HOW TO ... GET YOUR MESSAGE ACROSS

Did you know that the average congressional meeting lasts only about 7.5 minutes? Did you know that Congress receives over 400 million emails a year? Use these steps to get your message heard!

1. Prepare: Clearly define the issue in terms that will resonate with the decision-maker. Remember that you are an expert in your field while congressional staff and legislators tend to be generalists.So, steer clear of jargons and acronyms. Also, couch your arguments in support of your legislator's priorities.Is s/he interested in global competitiveness? Economic development? Veteran transition? Show how YOUR program supports these efforts.
2. Present: Whether in person, by phone, or in a written communication - the goal is to help your legislator make the connections between policy ideas and the impact on constituents. In today's climate of accountability, the key to getting a decision-maker's attention (and subsequent action) is to focus on the output - not simply the inputs. For example, staffers may not be interested in how many job fairs that you hold. What will get their attention is how many employers participated and whether your clients subsequently became employed. In addition to compelling quantitative statistics, you also can include information on the human side of your program (e.g., after completing a non-traditional training program, Jane Doe has been successfully employed as an electrician earning a family sustaining wage. She no longer receives public assistance and is purchasing her first home). Be as specific as possible.
3. Personalize: Volume does not equal effectiveness. Congressional offices are wary of form letters. A few well developed messages from constituents typically have more impact than a thousand form letters. They want to hear your story. If you personalize it, especially if you can link it to something the legislators already knows, it is more likely to receive the attention it deserves.
4. Prioritize: Don't let your issue get lost. Keep your focus on the specific issue that you want to communicate. If you ask for too many things, the congressional office won't know which one is the most important to you.
5. Persevere: Usually, you will have to ask multiple times before your legislator takes action because they are juggling multiple "important" issues. Keep your issue in the forefront by consistently following up. Keep the relationship fresh by varying your approach. If you have sent a written communication and have not received a response, follow up with a phone call to make sure they received your request. If you have had a meeting, follow up when you return to your office with additional resource materials. Check in on the status of the issue every month. It takes time to cultivate and solidify relationships with policymakers. Be honest. Be consistent. Be polite. And, be persistent. It works!