Arrange a meeting with your Members of Congress in their District Office. It’s much easier than you think! Here are five simple steps to make it happen:
1. Find Your Representative
To identify your two Senators and House Representative:
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- Call U.S. Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121
- Go to the House of Representatives website
- Go to the Senate website
**Be sure to find the contact information for their District/State Office.**
2. Request a Meeting
Your elected official’s phone number and email address are public information, so call or send them a note asking to schedule a meeting. Include details about why you want to meet and what issues you would like to discuss. Be patient (as they tend to be busy), but also be persistent. Don’t hesitate to follow up a couple times if they don’t reply.
3. Prepare for the Meeting
Get to know your elected official by checking out their website, social media channels, and recent news articles. Even if they do not have a direct connection to lung cancer, you might find yours has a particular interest in health, research, or women/family issues. The key is to share your personal story about lung cancer and its impact on you.
4. Be Flexible & Accommodating
There is a chance you may end up meeting with a staff member and not with your elected official. The staff are just as important and deserve the same respect. Their job is to share your message with your Senator or Representative. Plus, you never know whether a staffer has a personal connection to the disease.
5. Be Prepared to Share Your Story
In the meeting, sharing a personal story can give the impact of lung cancer. Be sure to make an “ask” for support on our issues.
6. Conclude with Thanks and Follow Up
After you return from your meeting, send an email or a handwritten letter thanking everyone for their time. Don’t forget to repeat your story and highlight the issues you spoke about during the meeting with an expectation of support.
Can’t make it for an in-person meeting? No worries! You can share your story and let your elected official know what issues matter most to you through a letter, an email, or even a tweet. Click here to learn more!