The Source - Fall 2008 - (Page 13)

10 ways to build relationships with your representatives in Congress I 1. 2. 3. 4. s your voice being heard on Capitol Hill? Now is the time to turn up the volume. With a presidential election er and climate change legislation under way, getting the support of officials in e the Legislature has never been more Photo credit: © rafter/www.dreamstime.com important. Here are a few ideas that you can use today to network with lawmakers and help put a face on our industry. Plan local visits. When Congressmen and Senators are not in Washington, they typically meet with many constituent nt groups in their local offices. Call their local staff al and schedule a “get acquainted” or “industry update” meeting. Arrange a tour. Ask legislators and their staff to visit your facilities and meet and talk with your employees. Invite the media as well; be sure to have photographs taken, and try to have a story run in your local paper. Interact with district staff. Lawmakers like to show that they are engaged in their district, even while they are working in Washington. Inviting a staff member from the representative’s district office to listen and report back to the member in Washington can be an effective way to build a positive relationship with the office. Find other opportunities to meet and maintain contacts. Host or attend a “town hall meeting” or “citizen roundtable,” where citizens from local districts get face time with legislators. At events like this, be sure to talk with the representative and mention your company. Send a follow-up letter to them after any personal discussion and always thank them for their efforts. Draft a positive letter. Three or more times each year, send your representative a short, personal letter commending them for some position they have taken, even if it does not relate specifically to your business. Elected officials need officials to know that you are paying attention to what they are doing and that you care. 5. 6. 7. Be a good corporate citizen. Sponsor and support charitable and public service causes in your own community. Be visible and active in such efforts. Team up with other industry members. Arrange to have an annual briefing or meeting with the legislator and a group of senior industry executives in your state if they have similar interests. It’s important for the member of Congress to see that your industry has a large presence in their district. Attend your association’s Washington legislative conference. Participate in the periodic Washington Legislative Conferences sponsored by your national trade association, such as the American Public Gas Association (APGA) annual legislative conference held each May. Schedule meetings with your Representatives in Congress during that time. Let legislators see that the industry is organized and working together and that their local constituent companies care enough to lobby on issues. 8. THE SOURCE | FALL 2008 , VOL. 1, ISSUE 1 13 

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Source - Fall 2008

The Source - Fall 2008 Contents First Person APGA Awards APGA Events Overview Up Next in THE SOURCE Grassroots Connections Climate Change Legislation Market Transparency: An Insider's View Legislative Outlook The Pipeline Marketing Matters Advertisers' Index At Last

The Source - Fall 2008

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