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Following-Up
What you do
after your initial contact with your
legislators may be the most important part of
the communication process. Taking steps to
capture the discussion, share feedback, and
follow-up on any requests is the only way to
ensure that you and your work will remain on
the elected official's
"radar-screen." The best way to
achieve that goal (without becoming a pest) is
through effective follow-up.
It's important
to follow-up on your request within three
weeks of your initial meeting or other
contact. But remember, while following-up and
asking again is valuable, being a pest is not.
You should follow-up on your request within
three weeks, and then about once every three
to four weeks until you have a definitive
answer. In some cases you may want to let the
elected official set the pace. For example, if
the staff indicates that they simply cannot
respond to your request for two months, then
make a note to yourself to call back in two
and one-half months.
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