Eli: Created page with "== Lobbying Legislators == '''Start with an introduction:''' The "Art of Introduction" is choosing which facts about yourself you choose to share to an elected official, either..."

2012-02-03T18:52:13Z

Created page with "== Lobbying Legislators == '''Start with an introduction:''' The "Art of Introduction" is choosing which facts about yourself you choose to share to an elected official, either..."

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== Lobbying Legislators ==

'''Start with an introduction:'''

The "Art of Introduction" is choosing which facts about yourself you choose to share to an elected official, either in person or on paper.  Making a personal connection to a legislator increases the legitimacy of an issue for the elected official. Your introduction should include:

*Your name and some identifying characteristic, such as the type of work you do
*The name of the bill you are lobbying in support of
*Your connection to your state/district (where you live/work/vote/go to school)
*Your relationship to community, or why civil rights laws like this bill matter to you
*Why this issue is important to you and why the legislators should support it.

Here are some other facts about yourself you may want to include in your introduction.  ''<u>Don’t try to use your answers to all of the suggested questions</u>'', but use the questions as a guide to think about what facts you could use to strengthen your introduction.

*How many years have you lived your legislator’s district?  Did you grow up there?
*Did you attend the public school system there?
*Did you originally move there to attend college and now plan to stay?
*What do you love about the district?
*What is your current or past occupation(s)?
*Do you belong to a union or a professional association?
*What are your community connections?
*What organizations do you belong to or lead?  (Neighborhood Associations, Parent-Teacher Associations, Steering committees, Boards, Churches/Synagogues, GLBT, etc…)
*Do you have children?
*What school do they attend?

Explain why you support this legislation, and why your legislator should.  A few things to keep in mind:

*Why does this issue matter to you? 
*Who do you know that is has affected?  (family member, partner, friend, co-worker, teacher, etc)
*Why should YOUR legislators care? <br/>(You work/live/vote, you are writing about something personal or emotional that might affect their constituency, etc.)
*What are the most important things you need to get across? 

'''The big finish:'''

Thank the legislator for their attention to this matter and request a response about where they stand on the bill.  For instance: '''''I would like to know if you will support…'''''

Citizens Resolution (Task Force)/How to Lobby - Revision history

Eli: Created page with "== Lobbying Legislators == '''Start with an introduction:''' The "Art of Introduction" is choosing which facts about yourself you choose to share to an elected official, either..."