This document provides information about communicating with state legislators. It discusses various methods of contact like in-person meetings, phone calls, letters, emails and attending public forums. It provides statistics on the number of state legislators and their party affiliations. The key messages are that legislators work for constituents, to be brief and polite in communications, and to follow up contacts in writing. The overall goal is to educate association staff on effectively engaging with state lawmakers.

1. YMCA of the USA
Government Relations and Policy
Communicating With Your
State Legislators
A Presentation for
CVOs, CEOs and Senior
Association Staff
Source:www.cramer-assocs.com 1

2. YMCA of the USA
Government Relations and Policy
We build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities.
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3. YMCA of the USA
Government Relations and Policy
We build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities.
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4. Founded in London, England on June 6, 1844.
Established in the United States
on December 29, 1851 in Boston.
Currently in every State in the Union.
The largest child care provider in the Nation.
561,909 Volunteers.
509,022 Program Staff.
51,987 Board Members.
2617 Associations in the US.
Source:YMCA of the USA, Feb. 2007
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5. YMCA of the USA
Government Relations and Policy
Voluneers
Program
2007 YMCA Participants at a
Board
Glance
51,987,
5%
509,022 561,909
, 45% , 50%
Source: YMCA of the USA, February 2007
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6. The United States of America:
50 States = 50 State Senates + 49 State Assemblies
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7. State Legislators at A Glance
• According to the National Conference of
State Legislatures, as of the 2006 session
there were 7318 state legislators in the
United States.
• More statistical data:
– 3941 Democrats
– 3310 Republicans
– 67 Independents
• Average age is 53.
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8. Legislators by Political Party
(Source: National Conference of State Legislatures 2006)
67
3310 Independ
Democrat
3941 Republican
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9. State Legislative Data
(SOURCE: National Conference of State Legislatures 2006)
• In 37 States both houses are controlled by same party
– 22 Democrats
– 15 Republicans
• In 1 State, the unicameral legislature is nonpartisan
• Of 50 Senates
– 25 controlled by Democrats
– 22 controlled by Republicans
– 2 tied between Democrats and Republicans
– 1 is nonpartisan
• Of 49 House of Representatives/Delegates/Assemblies
– 29 controlled by Democrats
– 20 controlled by Republicans
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10. Legislative Control by Party
(SOURCE: National Conference of State Legislatures 2006)
1
15
Nonpartisan
Democrat
Republican
22
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11. State Senates by Party Affiliation
(SOURCE: National Conference of State Legislatures 2006)
2 1
Nonpartisan
Democrat
22 Republican
25
Tied
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12. House of Representatives/Delegates
Control by Party Affiliation
(SOURCE: National Conference of State Legislatures 2006)
20
Democrat
29 Republican
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13. Methods Used to Communicate
• Person to person.
• Telephone calls/trees/banks.
• Letter individual/campaigns/preprinted.
• Email.
• Internet.
• Public Forums.
• Accidental.
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14. Person to Person
• Increasingly rare.
• May be planned or accidental.
• If planned (appointment) be prepared to
wait. Once in a meeting be as brief as
possible while still staying on task.
• The key elements are follow up (in writing
and email) and the prospect of future
meetings.
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15. Telephone Contacts
• With the Legislator vs. Staff.
• Remember to clearly state your name and
contact information for follow up.
• Remember to get the name/title of the
staffer with along with date & time.
• Telephone “trees” are when one person
calls and then contacts two other people
to also call on the subject and then the
calls expand proportionately.
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16. Telephone Contacts, cont.
• Telephone “banks” like minded people
assembled at a “bank” of telephones,
usually with a prepared text who call the
same number i.e., legislator or a pre-
selected list of people to contact and ask
them to contact a legislator in favor or
against a proposal.
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17. Remember: They Work For
You!
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18. Letter Contacts
• Still, in 2007, the method with the most
impact. It represents “real” effort to
communicate.
• Security concerns may impact the
deliverability of letters (post 9/11/01).
• With sufficient volume, easy to overwhelm
the recipient into believing that public
opinion is tilted one way or another (even
if it isn’t).
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19. Letter Contacts, cont.
• Letter “campaigns” provide for personalized
letters written by individuals who are provided
with “talking points” to be included in the letter to
the legislator. They require more
coordination/education so that the message is
clear and consistent.
• Preprinted letters usually provide for the
inclusion of sender’s name and address.
Otherwise, they convey the same message.
Least effective of the 3 types mentioned.
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20. Not satisfied: Remember
something called elections?
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22. 100 Senators. 435 Representatives.
5 Delegates. All are elected by the people.
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23. Email Contact
• Increasingly email is replacing traditional
ink and paper or snail mail as the mode of
communication.
• Although there is a greater chance that
your email may not be read by the
legislator (spam filters, staff, technology) it
is vastly superior because it offers instant
communication with hard copy
capabilities.
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24. Internet Contact
• Many websites have contact pages that
can be filled out and then sent
electronically.
• While you have the instant ability to
contact, the negatives remain…specifically
whether or not the legislator will personally
see your comment.
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25. Holding Public Office is a
Privilege, Not a Hereditary Right!
We settled that one in 1776.
Period.
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26. Holding Public Office is their
Privilege, Not their Hereditary
Right!
We still settled that one in 1776.
Period.
Don’t undo what was paid for
with the blood of heroes.
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28. Public Forum Contact
• This occurs when you attend a public forum in
person where the legislator is a participant.
• You either ask a question, thereby becoming
part of the forum itself or else see the legislator
before, during or after the event and get “their
ear.”
• Remember to follow up and get their card or the
staffer’s card who may be with them.
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29. Accidental Contact
• Accidents do happen…they don’t live in
isolation
• Church
• Shopping
• Restaurants
• Daily Life
• Community events (sports, theater)
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30. Points to Remember
• They (Public Servants) work for you.
• Be brief.
• Be polite or at least civil.
• Be precise in what you want of them.
• Give them a timeline/deadline when it is
needed.
• Provide them with multiple methods of
contacting you (mail, email, telephone).
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31. “Caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.” More than our core character
values. They are the essence of the contract between our elected officials
and the American people. To uphold these, safeguards the Republic for her
and the future.
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32. YMCA of the USA
Government Relations and Policy
We build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities.
Thank you for attending this presentation.
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