Today, I want to talk about visiting your Congressman and your Senators. The Military Community often needs special convincing to take political action.
Many military members abhor political contact of any kind. I have yet to convince my husband to call his elected representatives about any issue. He is convinced, as was my Dad during his time in service, that military members have a clear responsibility to remain politically neutral.
That is not the case for military family members. Nor veterans no longer on active duty. Nor for retirees. We are not required by law to remain politically neutral. And none of us, not even our active duty members, are prevented from making their opinions known to their elected officials. It's time for us to take the case to the desks of our elected officials, not just to their telephones.
I will be publishing several diaries this week about attacks on our military benefits; here is one to get you started, Calls to Privatize Military Retirement. Folks, what's coming down the pipeline isn't pretty. I need you to start making appointments for the August Recess. It is time to learn how to visit your elected officials.
The info below the fold is useful to more than military community members. Feel free to come on in and join the fray!
Visiting any of your members of Congress is not hard - it just seems like it is. If you're like me, you get nervous making the calls just to leave your opinion. Well, if I can make an appointment for a District Meeting, you can to. And I have done... several times in Texas. I have met with former Congressman Ciro Rodriguez and with the staffs of Congressmen Charlie Gonzalez and Henry Cuellar. Though we had tried to get meetings with Congressman Lamar Smith, we failed while I was in Texas but since I have left, the MoveOn team I worked with has managed to meet with his staff. Folks, if they can get a meeting with one of the most conservative members of the House of Representatives, you can too.
For active duty military members and their family, you need to know that it is okay to visit the Representative in the state where you live even if that is not your state of residence or home of record. You do not have to mention your voting residency if you don't want to. But you don't have to lie about it either. It is unreasonable to expect a military family member living in Florida to visit their representative in Alaska. So don't worry... just visit the Congressman closest to you.
For everyone else, you should be living in the State where you vote. Finding your local Representatives office is as easy as checking their website, lastname.house.gov or, for common names like Young, fullname.house.gov. For Senators, lastname.senate.gov. If you don't know their name, you can check here to find out who you need to visit. Just use your local zipcode.
I would always start with your Representative but don't rule out visiting both Senators, if possible. Many elected officials have offices throughout the State and there might be one near you.
To jump start the process, I recommend that you call first. Ask if it would be possible to visit during your Congressman's next trip home - recess happens for the month of August so that gives the office plenty of time to schedule the meeting towards the middle of the month. If the staff answering the phone seems less than helpful, ask for the name of the Military Affairs Aide (sometimes called the Veterans Affairs Aide). Then call that person and request a meeting with your Congressman.
If, after several calls, a meeting seems unlikely to happen, offer to meet with the aide instead. Often, after getting to know the office staff and meeting with the aide, they are more likely to help you see your elected official. Sometimes, they will call you last minute. Schedules are fickle and sometimes a Congressman will find himself with a spare or hour or two in your location and be looking for a way to fill the time. Be prepared and accept the meeting. If you can't make it, call your network and find someone who can.
Once your meeting is scheduled, get your ducks in a row. Write down your concerns in a letter that you will hand to the Congressman after you are done speaking. Even if you are not sure of your concerns, get the meeting schedules. Trust me... a couple of different diaries this week will make sure you have military issues to discuss. And, if you don't, use the meeting to discuss other items of concern. Even if you know your Congressman agrees with you, meet with them. Ask them to use their influence to move other members of Congress, especially those within your State's delegation.
If you do not want to do this alone, consider taking a small group of four to five people with you. It might be easier to get an appointment with a group of concerned constituents - if you do this, stick to a single topic. Make sure the people you ask to join you understand that you are going to discuss military issues. You don't want to dilute your message with your neighbors concern about the bad state of the roads in your neighborhood. If you don't have a group - make one. Visit the MoveOn.org website and see if you have an active council. If you are a veteran and belong to a veterans group, call them and see who wants to join you. If you are a spouse and belong to a spouses' network, call them. Many of these military issues will cross political boundaries. Spouses or veterans that are both Republican and Democrat will resonate so much more than those from a single party. Independents like myself don't hurt either.
If you are going with a group, meet beforehand to practice. Although Congressman are people to, sometimes we get nervous meeting them. I know that I do. Practicing the meeting makes great sense. A meeting with multiple people takes planning. MoveOn.org has a great online training. They divides the responsibility of the meeting between the group members attending. Their instructions will help your meeting flow.
If you weren't able to get a meeting, at the very least, ask the office closest to you about constituent office hours. Many congressmen schedule these to meet with people just like you and me. Henry Cuellar in Texas actually has an assigned constituent advisor who makes weekly rounds through the Congressman's district. Take advantage of these meetings instead.
If worse comes to worse and no one will schedule a meeting with you, visit the office anyway. Take your letter and deliver it in person. Let them know that you will be sending a Letter to the Editor of the local newspaper informing the public of the Representative's unwillingness to meet with a constituent. Use the LTE to explain your reason for wanting the meeting. Then follow through and send the LTE.
When I volunteered with MoveOn.org, we learned to schedule these meetings even when we did not have a firm agenda. It can take weeks to get on the schedule and agendas change anyway. Trust me, you will have something to talk about. Get these meetings scheduled and keep your eyes open over the next few days - I will be publishing more diaries (and hopefully other MCM members will as well) about issues important to the military community.
Two issues that I know are coming up in the pipeline - privatizing military retirement and freezing active duty military pay. Jimstaro also hasa diary today about veteran's benefits.
Your comments, suggestions, and greetings are welcome below!