August Recess Adventures
h, August. Also known to Washington, DC insiders as “the Summer Work Period” or, by its less formal title, “the August recess.” I’ll tell you, it’s a great time to find a parking spot in Washington, but not a great time to find an elected official. Most members of Congress have headed home to their district, where you should feel free to track them down and share your views! Elected officials need to hear from their constituents about what’s really important before coming back to DC to complete their legislative work for the year. Following are a few tips to help you connect with your elected officials during August:
1. Find out what events they have planned
Most elected officials will have at least one or two townhalls scheduled during the recess. Call their district offices to find out what’s happening in your area. You can find district office numbers at www.congress.org, or in your yellow pages.
2. Invite them to do something fun
Believe it or not, most elected officials like to, well, do something interesting. There are only so many long, boring meetings one person can tolerate. Think about innovative ways to highlight your issues and concerns -- through a site visit, walking tour, or alternative to the traditional “meet and greet” event, such as a picnic or wine-tasting. One member of Congress I know LOVES to go bowling. Find out what they like to do for fun and then offer some opportunity for them to do just that.
3. Don’t ignore the staff
Often, the district staff members of elected officials feel like second class citizens to their Washington, DC counterparts. Be sensitive to this and remember that district staffers are important and influential people. While they might not be as directly involved in the day-to-day policy debate, they often help members make decisions about important priorities for the district. If you want to be one of those priorities, treat the district staff well! For a list of the titles and responsibilities of district staff, check out our overview online at http://www.advocacyguru.com/learning_about_staff.htm
You can also find details about working with the district office through the Advocacy Classroom class at
__________________
Stephanie Vance, the Advocacy Guru, is author of Government By The People: How To Communicate With Congress and a former Capital Hill veteran. She lives and works in Washington, DC, offering workshops and advice on effective advocacy.
