Citizen Advocacy

The last, but certainly not least activity that AAS volunteers are encouraged to undertake is citizen advocacy. To be an advocate means to defeAdopt-A-Stream Logond a cause or proposal. To support the AAS program, we encourage you to become an advocate for legislation that will protect Mississippi's lakes, streams, and rivers. To be an advocate could be as simple as sending a quick note to your legislator, or for the more enthusiastic, a visit to the state capitol. Whatever the scope, plan to get involved! The following gives detailed instructions on how you can be a more effective advocate for preserving our water resources.

During the past three decades, a variety of laws have been passed to regulate water quality, wetlands, scenic rivers and streams. Examples are the Clean Water Act, the Coastal Zone Management Act, the Farm Bill, and the Safe Drinking Water Act. If you think you can't influence what goes on in Congress or in the Mississippi legislature, consider this: Each year, citizens concerned about their environment persuade Congress and the Legislature to enact laws to protect our health and the health of our waters. Our country's rivers, streams, and lakes will be cleaner because people like you convinced your representatives to pass such laws. Your representatives will listen to you, because your views provide first hand information on how an issue affects the people "back home."

How to find out about current issues:

There are many great sources of information on issues and pending legislation affecting water, such as your local or statewide newspapers and broadcast news. News reporters sometimes give only a brief overview of an issue, but oftentimes it is enough to help a citizen find out where to go for more information.

The Mississippi Wildlife Federation is one of only a few citizen's advocacy organizations who monitor state and national legislation, regulations, and public projects which affect our state's waters. They frequently provide information to members as well as interested citizens on bills and proposed regulations, and are happy to include the Adopt-A-Stream stewards in the public awareness effort. By contacting their office, you can find out the latest on legislation, or you may call the Congressional or Legislative switchboards for bill status.

Another way to stay informed on issues that affect fisheries and wildlife management and outdoor recreation interests in Mississippi is to join the Mississippi WIldlife Federation Camo Coalition. The Camo Coalition is an organization formed to keep Mississippians aware of legislation that affects fishing, hunting and outdoor recreation interest. MWF will provide you with the necessary information and tools to take action on critical issues that will affect Mississippi's outdoor interests. Join the Camo Coalition today by clicking here.

The following are some guidelines on how to effectively communicate with your congressmen, legislators, and other state representatives about issues affecting water in your community.

Letter writing:

It only takes a few minutes to write a letter, but it can make a big difference. When your representative receives enough letters on a particular issue, it does influence their vote. And sometimes only a few letters from constituents can make all the difference. After all, they want to be re-elected, and your vote counts.

The following are some suggestions that will give your letter the greatest possible impact:

Use your own words and your stationery - A handwritten letter is fine as long as it is legible.
Be concise - A one-page letter is long enough; it is more likely to be read that a two- or three-page letter.
Try to write more than one or two sentences - Instead of writing, "Vote for H. R. 544" and nothing more, explain how the issue will directly affect your life, or the people and resources in your area. Personal touches will often influence lawmakers.
Identify your subject clearly - If possible, try to refer to legislation either by its bill number or more popular name, such as the Clean Water Act.
Discuss only one issue in each letter - For example, don't mention acid rain and hazardous wastes in the same correspondence. This ensures that your letter will be seen by the right staff member.
Ask the legislator to do something specific - Ask for a vote for a particular bill, request hearings, or co-sponsor a bill.
Ask for a reply
Try not to use form letters - They have one-tenth the impact of any letter you write yourself. Photocopies or carbons also make little impression. The same goes for a postcard - they're considered a sign of organized "pressure mail" campaigns by most legislative offices.
You needn't mention that you are a member of a conservation organization - There's no need to mention that you are affiliated with the Mississippi Wildlife Federation. Legislators know where most major conservation groups stand on environmental issues. They want to know where you stand.
We appreciate receiving copies of letters that you send to Capitol Hill - But you should avoid putting "cc: Mississippi WIldlife Federation" at the bottom of your letter.
Don't be unnecessarily critical and never threaten or insult - Imagine how you would react if you received such a letter in the mail. Negative correspondence often does more harm than good, and can cause legislators to swing their support in the opposite direction.
Be sure to include your return address on the letter - Also, make a copy of your letter. It may come in handy when you want to write again.

Click here to see an example of an effective letter.

Follow Up:

When your representative's reply to your letter arrives, it's time to take action again. Follow-up letters can be very important.

