Tips for Scheduling a Visit with your Senator or Representative during their District Work Periods

1. Schedule an Appointment.
   To set up an appointment, call your Congressperson's home district office and speak to the Appointment Secretary or Scheduler. When you call, identify who you are and what organization you represent, and the purpose of your meeting. Often, Congresspeople will have several offices located around their district or state, so you may have to contact more than one office before you are able to successfully set up an appointment.
   
   In order to find out the location and phone number of these offices, there are several resources available to you:



• Visit www.congress.org and type your zip code in the box. A list of your elected officials will appear, and you can click on "info" to see the location and phone number of their offices.



• If you already know who you wish to schedule an appointment with, you can visit their website. Go to www.senate.gov and choose your state. Your senators will appear and you can click on their names to be redirected to their websites. Or, visit www.house.gov and you can select your Representative's name from a drop-down list.



2. Be Prompt, Be Patient and Bring a Small Group
   It is not uncommon for a Congressperson to be late, or to have a meeting interrupted due to a crowded schedule. If interruptions do occur, be flexible. In addition, it's always good to bring colleagues who share similar interests-your message will be stronger if it comes from several organizations.



3. Be Prepared
   It's always a good idea to bring information and materials with you that support your position. Congresspeople always want to hear about what's going on in their district from their constituents. Feel free to educate them with your experience and expertise. Also be prepared to answer questions and provide additional information. When it is appropriate, feel free to ask for a commitment on your issue.



4. Follow Up
   Send a thank you letter that outlines the points covered in your meeting. If a commitment was made, be sure to thank your Congressperson for doing so in this letter. Include any additional material that was requested.