A
personal meeting with your Member of
Congress can be very useful. Members and
staff meet with constituents every day.
Visiting a Member provides a personal
touch, an opportunity for questions, and
immediate feedback. Consider inviting
the Member to your volunteer sites, your
office or special function. Some
guidelines for an effective meeting are:
Schedule
your meeting at least three to four
weeks in advance by calling the Member's
appointment scheduler. The U.S. Capitol
switchboard number is 202-224-3121. Or
call your Member’s home district
office.
In
making your appointment, state who will
be attending and the purpose of the
visit. Be prepared to offer alternative
dates. For Project Directors: Consider
meeting the Member in his or her local
office, where there are fewer
distractions and a more relaxed
atmosphere.
Many
of the guidelines
for Writing
to a Member of Congress are
applicable to appointments. Prepare your
presentation as follows:
Be
informed about relevant legislation.
Provide a brief, non-technical
explanation of the issue, avoiding
jargon and abbreviations.
Choose
a spokesperson (preferably a
constituent) and a common strategy
if coming in a group. Members'
offices can be small, so limit the
size of your group.
Bring
a visual aid if appropriate. A few
well-selected items may be useful,
but resist the temptation to leave a
stack of material. Suggestions: a
newspaper article about your
program(s), a small recognition
item, one of your cards with a
small-size candy bar attached.
Plan
on about a 15-minute appointment.
Arrive early and depart on time,
thanking the Member for his or her
consideration. Leave your business
card and brochure for your program.
Anticipate
schedule changes, since committee or
floor votes may detain a Member. A
staff assistant will then handle the
appointment. These dedicated
assistants are often the most
knowledgeable about legislation and
can be very influential.
Follow
up the appointment with a thank you
letter briefly reiterating the
purpose of your visit. Invite the
Member to call on you for
assistance.
Created
by the National Senior Corps Association
(NSCA) Legislative Committee, 2008. NSCA
advocates for Foster Grandparent, RSVP
and Senior Companion programs
nationwide. For more information about
NSCA or to become a member, visit our
website: www.nscatogether.org
