Working Women Day of Action
March 2, 2010
Can’t make it to DC? You can still impact policy for working women and their families!
Participate in BPW Foundation’s Working Women Day of Action on March 2nd hosted in conjunction with Policy & Action Day 2010. Take action in your home state: schedule a district meeting, send an email or make a call – do something to increase our collective voice and let Congress know that you care about working women and their families.
***Be a part of the conversation as we 'Tweet Up' at www.twitter.com/womenmisbehavin***
On Policy & Action Day 2010 encourage all your colleagues/network to send letters in support of working women. Keep an eye out for the special "Working Women Day of Action" alert from BPW Foundation. The Call to Action focuses on these issues:
- Paid Sick Leave
- Paid Parental Leave
- Retirement Security
- Equal Pay
- Women Veterans
1. Schedule a District Meeting
- The most effective and influential way of communicating with your Member of Congress is a personal visit, so in honor of Policy & Action Day 2010, schedule a meeting with your Member of Congress or their staff in your district office and encourage them to support working women and issues important to you.
- Locate your Members of Congress’s contact info using the BPW Foundation Advocacy Center.
- When calling, ask for the district director. Each congressional office schedules appointments differently, but usually the district director is the most senior staffer in the district office.
- Introduce yourself and explain that you are a constituent. Tell them the date and time you would like to meet and the general topics you wish to discuss. If there is more than one person attending the meeting, let them know the total number of attendees. Also, if someone in your group knows the legislator, personally or professionally, make sure that the scheduler is aware of the relationship.
- Follow-up with a written request. Draft a scheduling request letter asking to meet with your Member of Congress and their district director. We recommend that you begin to schedule appointments as soon as possible. In the letter, mention that you wish to discuss issues related to equity for working women and families such as equal pay and paid sick leave. Fax in the request.
- Meetings with staff are very important! If your meeting is with a staffer, don’t fret; understand that legislative staffers are very important. They are responsible for gauging constituents’ views on issues and communicating them to your legislator. Legislative staffers handle all the detail work on issues and therefore, legislators rely heavily on their knowledge and expertise.
- Follow-Up Call the week before and then the day before to confirm the appointment as legislator’s schedules are always changing.
- I need more lobby tips...
2. Send an email or letter
- On Policy & Action Day 2010 encourage all your colleagues/network to send letters in support of working women.
- Go to the BPW Foundation Advocacy Center and use the sample letter to email your Members of Congress.
- Keep an eye out for the special Working Women Day of Action Alert from BPW Foundation.
- Letters should be brief and legible. One page MAXIMUM.
- Identify yourself and state your purpose. Introduce yourself and state your reason for writing within the first paragraph. Make sure your legislator knows you are a constituent. If your letter pertains to a specific piece of legislation, identify it appropriately (House bill: H.R._____ or Senate bill: S._____).
- Be clear and concise. Focus on one issue at a time. State clearly your position and concerns regarding the issue, using personal examples. Identify the course of action you are requesting that your legislator take.
- Be courteous. End your letter by saying, "Thank you,” and “I look forward to your response.”
- Fax or Email the Letter. Mail to Washington, DC is still experiencing significant delays. Faxing or emailing your letter rather than mailing it ensures that it reaches your legislator in a timely fashion.
- Always include your postal address. Most legislators will respond by sending a letter through the mail rather than e-mailing a response.
3. Make a call
- Identify yourself and state that you are a constituent. Anonymous phone calls will be ignored.
- Be brief. Focus on one issue at a time. State your concerns and position with the first 30 seconds. If your call pertains to a specific piece of legislation, identify it appropriately (House bill: H.R._____ or Senate bill: S._____).
- State your message. Identify the actions you are requesting of your legislator. Stress personal experiences and give examples.
- Give facts and offer your services. Concentrate on one or two important facts that create a solid debate. Offer to provide your legislator with materials that support your position.
- Be polite. Always say, “Thank you,” and request a written response to your call.
