Title: NH-How to talk to your Legislator

Original CoS Document (slug): nh-how-to-talk-to-your-legislator

Created: 2023-01-17 21:52:26

Updated: 2023-01-17 21:54:46

Published: 2023-01-17 00:00:00

Converted: 2025-03-29T16:04:07.557118039

CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR TO SET UP A MEETING

To find your Legislator’s contact information go here.

Try calling first. If you can’t get through, follow up with an email. Ask for a meeting face to face.

“Hi Rep ___, I am your constituent and I wanted to set up a time to meet you face to face. Are you available any time on Wed/Monday/(whatever works for you)? Can we meet at Hannafords/Market Basket/coffee shop/library (whatever works for you - a public place)? I am only looking for 5 minutes of your time. I want to introduce myself properly to you face to face, as I appreciate that you are my representative.

WHEN YOU MEET

“Thank you, Rep ___ , for meeting with me today. My name is ___ and I thank you for representing me. I wanted you to know my support of piece of legislation coming up. I support Convention of States and wanted to share with you why… I also took the liberty to create a packet [or piece of literature] for you, to make sure had had a little bit of information about what Convention of States is all about.“ To learn more about resources you can hand to your Legislators, click here.

“What I love about what I shared with you is that it points out to you what misinformation is out there and what history has taught us, enlightening the facts. I even put in court cases so that you can see how legitimate using Article V has been proven to be.”

“Do you know anything about COS? “ (Just listen.)

If they have a concern, answer it if you know, or point out one sheet in the packet that explains it. “Thank you for sharing that with me. Here is what I found when I researched… “(point to a sheet you brought or speak to the objection/concern if you know how to respond.)

If you don't know or can't think of it at the time, “I am so glad you shared that with me. I am going to do a little more research and then I will email you what I find, is that ok?”

“I hope that you enjoy this packet [handout] that I created for you. I have included the State Communications Coordinator's contact information for you as well, since she supports all Legislators and petitions signers. She can answer any questions that you have.”

[If you do not have the State Communication Coordinator's business card, you can write on the document or packet you create Carol.petrusewicz@cosaction.com. You can also share the State Directors's contact information, Al.brandano@cosasction.com.]

“Thank you again for meeting me, and being willing to be my Representative.”

Just leave. Only take the 5 minutes to talk, so the Representative can see you are a person of your word and respects their time.

FOLLOW UP

Email or hand-written note- “I just wanted to thank you for making the time to meet me face to face. I appreciate that you are making the time to represent me. Thank you for your service.”

This is especially helpful to build the relationship.

Even after NH passes the COS Resolution and becomes one of the 34 states needed to call the interstate proposing convention, we all should still meet with our Legislators. We can discuss another topic that will help NH specifically.