A personal visit is the most effective way to communicate directly with your elected officials. You may do this either individually or with a group. Don't be bashful, personal visits are easy to set up.

Legislators will often meet with their constituents locally but it is also very effective to bring your message directly to the State House in Concord. This type of visit will underscore the importance of the issue you wish to bring to his/her attention, but it also allows you to have their full attention for your issue.

If you are going to be in Washington, D.C., call the member's office as far in advance as possible. Generally, the appointment secretary will require some written informatino on the issue(s) you will be discussing, who will be attending, etc. If you are unable to arrange a meeting with your Congressman, ask if you can meet instead with the pertinent staff member covering the issue at hand.

Invite them to your business. It is very appropriate to invite your elected officials to visit with you at your place of business, whether it be a retail shop, high-tech firm or a manufacturing facility. Conducting a tour of your business is a perfect way to get your local officials to better understand how your business operates. It is also a great way to introduce them to your employees, which are likely to be voters within his/her representative district. This way you can convey your message in real and human terms.

Know your issue. Before you call to set up an appointment, know what issue you are going to address and decide what you would like to get out of the visit (ie: a commitment to vote for your issue or you may decide the visit is simply informational).

Allow time for small talk at the outset of the meeting, but not too much. Remember, it's your visit. If it is a group visit, decide who will start the discussion and put your agenda on the table. If you go in a group, keep your group small – 4 to 6 people is appropriate.

Don't stay too long. Keep your visit short. Try not to take up more than 20 minutes meeting with the elected official. Try to get closure on your issue within the first 10 minutes of your visit. If you hear what you had hoped for, express your thanks and leave. If you reach an impasse, thank her/him, even if you are disappointed. Remember, you are there to build a relationship, and if nothing less, you have educated your elected official on an issue important to you.

Follow-up is important. Be sure to send a thank-you note after the visit. If commitments were made in the meeting, repeat your understanding of them. If staff members were present, write to them too. They can often be important allies. Leave any informational materials with your legislator is support of your issue.

Calling Your Legislator on the Phone

Phone calls are appropriate especially when there is not enough time before a key vote to visit with your legislator or to write a letter. Telephone contact is best utilized if one is asking a legislator to support or oppose a particular bill before a public hearing, a committee vote, or a floor vote. A phone call conveys a local concern which is why your legislator has been elected to serve to represent YOUR interests in the first place.

If you don't know your elected officials' phone numbers, you can all the State House Switchboard at (603) 271-1110 and ask to be connected to the appropriate individual. If you calling your Washington representative, the U.S. Capitol Switchboard telephone number is 202-224-3121.

Use your own words to tell how you believe a bill will affect you or those workers that you employ. Put the issue into human terms as much as possible.

The Chamber's staff is also available to provide you with contact information to help you as you contact your representatives. The New Hampshire General Court web site also provides phone, fax and e-mail information as well as committee assignments and biographical information on all members.

If you can not personally visit with your legislator, or make a phone call, a personal letter to your legislator is the next most effective form of grassroots lobbying. While the NHPA generally provides a sample letter or talking points with legislative alerts, personalizing the letter makes a better impact. This is especially true when a number of constituents may be using the same template or letter format.

Letters may be formal or informal, typewritten or handwritten. Letters are read and they elicit responses. They represent votes.

Tout Your Experience
If you are writing about a bill that could have an impact on the profession, let your legislator know you have experience in the field. This will lend tremendous credibility to your letter. For example:

"As a Seacoast business owner for the last 10 years, I have experienced the ever-rising costs of health insurance and I simply can't afford it any longer."

Include Basic Information
Legislators are dealing with multiple issues at one time, and they may not immediately be familiar with your issue. Write from the assumption that the legislators is not familiar with the issue. Briefly summarize the legislation and your position.

For example: "I am writing to ask for your support of House Bill 100, legislation that would reduce the rate of the business enterprise tax."

Legislators appreciate intelligent, well-thought-out letters which present a definitive position, even if they do not agree. Even more important to them is a valuable statement of the reasons for your position, particularly if you are writing about a subject in which you have specialized knowledge.

Include key points in support of your position. Wherever possible, include examples from your own experiences.

Offer Further Assistance
Thank the representative for considering your concerns and express your willingness to answer further questions on the issue. As a taxpayer and business owner, you can serve as a long-term resource for the representative on business-related issues.

When you write a letter to your legislator in response to a Chamber legislative alert, you can write as a member of the Chamber. Don't hesitate to include the fact that you are a member of the Chamber as this will lend greater credibility and recognition to our organization.

To the U.S. House of Representatives
    The Honorable (Use full name)
    US. House of Representatives
    Washington, DC 20515

   Dear Senator (Use last name)

• State Representative
      The Honorable (Use full name)
      NH House of Representatives
      State House
      Concord, NH 03301
• State Senator
      The Honorable (Use full name)
      NH State Senate
      State House
      Concord, NH 03301

State Representative
Go to the following link at the NH General Court
Website: www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ie/whosmyleg/

State Senator
Go to the following link at the NH General Court
Website: www.gencourt.state.nh.us/senate/members

Other Helpful Tips
"Sincerely yours" is appropriate as a complimentary close.

Letters should be timed to arrive while the issue is alive. Members of the committee considering a bill will appreciate having your views while the bill is ripe for study and action.

Sample Letters

Insert Sample Letters Here

E-mail is becoming the preferred form of communication with legislators, especially with our Congressional delegation in Washington. Some legislators embrace e-mail correspondence more readily than others. Some legislators are inaccessible via e-mail.

In e-mail, please follow closely the general good form for regular letter writing.

Tell your legislator where you live within his or her representative district. You can also mention the organizations to which you belong, most notably the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce. If you are an employer, identify your business and how many workers you employ.

A legislator's time is limited. So is yours. Use your time wisely.

Refer to a specific bill, the bill's title description, and current place within the legislative hopper. Ask for a specific action (for example, support, oppose, amend, further study, etc.).

Give reasons why a bill should be supported, opposed, amended, or further studied. Offer solutions if appropriate. To the extent possible, let them know how the legislation will positively or negatively impact your business.

Don’t expect a legislator to be an expert on every bill. It’s impossible. Each Session, over 1,000 bills are introduced. If your legislator’s not familiar with the bill you’re talking about, don’t be surprised or offended. It may be the first time they’ve heard about it.

Be Appreciative

Always be positive and polite and never demand or threaten. You get more with honey than you do with vinegar. Don’t burn your bridges. It’s natural to be disappointed if your legislator doesn’t vote the way you ask him or her to. But don’t let one vote destroy your relationship. Remember, you’re going to need their support on many other issues. Acknowledge you legislator's efforts and convey thanks for current action, even if he or she is not supportive of your point of view.

Legislators have to vote on many matters with which they have had little or no firsthand experience. Some of the most valuable information they receive comes from facts offered from people who have knowledge and expertise in the business community, namely, YOU!

Federal Representatives Contact List & Biographies

Portsmouth State Delegation Contact List