to be kind and polite. If you must leave a phone mail, be brief. Legislators have much on their plates and won't have time to hear long messages. Use "Dear Senator" or "Dear Representative" as a greeting. Use "The Honorable Joe Smith" or "Dear Rep. Smith" to address a member of the U.S. House. Think about your own words when writing a letter or email. Many groups can give you a letter that is already written, and all you have to do is sign it. However, many lawmakers think a thoughtful, original letter from a voter is worth 1000 of the pre-written letters. Keep your letters short and only discuss one thing or bill at a time. Make your point clear and back it up with a few facts. Most of the time, talking to your area legislators face-to-face is the best way to get your point across. Be on time, and make sure to get the most out of the meeting by being clear about what you want to talk about and writing down which topics you want to dig deeper into later. Make sure to talk about the important parts of any bill or policy you talk about, and give your legislator any fact sheets, letters, or statements that will help them understand your point of view. Remember that they only have so much time, so be short and clear. Generally, don't talk about more than two or three things. It's also a good idea to use words like "maybe" and "could be" to be polite. Most importantly, you tell them exactly what you and your district want them to do. When you talk to your lawmakers, it's important to be ready. They have a lot on their plates, and you want your meeting to go well. Reading their biography, recent news releases, and NFIB voting record is a good way to prepare. It also helps to know what bills they will likely be working on soon and how your problem affects them and their district. You might even want to bring a copy of CMF's Blue, Gray, and Green Report, which has background information on your problem so that they can better understand what you're talking about. Your letter shouldn't just be a list of facts and figures. Instead, it should be a clear statement of your stance. Legislators don't always know much about the issues they have to vote on, so they like letters that are well thought out and give clear reasons why you support or oppose an issue.
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