Take Action Week
Setting Up Your Appointment
Here are a few guidelines to help you establish contact and schedule an appointment with the staff of the U.S. Senators and member of the House of Representatives from your home district and/or your university's district. Please remember that this is not a high-pressure meeting, but just a chance to introduce yourself and your work to the people who represent you in Congress (or their staff), and to offer yourself as a resource in the future.
Now is the time to set up these district appointments. They should be scheduled at least a couple of weeks before Take Action Week (September 26-30)!
• To find the contact information and bios of your senators and representatives, go to the following websites: www.house.gov and www.senate.gov and use your zip code to find the individual member’s website. (You can also research legislation on these sites or use www.lob.thomas.gov.)
• Perhaps you live and work in different districts; you may want to visit both representatives or choose the representative who has a special interest in your area of expertise.
• Congress will have a district work period during Take Action Week, meaning that Congressmen and their staff will be available in the district office to hear from you.
• It is unlikely that you will meet with the actual Member of Congress. Do not be discouraged by this. The legislative assistant to the member is a valuable conduit to the Member of Congress. You might end up meeting with the legislative assistant, the legislative director, community outreach staffer, or an intern.
• When you call to make the appointment, state your full name and title, and ask to speak with the legislative assistant who handles health care or aging issues. If s/he is not available (often the case), then ask if you may leave a voicemail or e-mail message for her/him.
• Between your busy schedule and theirs, it may take several attempts before you actual talk with (by phone or by email) to the appropriate staffer or the scheduler. Don’t give up! You are a constituent; you have the right to visit your legislator.
• When you reach the legislative assistant or her/his voicemail, again state your full name, your title and where you are doing your research. Explain the purpose of Take Action Week. State that you would like to meet with the person covering aging or health issues. If the staffer has time, give a quick explanation of your research.
• Schedule your meetings for the week of September 26th. However, if this week is booked or does not work for your schedule, you may select another date.
• Ask for a 30 minute meeting, but accept 15 minutes. Be sure to get the full name of the staffer with whom you will be meeting and the office location.
• After you have received a time for the meeting, compose a brief e-mail to the staffer with whom you will be meeting to confirm your appointment time and thank her/him in advance for taking the time to meet with you. Be sure to include your contact information.
