CONTACT A LEGISLATOR PROGRAM
AND
ADVOCACY PROGRAM

With the election of 2004 over and the results counted, it is imperative that we let our elected officials know how we feel, not just in November but throughout the year. Join the Contact a Legislator Program to become an advocate and to work with us on educating our legislators.

Who?

Pick an elected official either on the federal, state or local level.

To find your Ohio Legislators visit www.legislature.state.oh.us

To find your Federal Members of Congress’ phone or fax number, call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your Senator and/or Representative’s office or visit http://thomas.loc.gov

Research your elected official.

Read the newspaper, visit the elected official’s web site, and check voting records developed by organizations.

A good research tool is http://thomas.loc.gov This site has information on federal legislation going back to the 93rd Congress and up to the present. It will allow you to research current status, sponsors, text, floor debate on any bill or resolution and download Congressional Record excerpts. Use links to Members’ homepages, hearing schedules, witness lists, testimony and current law, and links to any branch of the federal government, state and local governments.

For research on Ohio legislation call 614-466-8842/1-800-282-0253 or visit www.legislature.state.oh.us

Promise to:

Contact the person at least once a month either through email, snail mail, or phone.
Send the person a “thank you” for a good vote, send a newspaper article on your issue, share information about your life, and/or call to tell them how you feel on issues.

Visit the person at least once a year at their office.
Make an appointment for a formal visit or stop in when you are in the neighborhood. Remember that talking to an aide can be as important as talking to the legislator.

Connect:

Contact Ohio Women, Inc. to let us know who you have picked.
Copy Ohio Women, Inc. on responses from legislators that state her/his position on issues.

How to become an advocate?

Check out the information listed below.
Visit other organization’s web sites.
Attend lobby/advocacy days and workshops at the Ohio Statehouse or in DC.
Join Internet groups that send out regular “action alerts.”

Support us!

Ohio Women, Inc. is a 501(c)3 organization. To continue our work, we need your donations. Please join the Contact a Legislator Program and if you can send a donation to: Ohio Women, Inc., PO Box 8134, Columbus, OH 43201.

Finding your Legislators:

To find your Ohio Legislators and research current Ohio legislation go to www.legislature.state.oh.us

To find your Federal Member of Congress’ phone or fax number, call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your Senator and/or Representative’s office or go to web site http://thomas.loc.gov This site has information about legislation going back to the 93rd Congress and up to the present. Research current status, sponsors, text, floor debate on any bill or resolution. Download Congressional Record excerpts. Use links to Members’ homepages, hearing schedules, witness lists, testimony and current law. Links to any branch of the federal government, state and local governments.

Calling your Legislators:

When you call, ask to speak with the legislator or to the person’s aide who handles the issue about which you wish to comment.

After identifying yourself, tell the aide you would like to leave a message, such as “Please tell Senator/Representative (name) that I support/oppose an issue. If you know, give the bill number.

You may then state your reasons for your support or opposition to the bill, but don’t feel like you have to be an expert on the issue. Your voice is what matters.

Writing your Legislators:

A typed or handwritten letter is a very effective way of communicating with a congressional office. Here are some suggestions to make your letter as persuasive as possible:

Identify yourself and your purpose for writing in the first paragraph of the letter. If you are writing about a specific piece of legislation, identify it accordingly, e.g. House Bill # ____ Senate Bill # ____

Be brief. Keep your letter to one page and one issue.

Be polite and include key information, using examples and/or a personal connection to the issue if possible.

If you have access to a fax machine, faxing is still more effective and faster than snail mail.

The How-To’s of sending the letter

Ohio Senate
The Honorable (full name)
State House
Columbus, OH 43215

Dear Senator:

Ohio House of Representative
The Honorable (full name)
77 South High St.
Columbus, OH 43215

Dear Representative:

Federal Senators
The Honorable Mike DeWine or George V. Voinovich
37 West Broad Street, Room 300
Columbus, OH 43215

Dear Senator:

For more information on the Senate www.senate.gov

House of Representatives
The Honorable (full name)
House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative:

For more information on the House www.house.gov

Note:
Written letters often take at least 4 weeks to reach the Member of Congress. It is advisable to check their web site and mail to their District Office.

When writing to the Chair of a Committee or the Speaker of the House, it is appropriate to address them as: Dear Mr. Chairman or Madam Chairwoman; or Dear Mr. Speaker.

Emailing Legislators:

Apply the same guidelines as with writing letters to Legislators. To find your Ohio Legislators go to www.legislature.state.oh.us and for your federal legislators go to web site http://thomas.loc.gov

Contacting the President:

Apply the same guidelines as with contacting Legislators.

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Washington, DC 20500

Comment Line: 202-456-1111
Fax: 202-456-2461
Email: president@whitehouse.gov

Meeting with Elected Officials

Meeting with elected officials is an excellent way to let your representative know how you feel about issues and offers the satisfaction of getting immediate feedback.

Before the Meeting

Request a meeting in writing or on the phone with specific times and dates. After the meeting is set, be sure to call the scheduler or secretary to confirm the meeting is taking place.

Let the scheduler/secretary know what issue or bill you would like to discuss.

Get clear on your talking points so you’re sure to convey your most important ideas.

Decide on your wanted outcome, e.g. a vote for or against a bill; introducing legislation?

During the meeting

Be on time.

Be brief and make sure to use your talking points.

Thank the elected official for past votes you have supported.

Be personal where you can be.

If you’re waiting for a response, set a timeline for receiving it.

After the meeting

Thank the legislator in writing for taking the time to meet.

Follow-up with any promised materials or information.

Call when the determined timeline deems it appropriate. Call again if the timeline has not been met.

Writing a letter to the editor:

Letters to the Editor are a powerful way to reach both your fellow constituents and your elected officials. The more local the paper, the easier it is to get published. Some suggestions for writing an effective letter include:

1. Be brief and to the point. Follow the length limits of your newspaper.

2. Offer straight forward facts in a personal context. How does this issue impact you and your community?

3. Be sure to include your contact information (name, address, phone. email address) so the newspaper can verify your authorship.

4. Type your letter and sign it.

Special thanks for the above information to www.nationalpriorities.org