My CA state senator (to Sacramento, not D.C.) had his monthly "coffee with your senator" this morning. He is in his district from Thursday nights to Sunday afternoons when the legislature is in session. I signed up on his web site a week in advance, and showed up early to sign up again for actual speaking order at the coffee. (Saturday mornings once a month.)
When I got to him, he said he'd never heard of the bill. By the time we were done (which included a quick almost-stealth vape in front of him, which DID impress him with the harmlessness of vaping!) I don't know if I got his vote, but I at least HALF-got it, he'snot going to do an automatic party-line "yes."
THIS IS A BIG CHANGE. Up to now, I have emailed him, called his offices, talked to his staffers 3 times, sent him a huge information packet to his Sacramento office via snail mail, and hand-sent a big info packet to his local district office. He voted yes on the Health Committee. (He did not attend the hearing but all the committee votes were party-line.)
Although getting an appointment with him might have taken weeks, and might not have been possibly unless I could get a group of people together (which turns out to be MUCH harder than I thought with only ECF to communicate through!) getting into these monthly coffees was pretty easy.
So, if you want to be SURE your concerns about anti-vaping laws don't end up in the round file before they even REACH your legislator or state senator (or Federal Congresscritter for that matter!) -- FIND a way to get to them in person. (This does NOT mean to not email, call, or write, because emails made a big difference in Utah, and numbers mean something always, but for an obscure issue, the IN-PERSON visit made all the difference!)
Even signing up for their spam on their web site gets you notices of how to "get to" them -- I didn't sign up directly but since I emailed him once, I got his notice about this event, signed up instantly, and got in.
These people DO spend time in their districts, which means you can get to them in person. I think this pretty much applies to anybody below the level of U.S. Senator, and probably even includes them in smaller states. Even if you only get 30 seconds, it puts a face on the issue.
DO IT. They are often available from time-to-time on evenings or weekends because THEY work weekdays too.
When I got to him, he said he'd never heard of the bill. By the time we were done (which included a quick almost-stealth vape in front of him, which DID impress him with the harmlessness of vaping!) I don't know if I got his vote, but I at least HALF-got it, he'snot going to do an automatic party-line "yes."
THIS IS A BIG CHANGE. Up to now, I have emailed him, called his offices, talked to his staffers 3 times, sent him a huge information packet to his Sacramento office via snail mail, and hand-sent a big info packet to his local district office. He voted yes on the Health Committee. (He did not attend the hearing but all the committee votes were party-line.)
Although getting an appointment with him might have taken weeks, and might not have been possibly unless I could get a group of people together (which turns out to be MUCH harder than I thought with only ECF to communicate through!) getting into these monthly coffees was pretty easy.
So, if you want to be SURE your concerns about anti-vaping laws don't end up in the round file before they even REACH your legislator or state senator (or Federal Congresscritter for that matter!) -- FIND a way to get to them in person. (This does NOT mean to not email, call, or write, because emails made a big difference in Utah, and numbers mean something always, but for an obscure issue, the IN-PERSON visit made all the difference!)
Even signing up for their spam on their web site gets you notices of how to "get to" them -- I didn't sign up directly but since I emailed him once, I got his notice about this event, signed up instantly, and got in.
These people DO spend time in their districts, which means you can get to them in person. I think this pretty much applies to anybody below the level of U.S. Senator, and probably even includes them in smaller states. Even if you only get 30 seconds, it puts a face on the issue.
DO IT. They are often available from time-to-time on evenings or weekends because THEY work weekdays too.
