Communicating with your elected officials

Whether you are writing or typing a letter, emailing or faxing your member of Congress or state legislator, keep the following suggestions in mind to make your communication an effective tool in influencing HIV policy in Washington and Saint Paul!

DOs

• Your purpose for writing should be at the beginning of the letter.
• Be courteous.
• Get to the point quickly.
• Be sure to include key information, using examples to illustrate your point.
• Do not address more than one issue in a letter or email.
• Keep your letter to one page, or your email to just a few, brief paragraphs.
• Explain why this issue is important to you, personally, as a constituent.
• Put your thoughts in your own words.
• Try to establish a relationship.

DON'Ts

• Don't be "wowed," they are YOUR public official.
• Don't ever be threatening.
• Don't purport to communicate as a spokesperson for a group. [Always communicate as a constituent]
• Don't use terms you don't usually use.

 

Last Updated: Tuesday, December 1, 2009
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