Welcome to the Truck Safety Coalition

To view all of the content on this site you will need to download the newest Macromedia Flash Player

SORROW TO STRENGTH

Tips on scheduling your appointment / meeting with your congressman

This process may seem intimidating, but we hope you won't allow it to be. With very few exceptions, people on Capitol Hill are very polite and courteous, and the conversations you have will most likely be very pleasant. Most people on Capitol Hill are very cognizant of the fact that they work for you and not the other way around.

The following is a step-by-step recommended procedure for scheduling these meetings:

Send a letter via fax or regular mail
You can use the letter below to help compose your own. Remembering time is of the essence. If you or a family member lives in the district, be sure to mention their name and town; it will increase your chances for a meeting with the actual member.

Once the letter is received, the scheduler will review it with the Member of Congress to determine if the Member's schedule allows for the meeting.

The office responds to your request for a meeting
If the office calls and offers a meeting with the member, accept whatever time the member has available.

AN IMPORTANT EXCEPTION: If your personal district Representative in the House of Representatives does not agree to meet with you, ask to speak with the Chief of Staff and request the meeting directly through him or her. You have every right to expect a meeting with your actual Representative; other Representatives from your state are not under the same obligation.

Some general reminders

- Think of scheduling these meetings as putting together a puzzle.

- A half-hour allows you 10-15 minutes to talk and 15 minutes to get to your next appointment.

- When possible, schedule at least two meetings in a row in the same office building (Rayburn, Longworth, Cannon, etc.) to save travel time between meetings (and wear and tear on you)!

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Senators' offices are a 20-minute walk from the House members' offices: allow travel time between appointments. Try to schedule your Senate meetings back to back to avoid making the trip twice. (You could take a $4.00 cab ride between these meetings.)

- Most aides' schedules are fairly flexible and most members' schedules are not. If you've scheduled a meeting with an aide, and another office calls and offers you a meeting with an actual member, accept the member's appointment and call the other aide back to reschedule.

- You are not expected to know every detail about every truck safety issue! You are a citizen activist, and are motivated by the events in your family's life. If they request information as to what you want to talk about, tell them commercial drivers hours of service regulations. If someone asks you a difficult question, write it down and tell them you'll get back to them with an answer. Then call The Truck Safety Coalition for assistance.

Sample letter - Request for meeting

October 10, 2002

The Honorable _________________
123 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510

Dear Senator__________________:

As a constituent of ____ (state)_______, and a member of the Truck Safety Coalition Survivors Network, I respectfully request a meeting with you on the afternoon of June 20, or anytime on June 21, 2000 to discuss serious concerns over NAFTA cross-border trucking.

As a truck crash survivor, I/my_______ was injured/killed in a heavy truck crash in 19_____, I have taken a deep personal interest in truck safety issues. I am certain you are as concerned as I about highway safety so please let me know what time would work best for you on Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday.

Sincerely,

name_____________
address___________
phone number_____________