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04/21/2016

Legislative Advocacy 101: Phones Calls, Testimonies and More

What else can be done for advocacy?

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In this Legislative 101 series, we take a look at other opportunities and options in getting your elected officials to notice and accept your cause.

Since the first Legislative 101 article, we have looked at contact via social media, email and letters and in-person meetings. This week, we’re offering  some general tips, as well as advice for making phone calls and giving testimonies.

So without further delay, let’s get to it!

Contacting by Phone

Elected officials are incredibly busy. Sometimes, the best way to reach your elected official is a brief phone call. If you need to call, be sure to consider the following:

Providing Testimony

While a bill is being considered, there are times that the public will have the opportunity to give thoughts on the issue. If you ever wind up giving a testimony at a public hearing, remember the following tips:

PREPARE

PERSONALIZE

PUNCTUATE

PUT PEN TO PAPER

For example:

Ohio Widget Museum
1234 Main St., Widgetville, OH  55555
   (xxx) xxx-xxxx

Testimony by Joe Travel, Ohio Widget Museum Executive Director, IN SUPPORT OF (insert bill number), before the House Economic Development & Workforce Committee
Jan 20, 2016

 

PRESENT

Maintaining your relationship with your elected official

One of the best things you can do is to keep in touch with your elected official. It's about developing a relationship of trust and respect. Elected officials are often only contacted when a constituent wants something. If your elected official feels that you genuinely like them and are willing to work with them, they may be more open to what you have to say. Here’s how to keep in touch (while helping your cause):    

The Legislative Advocacy 101 Series was written by OTA intern Sean Mekinda. I hope that it has been useful to you and will help you better communicate with elected officials!

For more from our Legislative Advocacy 101 series, visit the following:

 Legislative 101

 

 

 

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