ENGAGING IN ADVOCACY How to Schedule a Meeting with a Legislator State and national legislators make time for meetings with constituents as part of their duties as elected officials. As one of the most powerful ways to advocate for agribusiness policies, face-to-face meetings make your company and your issue more memorable to legislators. It is important to note that the legislative staff is very important too — as they are trusted to research upcoming issues and share feedback with legislators. Whether you meet directly with your Senator or Representative or with their staff, you are building a relationship with the legislator and bringing greater attention to your legislative needs. You can set up a meeting by following the steps below.
1. Find the Office That You Would Like to Visit State legislators have an office at the Ohio Statehouse where you can schedule to visit. Similarly, U.S. Senators and Representatives maintain offices in their home states that allow their constituents to meet with them or their staff, as well as their offices in Washington, D.C. Visit your legislator’s website for more information. If you do not know your legislators, use the links below to find out: • Ohio Senate: ohiosenate.gov/senators/district-map • Ohio House: house.state.oh.us • U.S. Senate: senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm • U.S. House: house.gov/representatives
2. Contact Your Legislator’s Office to Set Up a Meeting Once you have chosen your local office, use the guide below to contact your legislator’s office to schedule a meeting. Understand your legislator’s schedule. For state representatives, find out when they will be in their Columbus offices. • Decide which office you’ll be visiting. While the legislature is in session, federal legislators will be in Washington, D.C., while state legislators will be in Columbus. While the legislature is in recess, legislators will likely be back in their local offices. You can check your senators’ and representatives’ websites to find out when they are on recess. • Request a meeting. Most legislators’ websites include a “Request for Meeting” form that you can fill out online OR offer an email address for the person in charge of scheduling their appointments. Before calling your lawmaker’s office, fill out the form or send an email request for a meeting. If you are sending an email, it should contain the following: • Your name and address (to show that you are a constituent) • The issues you wish to discuss • The office you wish to visit • The dates that you can meet (include several dates or a wide time frame so that there is flexibility in scheduling the meeting)
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