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Title: Communications with Your Legislators Guide

Original CoS Document (slug): [[https://conventionofstates.com/communications-with-legislators|communications-with-legislators]]

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Created: 2022-12-17 03:55:15

Updated: 2024-11-23 23:32:19

Published: 2022-12-27 05:00:00

Converted: 2025-04-14T20:30:29.299288741


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===== Communications with Your Legislators Guide =====

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Many of our legislators are barely, if at all, familiar with Article V and with the COS project. As individual citizens, we can have a great effect on changing that, if enough COS supporters will regularly communicate with their local state representatives and senators. Of great value is a continuous and consistent ﬂow of communication. Legislators get lots of communication on many issues. We need to stand out and communicate in volume to get their attention. It is estimated that one personal letter has the same impact on legislators as 100 phone calls.\\
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Our goal is that a large army of Hawai'i COS volunteers and petition signers like yourself will commit to sending a communication approximately once per month to your state legislators. Having this occur in all 51 house and 25 senate districts will have a cumulative impact of raising awareness and providing education and insight.\\
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A commitment on your part to create and deliver these communications monthly will prove invaluable. Combined with other awareness-increasing activities (including visits by individuals or groups to legislator offices at the Capitol), the impact can be huge.\\
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There are four ways to contact your legislator (listed by effectiveness):\\


1. Face to Face

| |* This can be at their office, during a Neighborhood Board meeting, or a community event, etc.\\ * Try to meet at their office. If you try to get an appointment during legislative session you will most likely not see the legislator.\\ * Dress business casual – no bumper sticker tee-shirt. You want to show respect for the office and establish credibility. (even if you don’t like your legislator).\\ * Come armed with facts, leave emotion out of it. You are not there to win them over, but to offer facts and ask questions. Example – ask them on a scale of 1-10, 10 being most supportive, where would they fall? If they are a 2, ask what would move them to a 4, or visa-versa if they are a 4 what would cause them to move to a 2. This make them think about their answer.\\ * You don’t have to be a constitutional scholar, just understand Article V and the process and be able to answer the most common objections.\\ * Your message from the 1st meeting should be that you are building a relationship. Your goal and mind set are to remember sales rules. People are more likely to agree/buy from someone they know, like and trust.\\ * Remember that you can never make a second “first” impression. So, respect their time, show up on time, stand face to face, look them in the eye, give them a firm handshake and thank them for their time. Let them know that you have and want to discuss the solution to the nation’s problems.\\ \\ Resources\\ \\ [[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u0DumiIADxQ83YAenUkZ7Pn01vfoqD4o/view?usp=sharing|Legislator Contact Checklist: A Grassroots Guide]]\\ \\ [[https://conventionofstates.com/resources|Convention of States Resource Center]]|

2. Handwritten Letter or Postcard

| |* It is estimated that one personal letter/postcard has the same impact on legislators as 100 phone calls.\\ * Most constituents don’t do this, so doing it sets you apart!\\ * While a handwritten letter/postcard is not as effective as face to face, it does show that you are serious about your support for COS.\\ * If a legislator gives you more than 15 minutes of their time, you owe them a written thank you note.\\ \\ Resources\\ \\ [[https://conventionofstates.com/letter-postcard-writing-guide|COSHI Letter/Postcard Writing Guide]]|

 3. Phone Call

| |* You will probably talk to a staff member. Get the staffer’s name and address them by name, provide your info/subject, tell the staffer you are a constituent and would like this info passed to the legislator.\\ * Have a few bullet points ready - That you support Convention of States (COS); You are seeking your legislator’s support; and Why you are a supporter of COS?\\ * Your tone and voice should be firm, concise, and confident (practice).\\ * If the staffer says they have never heard of COS, you have an open door to ask for an appointment with the legislator for a one-on-one.\\ * Make a log of your phone calls – date, who and result and record on COSAction app or LMS. (COSAction app is the easiest)\\ * Calling once is not enough. The staffer and legislator need to get to know you. Multiple contacts are needed to build the relationship.\\ * If you don’t speak to live person, always leave a voice message.|

4. Email

| |* Email is the least effective way to build a relationship with your legislator.\\ * They are very seldom answered personally, but mostly thru from letters and automated responses based on your subject.\\ * However, if you’ve already built your relationship sometimes you may get a personal response.\\ * Emails are best used as a follow up to short meetings/conversations 15 minutes or less, short phone conversations, to confirm receipt of handwritten letters, postcards, or phone messages; or for general information (holiday messages, birthdays, etc).|

Any meeting, phone contact, or conversation with a legislator is an opportunity to build a relationship. Always be respectful and kind. Treat them the way you would like to be treated. Never do or say something in a way that is offensive or emotional. This will turn them off immediately to your message.\\
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This process takes tenacity and perseverance.**NEVER GIVE UP!** You never know, the next time might be the breakthrough moment.\\
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Remember, you will not get a second chance to make a first impression!\\
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Links\\
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[[https://conventionofstates.com/hawaii-action|Convention of States Hawai’i Homepage]]\\
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[[https://www.conventionofstates.com|Convention of States Homepage]]\\
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[[https://www.usdebtclock.org/index.html|National Debt Clock]]