Masonry Magazine February 1988 Page. 18
Government Relations
Continued from page 18
And, if you say you will do something, do it. Once lost, your credibility will be hard to regain.
Don't assume your Legislator knows the background of every issue; fill him in, but don't bore him with too much detail or with arguments that are too technical. You may submit written documents for detail and for technical discussion. Make sure your Legislator knows why you are interested in a bill or issue, what your position is and what it is you want him to do.
Be Brief And Flexible. Be prepared for the common eventuality of your Senator or Congressman announcing that he must cut the conversation short to take care of an emergency of one kind or another. When he does this, sum up quickly and have something in writing to leave behind.
Learn To Write Effectively To Your Legislator. The same rules apply here as in verbal communication. Be concise, be factual, be tactful, be clear and above all, be timely-write to your Legislator soon enough for him to act. If you are not personally acquainted with your Legislator, be certain to explain who you are, what your business is and why you are interested in a bill or issue. Finally, after you've stated your request, ask him to advise you of the action he takes.
All members of the U.S. House or Senate may be addressed as follows:
The Honorable John Doe
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable John Doe
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20515
The salutation of a letter of telegram should be:
Dear Senator Doe:
Dear Congressman (Congresswoman) Doe:
If you are asked to testify before a U.S. House or Senate Committee, or before a committee of your state legislature, your association will help you prepare your testimony in most instances.
A final reminder-rely on your association. MCAA can and wants to help you, but only if it knows what you are doing. Keep us informed and ask us for assistance. If you do a more effective job of communicating with your Congressman or Senators, it helps all of us in the industry. MCAA should be looked on as a resource and a focal point of government relations activities by mason contractors.
We'll keep you informed and we'll be more effective at our job if you keep us informed.
Attend the
CANADIAN MASONRY
CONFERENCE
April 27-29, 1988
Le Grand Hotel
Montreal, Quebec
Sponsored by:
* Canadian Masonry Contractors Association
* Clay Brick Association of Canada
* National Concrete Products Association
Cut-off Date for Advance Registration-
March 25th
Make Your Reservation today!
Call (416) 636-6778