Contacting Your Representative

Part 1 - Phone, Email, and Letter

1. Remember that the seriousness with which your communication is taken depends in part on the amount of time and effort it took:
   
   • Personal letters are most effective. (A faxed letter is as good as mailed.)
   • Phone calls are next, and may be needed when action is urgent.
   • Emails follow phone. (They're easy to send - and equally easy to delete.)
   • Petitions and form letters bring up the rear.
   
   Your personal letter can make a difference.
2. Use a standard business format for your letter - it looks serious and is easy to read.
3. Address the letter correctly - it shows that you know what you're doing.
   

   The Honorable _________ N.C. House of Representatives (or N.C. Senate)
   Dear Senator ______: (or Dear Representative _____: )
   Raleigh, NC 27601

4. Be brief - just one page. Say what you're writing about and what you want your elected official to do.
5. Talk about just one subject. Don't dilute the letter by hitting multiple issues.
6. If you're talking about a bill that has been introduced, include its bill number (H something or S something, depending on whether it's a House or Senate bill), its short title, and its principal sponsor(s).
7. Ask for a specific action (support, oppose, co-sponsor).
8. Give your reasons - one or a few brief, logical arguments.
9. Stress the local - explain how the bill is relevant to the area your legislator represents.
10. Make it personal. Use your own stationery, and point out any relevant experience you have with this issue or subject.
11. Type or handwrite, so long as it's legible.
12. Follow up! Watch what they do, and thank them if they do the right thing. If not, ask them to reconsider next time. (Never threaten - it only annoys them. If they're so bad that you need to work for their opponent next election, just go ahead and do that.)

Part 2 - The Personal Visit

1. Prepare in advance.
1. Make yourself notes about the issue or problem that concerns you, the bill number and title that deals with it (if there is one), and what you want done.
2. Know the name and district of the legislator you're visiting, who s/he represents (counties, cities), where they live and what they do for a living, and the committees they're on that have any connection to your issue.
3. Know whether this legislator represents you, and if not, what your connection is with him/her.
2. Treat this like a business meeting.
1. Make an appointment - either in Raleigh on a legislative day, or back home in their district on a Monday or weekend.
2. Dress nicely.
3. Arrive on time or a little early.
4. Be friendly and businesslike - start by introducing yourself and your connection to this legislator (your representative if that's the case).
3. Keep it short, straightforward, and courteous.
1. Say who you're there to represent, if you're there for more than yourself. If you're there for a group, note if it has a chapter or members in that legislator's home district.
2. Briefly explain what you're there to discuss - limit it to one issue. Include in this brief explanation why you personally are interested in this issue.
3. Ask directly for what you want - support or opposition for a bill, a funding item, an amendment, or whatever.
4. Provide a short written summary of your issue and how to get more information (with phone numbers, etc.).
4. Give the legislator a chance and time to respond.
1. Listen - s/he will appreciate it, and it will give you important insight.
2. Try to respond to any questions, but don't make up information when you're uncertain. Tell them you'll try to find out and will get back to them (and do!).
3. Be cool and courteous, even if you disagree. Hostility won't help, and even if they're against you here, they may be approachable on other issues later.
4. Thank them for their time (and any positive commitments) when you leave.
5. Follow up.
1. Take notes on what was said.
2. Send a thanks note for the meeting time. Make appreciative note of any positive commitments by the legislator.
3. Be sure to get back to them with any promised information, or at least a report that you tried but it wasn't available (if that is true).
4. Let the group(s) or campaign you're working with know what you learned.

Information Sources & Web Links

NC State Government

• To call your legislator: (919) 733-4111
• To write your legislator:
  

  The Honorable ______________
  NC General Assembly
  16 West Jones St.
  Raleigh, NC 27603

• To get a copy of a bill: (919) 733-5648, http://www.ncleg.net/html2001/BillInfo/BillSearch/billnumber.html
• To find out where a bill stands (Bill status information desk): (919) 733-7779
• If You're Going: The Legislative Building is open Monday-Friday from 8:00-5:00, or whenever the General Assembly is meeting. Daily calendars are available each morning at the front desk in the Legislative Building, and on the web. The schedule for the legislature varies, but committees generally meet in the mornings and late afternoon. The full House and Senate generally go into session after lunch. Sessions can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.
• NC General Assembly: http://www.ncleg.net
• Department of Environment & Natural Resources: http://www.enr.state.nc.us
• Governor's Website: http://www.governor.state.nc.us/
• Who represents me: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/html2001/Representation/WhoRepresentsMe/index.html
• NC@YourService: http://www.ncgov.com
• NC Agency Listing: http://www.ncgov.com/ncagency/agencylink_main.asp

Federal Government

• US House of Representatives: www.house.gov
• US Senate: www.senate.gov

Conservation Council of North Carolina

• http://www.conservationcouncilnc.org
• http://www.ccnccpac.org