While the presenters , Sarah Hackney from theNational Sustainable Agriculture Coalitionand James Robinson from theRural Advancement Foundation International , were delivering an piquant seance ( like always — I get it on going to their conference sessions ) , I substantiate how far remove we are from the policy work that takes place in Washington . Every day , someone who eff nothing about what shoot place on your farm is making decision that straight off touch on your farm . With this fact in mind , you have two choice :
I always encourage you to take the second pick and try on to go forth you with teaching about how to do so . Hackney and Robinson are helping me out this hebdomad : After their SSAWG Conference session , they did a brusk video skit of what it ’s like to make a telephone call to your legislator . The video recording is completely impromptu — we did it all in the first shot — and it ’s only three minutes long . If you ’ve never pick up the earpiece to talk about an subject with your senator or congressperson because you did n’t know how , you no longer have that exculpation .
Why a Phone Call?
“ The No . 1 most important , well possible thing you may do in 2015 is to call your legislator at least once , ” Hackney say during that academic term . Then she paused and said the top affair would actually be to donate one thousand thousand of dollars toward the political cause you believe in . Short of that , though , pick up the phone !
A phone call express so much more weight than something as simple as an online postulation . Your legislator knows how loose it is to “ sign ” your name to a request online . He also knows how much more time and reckon it take to direct a phone call .
If you do n’t make this phone call and someone with an opposing viewpoint does , your legislator is n’t going to bed about the kitchen stove of viewpoints hold by masses in his district . pointedness are add together here , and the side who does n’t make the headphone calls loses .
Your Game Plan
I do n’t care talking on the telephone set . I ’m an emailer , for sure . So I before I make a call like this , I scribble some bank bill . They might reckon like :
Introduction — I’m a constituentI want theGMO Right - to - Know Actto get passed :
Say thanksLeave contact information
Notes like this help keep you focused , and they foreclose you from going down an aroused course , which is so wanton to do when we ’re deal with topics that are so close to our plate , health and hearts .
If you have statistics — peculiarly anything interrelate to the economy and chore creation because legislator love that stuff — include them in your message . If you ’d wish to listen back from your legislator — or more potential a staff fellow member — leave your liaison information .
In the video above , a faculty member from Senator Jane Smith ’s authority ( we made this up , by the direction ) answers the phone and has a nice conversation with the farmer who ’s calling . You ’ll often call a legislator and get his voicemail , which is less daunting than actually talking to a individual , I think . Even when you do end up talk to a mortal , I can all but guarantee they ’ll be cultivated and patient as long as you are the same . This is what they ’re paid for ! You are their honcho ’ grammatical constituent , so technically , you are their boss ’ boss .
Another matter pass in this video that you might not go through is that Senator Smith ’s staff member asks if someone can inflict the caller ’s farm . for sure , this might encounter when you call , but it ’s not passing likely . Rather , if you have an issue happening on your farm or with a farming group that you ’re involved with , you should gallop the invitation to show off how you ’re do good from ( or not benefiting from ) governance policies or program . You never get it on what a good workings relationship with your representatives can lead to .
Walking the Walk
Now , please watch the video ! And consider have a few telephone set calls about subjects that are on the mesa correctly now . ( GMO labeling , GM mosquitoesandfrackingare just a few blistering topics . ) Your first phone call is your hardest . I depose .
