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Making Appointments with your Legislators

Making the Most of Your Trip to the Capitol

Individual Meetings with Legislators – We encourage you to make an appointment with your legislator or legislator’s office prior to the conference and/or to meet with them during the afternoon sessions. Making an appointment with your legislators can be accomplished in three easy steps:

1. Locate the name and contact information for your legislators Find your Representative http://www.house.mi.gov/find_a_rep.asp
   Find your Senator http://www.senate.michigan.gov/SenatorInfo/find-your-senator.htm
2. Edit the following letter and send it to your legislators

< Insert Date>

The Honorable <Insert First Name> < Insert Last Name>
<Insert State Senator or State Representative>
< Insert Address, House Address: P.O Box 30014, Senate Address: P.O. Box 30036
Lansing, MI 48909

Dear <Senator or Representative (Last Name)>:

I will be attending the Michigan Nonprofit Association’s Nonprofit Day conference on September 23 at the Lansing Center.  To enhance the sector’s involvement in public policy, nonprofit leaders from across the state will meet at this event to discuss the financial, political and social issues impacting Michigan nonprofits.

I would like to arrange a short meeting with you during this day.  As you may already know, < Insert - Tell something about your organization such as 1-5>

1. My organization’s mission is to…
2. It has been in existence since…
3. We have XX number of members…
4. We have served XX number of persons…
5. We have enjoyed strong partnerships with <others public, private organizations>…

I am available to meet with you or your staff anytime during the day; I will contact your office next week to confirm a time to meet. If you would like to contact me, I can be reached at < insert your telephone number>.

For more information regarding Nonprofit Day, please call the Michigan Nonprofit Association at 517/492-2400 or visit the MNA Web site at www.mnaonline.org

Thank you for your commitment and interest in < insert name of your nonprofit organization>.

Sincerely,

< Insert Name, Title, Organization>

1. Call your legislator a week after you send the letter to set up an appointment to meet with the Representative/Senator and/or staff. Legislators phone numbers can be accessed at http://www.senate.michigan.gov/SenatorInfo/
   alphabetical_list_of_senators2003.htm and http://www.house.mi.gov/replist.asp