Meeting With Your Legislator: ARRM’s Helpful Tips

PREPARING FOR THE MEETING

Make an appointment before the meeting. ARRM recommends that you make your appointment 2 weeks in advance. For more information on how to contact your legislator, go to www.leg.state.mn.us/

Identify a leader. They'll be the main speaker and point person throughout your meeting. Also, they should be a constituent of the legislator's state or district.

DURING THE MEETING

Know your audience. Try to know what committees your Senator or Representative sits on, and if possible, which way he or she has voted on your issues. Acknowledge your legislator’s professional and personal achievements and discuss common interest.

Be concise and considerate of staff time. Show up to meetings early, be polite, bring the number of people you committed to, and be flexible about rescheduling.

Introduce yourself as a constituent to the legislator and office staff. Many people come through the offices each day, and you want to be remembered as someone from home.

Identify why you are visiting your legislator. Give your position and make your point as clearly and concisely as possible. Come to the meeting prepared to clearly state your thoughts and arguments on the issue.

Be logical. An emotional appeal is not enough. Use ARRM’s talking points to bolster your argument. Explain how the proposed legislation will affect you. Let them know if other government leaders and key interest groups share your position.

Be true. If you don't know the answer to a question, don't make something up. Don't embellish data to support your point.

Don't overwhelm staffers with materials. Use ARRM’s Legislative Agenda to support your topic. Know what you're talking about, and deliver the information concisely.

Be a resource. At the end of your meeting with a staffer, ask what you can do for them, to help your elected official meet his or her legislative objectives.

Leave a reminder of your visit behind. Legislators see many people on many issues, so ARRM has developed a leave-behind with a brief written reminder of ARRM’s position. You may also leave ARRM’s Legislative Agenda with your legislator.

AFTER THE MEETING

Follow up. Send a thank you email or letter to your legislator and/or a specific staffer you spoke with. If there were any questions you couldn't answer in your meeting, follow-up with solid responses.

Share what you learn. Go online to ARRM’s advocacy section of our website and fill out our feedback form: arrm.org/feedback.htm