The IRA Advocacy Manual is designed for
council leaders and others interested in
helping to shape U.S. and
local education
policy. This document is full of
specific,
useful information on communicating
effectively with Members of Congress
and
their staffs. Please note: this is
document
is 45 pages and may take
a moment to
download.
Personal, thoughtful communication can have a significant influence
on your
elected representatives. The most effective emails or
letters
focus
on
one issue.
Explain
the local impact of legislation related to
that issue,
advocate
that the
elected
official
take a particular stance, and be courteous
in tone.
Ask for
a reply,
and make
sure
you
include your return address
when writing a letter. Each
member has a form on
their website for
sending an email.
Click on the “contact”
tab to email your member.
These days, emails are preferable.
Find your representative by clicking here.
Find your sentaor's website here.
Face-to-face
discussion can
be very
powerful.
You can also encourage colleagues, family, neighbors, and friends to write letters,
and, if appropriate in your particular context, have your students express their
ideas in their own letters.
A letter to the editor of your local newspaper is another way to communicate
your well-considered views to the wider community.