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How to Meet With Your Legislators
Whenever you visit Annapolis during the Legislative Session, you have an opportunity to meet with the legislators that represent you and the areas served by your organization in the House of Delegates and State Senate. Take advantage of this opportunity, and see our hints and advice that follow. Who are your Legislators? If you don't know who represents your area, you can find your legislators at our Legislative Action Center - start by entering your zip code. This site provides information on federal and state officials and agencies, local government, media contacts and more. Contacting Legislators The press of legislative schedules during the General Assembly Session makes it difficult to arrange meetings by appointment, but it is still worth trying. Remember that with or without appointments, time is a limited commodity, and even professional lobbyists are happy to get a few minutes of "face time" from legislators. Don't feel slighted if time is limited or unavailable on a particular morning or afternoon. Using the Maryland General Assembly's website you can find any legislator's office location, phone number, and email address as well as committee rosters, legislative organization charts, etc. Once there, click on About the General Assembly and then click on either Senators or Delegates. There is even a direct email feature that can be found under Contact Your Legislators. Visiting Legislative Offices Enhanced security has impacted movement in and around the Annapolis Legislative complex. When entering the State House, the Legislative Office Buildings, or the Legislative Services Building, expect to pass through screening devices (remove metal objects from pockets, etc.), show some form of picture identification, and present briefcases and purses for inspection. If you are part of a group visiting a legislator, it is helpful to plan your use of the time available and discuss in advance what each member of the group will say. If the visit is cut short or interrupted, don't take offense; you may be able to convey additional information to the legislator's staff. If you have materials to leave with the legislator, again, remember that their time is limited. The more concise your materials, the greater the probability that they will be read and retained. For more information on finding
your way contact Henry
Bogdan.
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