• This can be at their office, during a Neighborhood Board meeting, or a community event, etc.
• Try to meet at their office. If you try to get an appointment during legislative session you will most likely not see the legislator.
• Dress business casual – no bumper sticker tee-shirt. You want to show respect for the office and establish credibility. (even if you don’t like your legislator).
• Come armed with facts, leave emotion out of it. You are not there to win them over, but to offer facts and ask questions. Example – ask them on a scale of 1-10, 10 being most supportive, where would they fall? If they are a 2, ask what would move them to a 4, or visa-versa if they are a 4 what would cause them to move to a 2. This make them think about their answer.
• You don’t have to be a constitutional scholar, just understand Article V and the process and be able to answer the most common objections.
• Your message from the 1st meeting should be that you are building a relationship. Your goal and mind set are to remember sales rules. People are more likely to agree/buy from someone they know, like and trust.
• Remember that you can never make a second “first” impression. So, respect their time, show up on time, stand face to face, look them in the eye, give them a firm handshake and thank them for their time. Let them know that you have and want to discuss the solution to the nation’s problems.

Resources

Legislator Contact Checklist: A Grassroots Guide

Convention of States Resource Center

• It is estimated that one personal letter/postcard has the same impact on legislators as 100 phone calls.
• Most constituents don’t do this, so doing it sets you apart!
• While a handwritten letter/postcard is not as effective as face to face, it does show that you are serious about your support for COS.
• If a legislator gives you more than 15 minutes of their time, you owe them a written thank you note.

Resources

COSHI Letter/Postcard Writing Guide

• You will probably talk to a staff member. Get the staffer’s name and address them by name, provide your info/subject, tell the staffer you are a constituent and would like this info passed to the legislator.
• Have a few bullet points ready - That you support Convention of States (COS); You are seeking your legislator’s support; and Why you are a supporter of COS?
• Your tone and voice should be firm, concise, and confident (practice).
• If the staffer says they have never heard of COS, you have an open door to ask for an appointment with the legislator for a one-on-one.
• Make a log of your phone calls – date, who and result and record on COSAction app or LMS. (COSAction app is the easiest)
• Calling once is not enough. The staffer and legislator need to get to know you. Multiple contacts are needed to build the relationship.
• If you don’t speak to live person, always leave a voice message.

• Email is the least effective way to build a relationship with your legislator.
• They are very seldom answered personally, but mostly thru from letters and automated responses based on your subject.
• However, if you’ve already built your relationship sometimes you may get a personal response.
• Emails are best used as a follow up to short meetings/conversations 15 minutes or less, short phone conversations, to confirm receipt of handwritten letters, postcards, or phone messages; or for general information (holiday messages, birthdays, etc).