Oh crap my brain just died. For a second I had just what I thought I needed to say! And it left! I hope this will work:
The Issues Statement (sometimes called a Position Paper): this is handed to the staffer or representative if you go in person.
If you call, tell them you will email or fax the Issues.
This paper is a bit more in depth.
The structure is:
Introduction: what's the issue/problem?
Background: support for the above, as well as for what you want them to do, below
Recommendation: what you want them to do.
The finished product might make people feel bad when they see it. It is boiling everything down into what is very much like a resume. We have to help them understand. We have to get them to not throw it in the trash or to be read later (never) pile. These are people who get hundreds of these everyday and they are a,ready very busy people.
The Talking Points Paper:
Sort of a who what when why what you want...
This will help you keep on point when discussing things. It is brief: almost like prompts to keep on point in the message. (These can also be used to help people write letters, make phone calls, rebut comments on blogs or media sites etc...in some instances, the talking point paper can be handed out if you feel the person you are dealing with has no patience for much more.
This may be briefer than items any if us have as these are for outsiders, who don't know and may not care or have a variety of reasons not to want too much information.
These are the two papers we are working on. The position paper currently contains the links to important documents.
You may choose to bring or send two additional best documents of importance. Hopefully the shortest ones that cover the best info you want them to have. But don't give the extra documents if you sense it will make them not read the main position paper. When you get people who seem interested you can always give them more. Don't push papers on very reluctant people. Just make sure they get the Position Paper for sure -reluctant or not.
Hmm. I haven't even looked on the web for advice on meeting with representatives or their staffers! My training was years ago. Yeah, it might be best if I look for a good one! Holy cow. i'm in the middle if another revision of the papers.
Some of The organizations that I received training from were: Protection and Advocacy (Federally mandated in each state to protect the safety and civil and human rights of children and adults with disabilities) The Kennedy Foundation, Partners in Policymaking (largely defunct in most states) and I forget where all else, if you want to look...
I think there might be something about how to talk with your representatives in the files section if the FB page, but I can't remember.
I'll try to think of some other places to look...
We should definitely have this to pass out to everyone too!