spacer spacer Amnesty International USA spacer spacer spacer
spacer spacer
donatetake actionjoin usshopen espanol
 spacer spacer
spacer spacer spacer spacer
spacer spacer spacer spacer spacer spacer
shadow spacer shadow
spacer
spacer
curve
spacer spacer Take Action > What You Can Do > Ask Amnesty spacer
Share email this pageprint this page
 spacer
spacer rule spacer
spacer
September 15, 2006

Ask Amnesty: Preparing for your Darfur Delegation Visits

U.S. Capitol DomeYou and hundreds of other concerned activists nationwide will be visiting your elected officials' district offices during the last week of September (September 25-29) to urge the U.S. government to do more to stop the killings in the Darfur region.

Over the last two days, we've provided you with background information about the conflict in the Darfur region and the basics of lobbying. Tomorrow, Friday, September 15, we'll give you a chance to ask us questions about your upcoming visits. Bring your questions and comments for a live online Q & A with the AIUSA Government Relations staff.

Staff will be on hand between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. EDT -- we hope you'll be able to take a few minutes out of your busy schedule to visit the Q & A.

Featured Guest: Chris McGraw and Lynn Fredriksson, Government Relations

From our featured guest: "We're looking forward to fielding your questions and comments. "

Moderator's comment:


Hello
Thanks for participating in today's online discussion on our upcoming delegation visits. We'll begin in just a moment.

Best,
Milo
Moderator

-----------------------------------------------------------------


Question Submitted by Terry:


Do you know how many government officals ie congressman and Senators are already supporters?

Chris McGraw and Lynn Fredriksson, Government Relations answers:


Hi Terry,
Thanks for the question.

There are several things that an elected offical can do to help civilians in the Darfur region. You can find an updated list of "Additional Ways Legislators Can Help the Darfur Region" as part of the package available for download here:
http://darfur.amnestyusa.org/background In the coming days, you will also find information about some of the steps some elected officals have taken at that same website address.

Requests to elected officals might include asking them to add their signature to a joint letter, asking them to call Ambassadors of other UN Security Council, African Union and Arab League countries, etc. Find the full list on the mentioned website.

Chris M.




-----------------------------------------------------------------

Question Submitted by Veronica:


I'm having a hard time finding who I'm meeting with. I know what I'm preparing for, but I don't know who I am supposed to go and talk to. I live in Bloomington, MN.

Chris McGraw and Lynn Fredriksson, Government Relations answers:


Thanks for the question Veronica,
You can find out who your Representative and Senators are here:
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/electedofficials

Just type in your street address and it will help you identify your elected officials. You can then go to our page http://darfur.amnestyusa.org/search and join the delegation visiting your Senators and your Representative. Most likely you will be joining a delegation visiting your Representative and Senators in their district offices near your home town.

Hope this helps!

Chris M.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Question Submitted by Jennifer:


I understand the goal of being brief and to the point during our visit. But, should we limit our talks to just the information that you provided us? In other words, should we avoid telling the officials why this issue is so important to us? Does the information help or hinder to goal of the visit?

Chris McGraw and Lynn Fredriksson, Government Relations answers:


Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for the question. You do want to base your conversation on the background materials that AI provides (http://darfur.amnestyusa.org/background) since you want to make sure that you are providing accurate information to the Congressional office. As an organization we are studious in our research.

With that said, what we, as Amnesty International members, are doing with each visit with an elected officials office is building a relationship. So, do be yourself. Let them know, collegially, that you want your representatives to represent you. And, make the conversation a two way street, where you are talking with them, and also giving them a chance to let you know what they think, and giving them a chance to ask you questions.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Question Submitted by Jennifer:


Does it matter which elected official we choose to call? For example, what if I try to set up an appointment with Sen. George Allen and so does another delegation leader?

Chris McGraw and Lynn Fredriksson, Government Relations answers:


You'll want to meet with the elected officials who represent you--of whom you are a constituent. You can look here: http://darfur.amnestyusa.org/search to see if there is already a delegation to your House Representative and U.S. Senators. If there is, join that delegation.

Amnesty International is also updating that website so that you can see which district office the delegations are visiting since several Senators (and some Representatives) have more than one district office near your city in your state.

Amnesty International's Legislative Coordinator in your State also may arrange for visits to more than one district office for a particular representative or Senator--or even visits to their Washington DC offices. You can find out who your Legislative Coordinator is to ask this question by contacting grassroots@aiusa.org with an email subject line: Who is my Legislative Coordinator in

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Question Submitted by Jay:


How does this work? Do I need to contact my rep's office and set up an appointment to sit down with someone? I'm in Salt Lake City, Utah; are there others here in town that I can connect with? If so, how do I contact them? Thanks for the guidance. Jay Hickman

Chris McGraw and Lynn Fredriksson, Government Relations answers:


Hi Jay,
Thanks for your question, and for planning to meet with your elected officials in Salt Lake!

HERE's THE ANSWER FOR DELEGATION JOINERS:
First thing to do is to check to see if there is a delegation to your elected officials here:
http://darfur.amnestyusa.org/search

And, if there is, click the link on that page to join that delegation. Your delegation leader will be able to contact you via email to let you know about the practice meeting time and place, and the meeting time and place with the elected offical's office.

HERE's THE ANSWER FOR DELEGATION LEADERS:
For individuals who have already been approved as delegation leaders will notice that their name and the elected officals that they are meeting with already appear on our website here:
http://darfur.amnestyusa.org/search
Delegation leaders will be contacting their elected officials' offices to schedule their meetings, and will also be scheduling the practice meetings with their group members before the actual meeting. Background materials to help with this are available for download here:
http://darfur.amnestyusa.org/download

Chris M

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Question Submitted by Genevieve:


Hi, I only recently joined a delegation in my area of Orange County, CA however, I have not received an e-mail from my delegation group leader. Anything more I should do to make contact? I am really looking forward to being involved. Thank you!

Chris McGraw and Lynn Fredriksson, Government Relations answers:


Hi Genevieve,
Thanks for the email.

Hmm... if your delegation leader does not contact you via email soon you can send an email to us in the Amnesty International USA Washington DC office so we can follow up with the delegation leader's Legislative Coordinator to find out why the delegation leader hasn't contacted you.

Send an email to us with the subject: "Help! My delegation leader has not contacted me" to grassroots@aiusa.org In the body of the email, mantion the name and state of your delegation leader and we can help follow up from there.

Thanks for your work!

Chris M.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Question Submitted by Barbara:


Is it preferable to call your Congressmen when setting up an appointment or can you email them?

Chris McGraw and Lynn Fredriksson, Government Relations answers:


Hi Barbara,

It's definitely better to start with a call (and leave a clear voice message requesting a call back if the staffer isn't available). You can always reinforce your call with an email, but realize that staffers are bombarded with email every day and often don't have time to answer promptly.
-----------------------------------------------------------------



spacer spacer spacer

ASK AMNESTY Home

The views expressed in the online discussions hosted on this site reflect the views of the discussion guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Amnesty International USA. Amnesty International USA does not necessarily sponsor, endorse, recommend or license content posted by third parties.

 spacer
spacer
bottom