When time is short, a personal phone call to a legislator, his/her chief of staff or key legislative assistants may be the most effective method to communicate your views. As with all public policy advocacy, your call is most likely to receive attention if you have developed a personal relationship with the legislator or staff member.

Calls may not get past the receptionist, but the receptionist will often log calls as "for" or "against" an issue and relay the tally to the legislator and staff member assigned to the issue. Sometimes the receptionist will connect you with the legislator's legislative assistant for health care. If you have a strong, personal relationship with the senator or representative, you may get to talk directly with the legislator. In any case, a well-timed call can be particularly important. When combined with calls from colleagues on the same issue, a phone call may tip the balance in favor of your position. It can take a surprisingly small number of calls to gain a legislator's attention on an issue, so don't hesitate to call.

If you don't know a senator's or representative's telephone number in Washington, D.C., or your state capitol, call your regional CHRISTUS Advocacy Associate, or contact the System Director of Advocacy & Public Policy, Patti Harper.

For Whom Should You Ask?

• Ask for the senator or representative if you know him/her personally.
  
• If you don't know the senator or representative personally, ask to speak with the legislative assistant who handles your issue. For most issues, that probably will be the legislative assistant who handles health issues.
  
• If you can't reach a legislative assistant, leave a concise message that includes your position on the issue, your name and your telephone number. At the very least, your phone call will be included in the tally of "pro" or "con" calls on the issue that the staff will present to the senator or representative.

Tips For Making Effective Phone Calls

• Focus on a single issue, making two or three key points in your phone call.
  
• Have talking points, or your own notes, in front of you when you call to stay focused on the message you want to deliver. National and state associations sometimes suggest key industry talking points when they ask you to communicate with Congress. The SSM Policy Institute often provides specific talking points.
  
• Personalize the issue and include local examples to demonstrate the impact on the legislator's own constituents.
  
• Clearly state the action you wish the senator or representative to take on the issue (vote for, vote against, offer an amendment, delete a provision, etc.).
  
• Keep your call brief - not more than three or four minutes.
  
• Don't bluff if you are asked a question that you can't answer. Say that you will get the answer and will call back. Your word is your bond, maintain a high level of integrity in any conversations.
  
• Leave your name and telephone number in case the staff or legislator has any questions later.
  
• Jot down the name of the staff member you spoke to. Next time, you can ask for the staff member by name and begin building a relationship. Staff members are more likely to listen to and return phone calls from people they know.
  
• Send a thank you note!
  
• Let CHRISTUS Advocacy know about your calls so that the contacts might be referenced in other important advocacy interactions with the member of Congress.