How to Advocate For Grange Policy

You can adocate for grange policy

You can adocate for Grange policy. Here is a way that you can move to the next step in our promoting Grange Advocacy.

When issues are pending in the U.S. Congress, government agencies, and in California. We will notify you based on the issues that you registered with us. We’ll let you know when bills are heading for a vote and we need your involvement to get it passed or defeated as per our policy.  If a bill is in danger of being ignored, we’ll contact you to help get things moving alone.  Whichever the case, your help will ensure that our lawmakers take appropriate action on our legislated issues.

Here is how can Advocate for Grange Policy. First you will need to download the current Policy Handbook. Take some time and become familar with the various policies. Use a highlighter to identify areas you have an interest in. Watch for emails from the State Grange Legislative Director and contact your lawmakers asking for support of the Grange policy.

 

How to Adocate Policy:


LETTERS OR EMAIL

 

When writing letters, here are some tips.

a)  Address your lawmakers by “the Honorable” followed by his/her name, and begin the letter “Dear Senator,” or “Dear Representative”

b)  Be brief, specific and courteous. Keep your letter or email to one page, one subject and state the purpose in the opening paragraph, particularly the action you would like to see taken (please cosponsor HR 241; please vote against SB 99). If your letter pertains to a specific bill, identify it accordingly. Always be courteous.

c)  Ask for a reply. Always close your communication by asking for a written response stating the lawmaker’s position on the issue.

d)  Email tips: when emailing, be sure to include your address so your lawmaker knows you are a constituent.

  1. Find House members click here.
  2. Find Senators members click here.
  3. Find California Senate members click here.
  4. Find California Assembly members click here.

If you receive an  alert—which contains a ready-to-go email message, try to customize the first sentence or two. It makes the email message a little more personal and can make a big difference in how it is received. 

In today’s world of the internet and digital communication, a hand written or typed letter is a really unique  and will attract extra attention in most offices because they now that you went to a special effort t communicate with them.


PHONE CALLS

Phone calls are a great way to communicate your concerns to lawmakers. You will probably speak with an aide or intern rather than the lawmaker, but your call is still very important.

a)  Identify yourself as a constituent. Being a constituent gives you power, so always be sure to identify yourself as a constituent.

b)  Be brief and clear.  Always limit your call to one subject. Be brief and specific.  State why you are calling, give a bill number if possible, and the action you would like the lawmaker to take on the issue.

Sometimes the person taking your call can tell you how the Member plans to vote on an issue. If you get intelligence like that, reporting it back is extremely helpful. For organized call-in days, there is usually a brief “I called” report you can submit.


PERSONAL VISITS

By far the most effective way to articulate your views to your elected official and positively affect the outcome of legislation is to speak with your lawmaker face-to-face.

  1. Attend a lawmaker’s town meeting: Your local newspaper may list where and when your lawmaker is hosting a town meeting, or subscribe to your lawmaker’s newsletter (you can sign up on their web site). Be prepared to ask a simple and concise question, and attend!
  2. Schedule an appointment with the lawmaker’s office. Most meetings do not exceed 10 minutes, and you do not need to be an expert on an issue or a professional lobbyist to make it a successful meeting. Just bring your passion and your story. Remember it’s just about communicating and educating someone on the things you care about, and keep focused on why you are there

To schedule an appointment, call your lawmaker’s office, ask for the “scheduler” and set up a meeting. Always identify yourself as a constituent. Oftentimes, the legislator cannot meet you but her/his staff can; meetings with staff are just as important. Staff in congressional offices are very busy. If you leave a voice mail for the scheduler and s/he does not return your call, try again in about two days. Polite persistence pays off.

When meeting with a lawmaker or staffer, always come prepared with a specific request for action—an “ask”—for the lawmaker to take. After clearly stating your position, ask for the lawmaker’s position on the issue or legislation. Politely press for a commitment. If the legislator is not able to state her/his position at the time of the meeting, ask when you should follow up (usually within a week of the visit) and how (by phone or email) to inquire about any action taken. Be sure to discuss how the legislation will directly affect you. Personal stories carry weight. If possible, demonstrate widespread support by mentioning others in the community—organizations, officials, etc.—who agree with your position.

Always be polite, positive, and professional. Start off your meeting by thanking the lawmaker or staffer for meeting with you and for any past helpful support. Close the meeting with a “thank you” as well, regardless of whether or not the lawmaker will do what you want her/him to do. Do not refer to any lawmakers by their last names only—it should always be Senator xxx or Congresswoman xxxx. It’s a good idea to bring written material—an information packet—to give to the lawmaker or staffer.

Follow-up your visit with a personal letter thanking the lawmaker or staffer for their time. This is another opportunity to make your point. If the congressional office made a commitment, remind them of this in your letter.

 

MONITOR THE ISSUEs

Keep conservation issues alive in your local newspapers, TV and radio stations and magazines. The media play a powerful role in our advocacy efforts as they help shape public opinion on policies, such as protecting endangered species, restoring the Delta, or supporting sustainable agriculture.  You can also further your advocacy efforts by calling in to local talk shows or writing letters to the editor. Not only will you raise an important issue in your community, you’ll also grab the attention of elected officials, who pay close attention to opinions voiced in newspapers, radio and TV in their district or state.

 

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters to the Editor provide you with an opportunity to comment on articles, editorials and advertisements appearing in local newspapers. Letters to the Editor are widely read by lawmakers and community leaders to gauge public sentiment about current issues in the news. 

  1. Know the rules. Check the paper’s guidelines for writing letters, which should be clearly stated, on the editorial page of your newspaper or their online site. Be sure to include your name, address, and telephone number, as papers do not print anonymous letters, and generally will call to verify authorship.
  2. Be specific and to the point Many papers won’t publish letters longer than 200 or 250 words and even shorter is better. Be sure to state the purpose of your letter in the first paragraph.
  3. Keep it current: Write your letters on debates, issues or legislation happening right now. Respond promptly to recently printed stories or editorials. Write in support of or against pending legislation at the local, state or federal level. By covering current issues, your letter stands a better chance of getting printed.

To learn move about LEAP, click on the links below.