WRITE YOUR SENATOR OR REPRESENTATIVE NOW!

We are constantly being encouraged to contact our legislators in support of one bill or another. And it’s important to follow through. A “One Powerful Voice!” is effective.

Right now is a particularly good time to mail a letter, send an e-mail or fax, telephone, visit, or otherwise contact your senator or representative.

On Wednesday, April 2nd, 64 MOAA teams made up of council and selected chapter presidents and Association professionals will “Storm the Hill,” meeting with legislators in an attempt to influence future legislative decisions.

Here are the specific items to be discussed:
–Sustain defense budget floor of at least 4% of GDP;
–Bar disproportional military health fee increases;
–Eliminate financial penalties for military-caused disabilities and deaths.

It would be very helpful if MOAA members everywhere would flood legislative offices with communications in support of these issues. An advance alert is always useful and has the potential to pay off in a big way.

To be most effective, write an individual letter, rather than copying a form letter.

Begin with a clear objective, showing some knowledge of the issue–you can get that from reviewing copies of “Military Officer” magazine–and give personal experiences if you can. Explain how health costs have been going up, for example, and how the increases have been impacting you personally.

If you contacted the office in the past, make sure you mention it in your letter.

And finally, write from your heart. If you can, include some humor or unusual material in the letter. People have different styles, and there is no single correct format, but an offbeat or heartfelt letter sometimes gets noticed and passed up the line more quickly.

Our legislators on balance are very nice people, approachable, and accessable. Contacting a legislator can be an exciting experience. And you might even get a reward–a letter showing interest and concern and even a special note of thanks for writing.

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