How to get your message across in 5 minutes or less
So you want to speak up about policies that impact endocrinology, endocrinologists, and/or your patients — now what?
The Endocrine Society’s Government and Public Affairs (GPA) Department will keep you up-to-date on relevant policy measures pending in the U.S. Congress, government agencies, and in the European Union. We’ll let you know when bills are heading for a vote, or are in danger of being ignored. And we’ll ask you to help ensure lawmakers take appropriate action on Endocrine Society priority legislation by doing three simple things:
You — as a constituent — are your lawmakers’ boss. They want to hear from you. Use that influence; you don’t have to be an expert or a professional lobbyist. It won’t take up much of your valuable time, and you will have an important impact on our efforts to support endocrinology. For more information, please email us at [email protected].
Lawmakers often calculate that each letter they receive from one of their constituents represents a similar view of at least 100 constituents. That’s why letters to lawmakers are so important.
Here are a few more tips to refer to when drafting your letters:
You may ask yourself, “Wouldn’t a hand-written letter be more effective?” While it is true that with today’s digital communication options, a hand written or typed letter is a real novelty and will attract extra attention in most Congressional offices, it is important to understand that Congress scans all postal mail for suspicious substances. That can delay the arrival of your letter by several weeks or even months.
Phone calls are a great way to communicate your concerns to lawmakers. You will probably speak with an aide or intern rather than the lawmaker, but your call is still very important. You can be connected to any congressional office by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
Sometimes the person taking your call can tell you how the member plans to vote on an issue. If you get intelligence like that, reporting it back is extremely helpful. You can always tell us how your call went at [email protected].
By far the most effective way to articulate your views to your elected official and positively affect the outcome of legislation is to speak with your lawmaker face-to-face.
To schedule an appointment, call your lawmaker’s office, ask for the “scheduler” and set up a meeting. Always identify yourself as a constituent. Oftentimes, the legislator cannot meet you but her/his staff can; meetings with staff are just as important. Staff in congressional offices are very busy. If you leave a voicemail for the scheduler and s/he does not return your call, try again in about two days. Polite persistence pays off.
When meeting with a lawmaker or staffer, always come prepared with a specific request for action—an “ask”—for the lawmaker to take. After clearly stating your position, ask for the lawmaker’s position on the issue or legislation. Politely press for a commitment. If the legislator is not able to state her or his position at the time of the meeting, ask when you should follow up, usually within a week of the visit, and how, by phone or email, you should inquire about any action taken. Be sure to discuss how the legislation will directly affect you. Personal stories carry weight. If possible, demonstrate widespread support by mentioning others in the community—organizations, officials, etc.—who agree with your position.
Always be polite, positive, and professional. Start off your meeting by thanking the lawmaker or staffer for meeting with you and for any past helpful support. Close the meeting with a “thank you” as well, regardless of whether or not the lawmaker will do what you want her/him to do. Do not refer to any lawmakers by their last names only— it should always be Senator xxx or Congresswoman xxxx. It’s a good idea to bring written material, such as an information packet, to give to the lawmaker or staffer.
Follow-up your visit with a personal letter thanking the lawmaker or staffer for their time. This is another opportunity to make your point. If the congressional office made a commitment, remind them of this in your letter.
Keep endocrine-related issues alive in your local newspapers, TV and radio stations, and magazines. The media play a powerful role in our advocacy efforts as they help shape public opinion on policies, such as protecting funding for the National Institutes of Health or preventing diabetes. You can help maximize the potential of this resource by calling in to local talk shows or writing letters to the editor. Not only will you raise an important issue in your community, you’ll also grab the attention of elected officials, who pay close attention to opinions voiced in newspapers, radio, and TV in their district or state.
Stay informed: Besides subscribing to your member’s newsletter and reading the local newspaper, you can read the Endocrine Society’s Advocacy in Action weekly to keep updated with all the important policy issues that we work on.
Letters to the editor provide you with an opportunity to comment on articles, editorials and advertisements appearing in local newspapers. Letters to the editor are widely read by lawmakers and community leaders to gauge public sentiment about current issues in the news. If you are interested in writing a letter or want to share one you have had published, please email it to us at [email protected].
Make sure your family, friends and co-workers are aware of legislation you care about and encourage them to get involved. Use the “Tell a Friend” feature in the Endocrine Society Alert system to email alerts to friends and co-workers quickly when an endocrine-related bill is up for a vote, or in danger of being ignored. Let them know the outcome of that vote, and how your specific lawmaker voted on the measure.
Invite colleagues, friends, and family over for pizza and a letter-writing party. Pick an issue, pick a theme, have fun, give door prizes, but get those opinions in to lawmakers!
So there you have it. Simple, time-tested methods of how you, a constituent, can make a tremendous impact on the legislative process. We hope you’ll get involved in our efforts and utilize these guidelines to help support endocrinology. Remember, we can’t do it without you!
For more information, please contact the Endocrine Society at [email protected].