If your legislator agrees with your stand and plans to take action, write back and thank him or her. Many letters, however, will not contain this response. Some of them will be noncommittal. They may fail to respond solidly to any of the points you made in your original letter. If that's the case, you should write again and politely point out that they didn't answer your questions from your first letter, and you are still concerned and want to hear from them. Second letters almost always get results. Your legislator will know you're concerned.

Also, send your thanks when a legislator's vote or other action supports your cause. Elected officials receive stacks of critical mail; a little praise now and then for a job well done is always welcome.

Using your telephone:

Telephones are especially effective as a last-minute method of relaying your message to Washington or Jackson. The cost is minimal (usually only a few dollars for a short call to D.C.), but it impresses a legislator when you're concerned enough to take time out from your busy day and money from your pocket to let them know how you feel.

Here are a few suggestions for telephoning your legislators in Washington:

Give your name, and ask first to speak with your legislator - State what issue you are calling about, such as "H.R. 2959, the pesticide reform bill Representative Taylor will be voting on tomorrow." If you legislator isn't available, ask to speak with a staff member who specializes in the specific bill or environmental issues you'll be interested in.
Be brief, organized and polite - State what you want the member to do - vote for or against a bill or specific amendment.
Note the name and the title of the person you speak with as well as the date and time of your call - If you ever wish to speak to your legislator in the future, such contacts can be invaluable.
If you wish, ask for any relevant materials to be sent to you, such as a copy of the bill.

Personal Meetings:

One extremely effective method of communication is to meet with your elected officials. You can talk to your legislators when they return to their home district or, if you plan to be in Washington or Jackson, go see them at the Capitol.

To get an appointment, simply call the local or Washington, D.C. office or the Capitol and tell the staff member you'd like to meet with your legislator. For state legislators you may also reach them at home or at work out of the session. If you don't know the location or telephone number of these offices, look them up on this site: http://www.ls.state.ms.us/.

If approaching your elected officials by yourself is too scary, look for friends or other people who share your interest. Then, approach your members of Congress or the legislature together. The issue you're concerned about may affect a variety of groups, such as health organizations or unions. The wider the spectrum of people supporting an issue, the more weight your position will carry.

The Congressional House and Senate take periodic recesses and many lawmakers head home. One to count on is in August when Congress takes a recess from the hot an humid climate of Washington, D.C. Recesses are good times to catch up with your legislators and discuss the environmental issues they will be facing in Congress. The Mississippi Legislature meets from the first week in January to the first week in April.

If you're not successful in securing a personal meeting, keep an eye out for notices of town meetings or public forums. Many legislators may hold such public meetings during recess, and you can at least ask a question on your environmental concern.

How to get the most out of your meeting:

Make an appointment - To get an appointment, simply call your lawmaker's office and tell the staff member you would like a meeting with your legislator. Call (202) 224-3121 (the U. S. Capitol Switchboard) to speak with Washington, D.C. offices. Call (601) 359-3770 to speak with the State Capitol offices.
Be on time for your meeting - Legislators are very busy people. Chances are, you will not get that much time for your meeting, so you don't want to waste it.
Start with a compliment - Your meeting will go more smoothly if your legislator sees from the beginning that you are friendly. Start your meeting by thanking him or her for a particular piece of legislation they have sponsored in the past or a good stand they took on an issue.
You don't have to be an expert - You will probably know much more about an issue than your lawmaker, but if you don't know an answer to a question, just say so. Be sure to get back to the legislator as soon as possible with the right answer or data.
Be a good listener - Give your legislator the chance to ask questions. Your legislator's view may differ from your own, but at least let him or her know your are willing to hear them.
Put a local angle on the issue - Let the legislator know how a specific issue affects you, your city, state or the region.
Press for a commitment - If the legislator is not in opposition to your views, press him or her for a commitment. Ask them to support the specific thing you want.
Bring a fact sheet stating your position - Hand it to the legislator at the end of the meeting. Be sure to include a name and phone number on the sheet so the legislator or his or her aides will have a contact for more information.
Write a follow-up letter - After your visit, write a letter thanking your legislator for his or her support for your issue or for any other efforts on your behalf that he or she has done. This will also give you a chance to summarize the key points you made in the meeting and include any information that may have been requested.
Don't forget the staff - If you cannot see your legislator, meet with a member of his or her staff. Remember that these aids advise and make recommendations to their bosses about what to do on legislation.