Your Every Question Answered: Advocacy Toolkit (AAUW National)
Communicating with Arizona State Legislators
Sample Letters to State Legislators: Dr. Harriet Young, NAU
Introduce Yourself to the New Legislature
Use an attractive blank note card. Handwritten is best.
Address the envelope to:
The Honorable John Doe
Arizona State Senate OR Arizona House of Representatives
Capitol Complex
1700 West Washington
Phoenix, AZ 85007-2890
Address the inside of the card to:
Dear Representative Doe OR Dear Senator Doe
SAMPLE (Say whatever you want. These are just suggestions).
Dear Representative (Senator) Doe
Please accept my congratulations on your recent election to the Arizona Legislature. Public service is a wonderful calling, and I trust you will do your best to serve the public interest of the people of Arizona.
I’m a constituent of yours (Legislative district ______), and would like to say that I am very concerned about the direction Arizona seems to be going the past few years….
(INSERT here any special topics you want to mention). If you can’t think of anything, mention your concerns about education, teacher’s salaries, income inequality, GLBT rights, Human Trafficking, compassionate immigration, environment, prison reform….
I will be participating in a “day at the legislature” (Wednesday, Feb. 25) and hope that I will be able to see you at that time. I will call for an appointment in the next week.
Sincerely,
Tom Jones,
2122 S. Jonas Street, 480 941 6666.
OR…. more informal….and shorter
Hello Senator (Representative) doe
Let me congratulate you on being your recent election. I live in your district (LD __) and hope to get to know you better. I am really concerned about proper funding of education, protecting our environment, stopping the growth of private prisons, income inequality, and a host of other issues.
Early next year, I will be participating in a “day at the legislature” (Wednesday, Feb. 25) and hope that I will be able to talk with you at that time. I will call next week to set up an appointment.
Sincerely,
Tom Jones
Xxxx (address)
Register to Speak Program
The Request To Speak program (RTS) is designed to allow the public to register an opinion on bills listed on agendas and to request to speak on a bill in a committee. It replaces the old slips of paper previously used to sign in and let the committee chairperson know you want to speak to the committee. Learn how to get involved with the Arizona State Legislature here.
FREE and Easy Power at Our Fingertips
AAUW offers us a super easy and painless way to let our national representatives know our wishes on key legislative issues.
All you need to do is register with AAUW’s Two-Minute Activist. It’s free! You simply enter your zip code and the website will automatically load the addresses for your representatives in both houses of Congress. Then periodically via e-mail, you will be notified about upcoming key votes.
To make the process still easier, a script is provided. You are able to freely edit the copy, picking and choosing your message as well as adding your own words if you wish. You can preview the copy before the email is sent and receive conformation. The whole process takes only minutes and your communication has a multiplying impact in Washington. You will also be informed when your representative plans a town meeting in our community. AAUW also shares some tips in effective techniques to use when communicating in person.
This website is one way that your national dues directly benefit the individual member. So no more excuses about not having the time or the information necessary to influence public policy. There’s great power at your fingertips! Let’s get all the members of our branch connected and exercise our voices.
For general information about happenings in our Capitol and around the country, Sign up for Washington Update, AAUW’s free member-only weekly e-bulletin. It offers an insider’s view on the legislative process, the latest policy news, re-sources for advocate, programming ideas, and up-dates from the Public Policy & Government Relations Department. It is so simple.