How To Contact Your Legislator

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How To Contact Your Legislator
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When calling your Legislator be sure to include

• Your name
• The district you live in/work
• Any affiliations
• The issue you are presenting
• How the issue affects you or the individuals you
  work with
• Your stand on the issue and its reasoning
• What you would like your legislator to do

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Continued

• Ask what the legislators position is
• Ask if you can leave your name and address
• Be sure to thank them for their time

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Meeting with your Legislator

• Begin by introducing yourself and tell them you
  are a constituent from their district
• State the issue you are addressing
• Use examples from your experience
• Before leaving make a request for action (to
  support or oppose the bill)

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Talking to your Legislator

• If they disagree with you, be sure to remain
  polite and thank them for listening.
• If they ask questions you cannot answer, be
  honest, tell them youll find out and get back to
  them

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Tips For Writing Effective Letters

• Short
• Specific
• Discuss only ONE bill or issue per letter
• Put your letter in your own words, avoid
  abbreviations jargon
• Tell why you are interested in the topic
• Tell how the issue affects you or your family
  personally
• Invite the legislator to respond to you, be sure
  to include name, address, phone number, and email
• Thank your legislator

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Mary Jones 123 Farm Way Eggland WV January XX,
2004
Honorable Woolworth B. Lamb Senator West Virginia
Senate State Capitol Building Charleston, WV
25305 Dear Senator Lamb I am one of your
constituents. I am a (4-Her, CEOS, Master
Gardener, Union Member). I am writing to you
because our country needs more WVU Extension
agents. WVU Extension is important to
because.. I hope you will be supportive of
higher education and WVU Extension in the
upcoming session by Thank you for your time
and attention. I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely, Mary Jones
SAMPLE
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ALWAYS

• Be one time
• Come prepared
• Keep in mind you know the topic, explain the
  issue as if you are talking to someone without
  any knowledge of the area.
• Be brief

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Follow up

• Leave a short written summary of your position.
• Write them a thank you and a summary of your
  position again.
• Continue to keep in contact with your legislator
  throughout the year.