How to Meet Your Member of Congress in 4 Easy Steps
Your members of Congress (MoC) are supposed to be your voice in Washington -- shouldn't they talk to you first? IPac thinks so, and that's why we have released this simple walkthrough for setting up a meeting with your Representative and Senators.

1. Identify Your MoC
You'll first need to identify which senator or representative to contact. Click here to look up your MoC.

2. Schedule a Meeting
Once you know the phone number of the office you plan to visit, give them a call to discover how they handle meeting requests from constituents. Many MoCs have "schedulers" or "scheduling secretaries," and the office will be able to tell you who to contact. Most MoCs require written requests for meetings, which should then be faxed and/or emailed. This letter should include:

• Names of constituents attending, with their addresses
• Issue or bill number you are interested in - the "purpose" of your visit
• Time and date requested, with alternate times and dates
• Number of attendees - fewer than five is best

A sample letter is available here.

After faxing your request, wait a few days and then follow up with a phone call. MoCs get a *lot* of faxes, so don't feel bad about making sure that they received yours. If you can't get ahold of the scheduler (or whomever is handling your request), leave a message with the relevant details about the requested meeting and when you sent the fax. This followup is crucial.

It's important to note that this process should be started one month before your meeting. Also, you should be aware that you may end up meeting with a staffer -- not the MoC. That is okay. MoCs are very busy, and they delegate issues to their specialized staff.

3. Hold Your Meeting
Here are some general tips for meeting your MoC:

1. Be prepared for a shorter meeting than you planned. Legislators and their aides are busy, and they purposely schedule meetings where they arrive late and leave early.
2. Provide the names and affiliations of all attendees in advance in a confirmation letter or email.
3. Pump yourself up! Get excited.
4. Arrive early. Dress appropriately. Show respect.
5. Don't be intimidated. These are public servants, and you represent the public.
6. Speak so all can hear and at a clipped rate. Sit and stand erect. Use gestures, facial expressions and eye contact. Have fun!
7. Begin by introducing everyone in the room. Introduce yourself even if you've met them before - they meet a lot of people.
8. Feel free to engage in small talk, but remember that you have a finite amount of time, so don't get carried away.
9. Start off on a positive note. Find some previous action of theirs that you support, or thank them for a supporting vote in the past.
10. State the reason you are there and what you want. What do they want? What will your opponents be saying? Why are they wrong? We are advocates. We are expected to be advocates. Advocate!
11. Unless you've had previous dealings with this office, expect that they know nothing about the topic and about our stance. Point out examples of how the problem affects real people.
12. Try to limit it to three points. Don't try to articulate technical data. Leave behind information that can fill them in.
13. Keep the discussion focused.
14. Mention other organizations, important individuals, government officials and legislators who support our position.
15. Stick to what you know. If they ask you a question and you don't know the answer, that's ok! Offer to get back to them with the answer.
16. Listen. Don't interrupt. Ask clarifying questions. Be polite. Remember, you are there to provide them with information and also to ask for their assistance.
17. Ask them if they have questions.
18. If the lawmaker is not on our side, ask why. It is appropriate to ask what it would take for them to change their mind. Make a note of their concerns and/or reservations so you can respond to them in a follow up communication, if necessary.
19. Offer to gather additional information. (Delivering the material may give you the opportunity to speak with the lawmaker again.)
20. Set future dates, times, and locations of any follow up.
21. End the conversation on a positive note. Thank them for their time. Ask that you be included in future discussions on this topic.
22. One member of the group should be assigned to send a thank you note. If possible, everyone should send one.

4. Spread the Word!
When you're finished, be sure to tell your friends and family about the experience. Showing others that Congress is accessible helps demistify the political process and encourages people to get involved. We also love hearing about these visits, so feel free to send us an email with a description of your experience.