4 minute read
Carrying Your Message to Concord Carrying Your Message to Concord
Keeping your legislators informed on the needs of New Hampshire’s cities and towns and seeing that the New Hampshire Legislature meets those needs is up to you.
Keeping your legislators informed on the needs of New Hampshire’s cities and towns and seeing that the New Hampshire Legislature meets those needs is up to you.
When you get involved in the legislative process and share your expertise and experience with legislators, your municipality and all cities and towns have a stronger voice. No one knows your city or town better than you do. And, no one can do a better job of telling your elected representative what works and what does not work for your community than you can.
When you get involved in the legislative process and share your expertise and experience with legislators, your municipality and all cities and towns have a stronger voice. No one knows your city or town better than you do. And, no one can do a better job of telling your elected representative what works and what does not work for your community than you can.
There are several methods for local officials to advocate issues before their legislators. The more personal and direct the method, the greater the influence.
There are several methods for local officials to advocate issues before their legislators. The more personal and direct the method, the greater the influence.
Top Tips for Legislative Session
Top Tips for Legislative Session
Develop a positive working relationship with your legislator
Develop a positive working relationship with your legislator
• Regularly meet with your legislators to update them on key legislative issues
• Regularly meet with your legislators to update them on key legislative issues
• Invite legislators to board or council meetings and explain your issues and what your city or town faces
• Invite legislators to board or council meetings and explain your issues and what your city or town faces
Have a Specific Agenda
Have a Specific Agenda
• Know what action you would like your legislator to take
• Know what action you would like your legislator to take
• Present your case firmly, supported by specific examples
• Present your case firmly, supported by specific examples
A new legislative session started on January 4, 2023. As always, we will need all NHMA members to be engaged in the legislative process to help the Association be as successful as possible.
A new legislative session started on January 4, 2023. As always, we will need all NHMA members to be engaged in the legislative process to help the Association be as successful as possible.
This year we are going to rely on our new software platform called FastDemocracy to communicate important information happening at the Capital and relay call-to-actions that we will need immediate member response to.
This year we are going to rely on our new software platform called FastDemocracy to communicate important information happening at the Capital and relay call-to-actions that we will need immediate member response to.
The 168th session of the New Hampshire General Court begins in January.
• Connect your community to the issue
• Connect your community to the issue
The 168th session of the New Hampshire General Court begins in January.
• Be responsive and provide information quickly, if asked
• Be responsive and provide information quickly, if asked
Say “Thank You”
Say “Thank You”
Help your municipality plan an active and consistent role in NHMA’s efforts by participating in the 2023 Legislative Webinar Series and Final Update.
• Follow up with a thank you letter summarizing the areas of agreement and/or disagreement
• Follow up with a thank you letter summarizing the areas of agreement and/or disagreement
Help your municipality plan an active and consistent role in NHMA’s efforts by participating in the 2023 Legislative Webinar Series and Final Update.
Keep NHMA Informed!
Keep NHMA Informed!
• Always send copies of your correspondence to and from legislators with NHMA. Staff can work more effectively with your legislators when we know what you’ve said and received in return.
• Always send copies of your correspondence to and from legislators with NHMA. Staff can work more effectively with your legislators when we know what you’ve said and received in return.
Sign up for a Free Account with FastDemocracy!
Sign up for a Free Account with FastDemocracy!
Our hope is that this new approach will enable our members to get information about what’s happening in Concord faster and enable them to take action sooner by providing you with a more comprehensive view of what’s happening than we’ve ever been able to provide previously. Even though these big changes are occurring, we’re also still relying on the tried-and-true methods that we’ve used since the inception of NHMA in 1941. There’s no digital substitute for an in-person conversation, and that’s why we’re still going to be calling for you to come to Concord and testify and why we’re working hard to facilitate better connections between you and your legislators.
Our hope is that this new approach will enable our members to get information about what’s happening in Concord faster and enable them to take action sooner by providing you with a more comprehensive view of what’s happening than we’ve ever been able to provide previously. Even though these big changes are occurring, we’re also still relying on the tried-and-true methods that we’ve used since the inception of NHMA in 1941. There’s no digital substitute for an in-person conversation, and that’s why we’re still going to be calling for you to come to Concord and testify and why we’re working hard to facilitate better connections between you and your legislators.
Sign up today at https://www.nhmunicipal.org/all-bills.
Sign up today at https://www.nhmunicipal.org/all-bills.
