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Advocacy Tool
Kit
To positively impact the lives of Pennsylvania's children, citizens
must communicate continuously and consistently with their elected
officials. Communication can consist of phone calls, letters, e-mails,
or personal visits.
Tips for phone calls:
- Call state legislators in their Capitol or district offices.
When the legislature is in session (find out at www.legis.state.pa.us),
state House and Senate members are usually in their Harrisburg
offices Mondays through Wednesdays and in their district offices
Thursdays and Fridays.
- Identify yourself. Tell the person answering the phone who
you are, whom you represent, and your reason for calling.
- Ask to speak with your lawmaker directly. If he or she is
not available, ask for a staff person with direct responsibility
for your area of interest. A receptionist can share your legislators'
schedule and meeting availability.
- Leave a message with the receptionist or aide, voicing your
support or opposition to the House or Senate bill or policy
issue in question.
- Be concise. State your reason for supporting or opposing the
bill. Ask the lawmaker's position.
- Don't burn bridges. Be polite even if the lawmaker does not
agree with you. You may need them again in the future.
- Follow up your phone call with a thank you note, briefly restating
your conversation.
Personal Visits:
- Plan your visit carefully. Know what you want to say and how
you are going to say it.
- Make an appointment.
- Be on time, but be patient if necessary. Remember, many people
are waiting for the same opportunity to discuss their issues
with lawmakers.
- Bring a reference sheet with quick bullet points about your
issue that you can leave with the lawmaker.
- Find out the lawmaker's position on the issue and the reason
for his or her position.
- Always be polite, even if the lawmaker does not share your
position on the issue. You may need him again in the future.
- Follow up your meeting with a thank you note.
Writing Letters, Sending E-mails:
Of all communications, e-mails, form letters, and petition signing
are the least effective. They give an illusion of being disconnected
to the issue. However, individually signed personal letters are
viewed favorably.
- When writing letters, state your purpose in the first paragraph.
If you are writing about a particular bill, identify it in the
first paragraph.
- Explain the importance of your position.
- Identify yourself and your organizational affiliation.
- Keep the letter simple and concise. Address only one issue
per letter. Keep your letter short, with only a few sentences
in each paragraph and appropriate spacing between paragraphs.
- Whenever possible, personalize your story.
Addressing Correspondence and Greetings:
To a State Representative:
The Honorable (Representative's full name)
House P.O. Box (insert P.O. Box number)
Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Dear Representative,
To a State Senator:
The Honorable (Senator's full name)
Senate P.O. Box (insert P.O. Box number)
Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Dear Senator,
To the Governor:
The Honorable Edward G. Rendell
225 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Dear Governor,
Congress
Honorable (full name)
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congressman:
U.S. Senate:
Honorable (Full name)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator:
This Page Last Modified
October 2, 2007
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Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children
116 Pine Street, Suite 430
Harrisburg, PA 17101
717-236-5680 / 800-257-2030
Fax: 717-236-7745
Contact PPC/Questions
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