PLAN A DISTRICT MEETING

Photo Credit: Florian Schulz

District meetings are a highly effective way to let your representative and senators know that their constituents are concerned about keeping Alaska wild. Many members of Congress come home each weekend and have time available to meet with constituents on Fridays and Mondays. In addition, Congress schedules recesses throughout the course of the year in February, April, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and for the month of August.

MAKING YOUR APPOINTMENT

Call your district office (you can find this information here or on the member’s webpage at www.house.gov or www.senate.gov) and ask for the appointment secretary or district scheduler to request a meeting when your member is home. The office may ask for a letter with a formal request or if you prefer to email your request, you can use the sample letter below.

The appointment secretary will want to know what your meeting is about. Limit your agenda to just one or two topics. Polite but firm persistence, pursued through regular contact with the district office, is essential. If you cannot get an appointment during the upcoming recess, express your disappointment – and immediately request a firm commitment for the next time your member is back home. In addition, ask if you can meet with a district staff person in the meantime so that your concerns can be passed along to the member.

PLANNING THE MEETING

• The group. Small, diverse groups are best. You may want to have at least one spokesperson represent several organizations to strengthen the impression that you represent a few constituents. Consider putting together a coalition with representatives from other local groups in the area. When possible, try to include members of other constituencies, for example, business, religious, sporting, or science communities.

• Plan your meeting. Before the meeting, get together and decide who will say what. Do not expect a lot of time with your senator/representative. Ask the staff in advance how much time you will have and be sure to cover your key points early. Ask your senator/representative for specific action. Try and find a local angle on national or regional issue. Make sure everyone in your group has an opportunity to speak. Remind everyone to begin by focusing on the specific action you'd like your senator/representative to take.

• Pre-meeting meeting . Hold a pre-meeting meeting. This helps everyone be on time and prepare for an effective discussion. Bring along fact sheets and reference materials to leave with your senator/representative. You should also leave a list with each group member's name, address, phone number and a summary of your agenda.

MEETING ETIQUETTE

Be on time, dress nicely, and be polite. Never insult members of Congress or discuss campaign donations/election. Introduce yourselves at the beginning of the meeting. Have your leader give a brief introduction. State your reasons for seeking the meeting. Do not overstay your welcome; cover your points thoroughly and early. If the official is enjoying the meeting and lets it run over, fine. Be prepared to complete your agenda in the time allotted. Be sure to make your “ask.”

FOLLOW UP

Follow up promptly with a thank-you letter and provide any information you promised during the meeting. Invite your member to speak at an upcoming meeting or get-together. The most important goal of a district meeting should be to build a relationship with your member of Congress and their staff. Relationships are the most important tool we have in advancing protection for Alaska’s public lands and waters.

Do not be discouraged if you do not see eye-to-eye with your representative on every issue; there's always another piece of legislation down the road that he or she may be helpful on. If you didn't get the answer you wanted, keep trying. Be persistent! Remember that these kinds of visits provide an opportunity to gather information as well as air your point of view, so share what you learn with other groups in your region and please email a brief summary (and a photo!) of the meeting to us at the League (lois@alaskawild.org).

SAMPLE MEETING REQUEST

To: Representative ___________________
From: ___________Your Name_____________
Regarding: Protection for Alaska’s wild public lands
Dear Representative _________________,
On behalf of myself and __________________, I am writing to request a short meeting with you to discuss public lands in Alaska. In addition, I work closely with other concerned organizations here in the ___________district. We would be grateful for any opportunity to meet with Representative _________ during the upcoming District Work Period.
We would like to discuss and share our passion for special places in Alaska such as the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Arctic Ocean. This is a very important topic and I look forward to discussing it with _____________ here in ____your state______.

Thank you very much for considering this request. I will follow-up with you to discuss a date and time for a meeting.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION