1. Sample personal conversation between an elected official and
his or her constituent regarding a health and/or human service
issue.
Note
: This conversation will most likely take place with the elected
official and his or her staff person specializing in your issue,
since you will have made the appointment before the meeting.
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Official:
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Good afternoon. I am Senator Smith. How may I
help you? |
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Visitor:
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Good afternoon, Senator. I am Dr.
__________________ from ______________ county with the Texas
Medical Association . As you know, our office is in your
district. We have admired your work over the years and
appreciate your leadership on behalf of health and human
service programs. |
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Official:
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Thank you. I appreciate your kind comments.
How may I help you? |
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Visitor:
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We are here today to speak with you (and your
staff person, _____________) about ________________. We
recently conducted a needs assessment in our community and
found that ______________. This bill (or funding matter) will
be of significant help in addressing this problem. We have
prepared this one page fact sheet on this issue, and I will
attach my business card for your reference. If we can provide
you with further information on this issue, please feel free
to contact me. |
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Official:
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This is a very informative fact sheet. It
provides me with some understandable figures about the issue
that I can quote on the Senate floor during the Senate's
consideration of this matter. It also gives me some brief
anecdotes about families in my district that are affected by
this issue. Thank you for providing me with this information.
I will have my staff person contact you when there is a
public hearing on the bill, so that you can testify. Is there
anything further I can do for you? |
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Visitor:
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No, you have been extremely helpful, and we
are most appreciative of your concern and support. Thank you
again for meeting with us today. |
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Official:
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You are welcome. Good-bye. |
Note
: Obviously, the details of the conversation will vary considerably
from issue to issue. Also, if the matter is a funding item in the
appropriations bill, you will be advised to proceed one way. If the
matter is a statutory issue, then it will be dealt with in
legislation, and you will proceed in yet another way. Know your
legislative process, and how you want that legislator to help you
(vote in committee, etc.) before you go see him or her, so you can
specifically say how you need their help.
2. Sample telephone conversation between an elected
official and his or her constituent regarding a health and/or human
service issue
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Office:
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Good afternoon, Senator (Representative,
Congressman/woman) Smith's office. |
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Caller:
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Hello. My name is __________________, and I
am calling on behalf of the Texas Medical Association.
Senator Smith will be voting soon on House Bill _____
relating to ___________. May I speak with the staff person
who deals with that issue for the Senator, if the Senator is
not available? |
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Office:
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Certainly, one moment please. This is Jane
Doe. May I help you? |
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Caller:
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Yes, my name is
__________________, and I am calling on behalf of the Texas
Medical Association. Senator Smith will be voting soon on
House Bill _____ relating to ___________. We would simply
like for the Senator to know that we strongly support this
legislation and would like her support on it. |
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Office:
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Thank you for calling. I will be
happy to share your views with the Senator. |
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Caller:
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If you, or the Senator, would like additional
information of how this bill will affect the medical
community and our patients, I will be happy to provide
it. |
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Office:
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Thank you. How can the Senator reach
you? |
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Caller:
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You can reach me at ________________, PO Box
_______, city, state, zip or by phone at
_________________. |
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Office:
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I will give the Senator your message. Thank
you for calling. |
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Caller:
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Thank you. Good-bye. |
Note
: Be prepared when you call to give some facts about how the bill
will affect your community, service, program, etc. Hopefully, you
have already sent this information in advance, and are simply
calling to remind them of the information and to vote in favor of
this bill. If the vote is to be taken some time in the future,
follow up on your call with a letter confirming the
conversation.
Last Updated On
May 12, 2016
Originally Published On
March 23, 2010