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You Can Advocate without Going to Washington DC
Every U.S. Senator and Congressman has staff members in his or her respective home state whose function is to represent his or her position at designated locations within the Congressional District and/or State.
If you want to access speedier communication with your Congressman and Senators, get to know where these offices are located, and most importantly, get to know the local office staff members who are in charge of the office and constituent communication system. Usually the Congressmen/Senators have a designated administrative aide who is the lead person in the local office. In addition, secretarial staff and other staff persons are usually housed in each local office. The Congressman and Senators usually hold town meetings, conferences and might even have a local newsletter and possibly a local issues advocacy committee.
An effective way to advocate locally without going to Washington, DC, is to do the following activities:
- Get to know the local office staff members.
- Attend the local town hall meetings or other local conferences including coffees, teas and receptions. Visibility is the key reason for attendance.
- Call in your messages to local staff members especially when you want to provide speedy input on a specified issue or concern.
- Offer to serve on local committees and offer to be available to assist in providing information to the Congressman or Senator on a specific topic of interest or concern to you.
- Always follow up with a thank you note to the staff and/or Congressman/Senator when there has been action on your behalf.
- The local staff members will know when the Congressman or Senator will be in his/her home District and can schedule a local appointment time for you.
Remember that local LDA units and individual LDA members can be effective advocates by communicating regularly with local staff members, and by becoming known by the staff members and the Congressman and Senators. Use your local site for doing your advocacy work.
Learning Disabilities Association of America
4156 Library Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15234-1349
Phone (412) 341-1515 Fax (412) 344-0224
www.LDAAmerica.org
© 2004 LDA of America