Representative Don Humason



HOW TO LOBBY LIKE A PROFESSIONAL By Representative Don Humason, Jr. March 24, 2007 It was a great day for a walk in Holyoke last Sunday, despite the snow and cold. Westfield was well represented in the Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Parade. Congratulations to the Sons of Erin Float Committee. For the third year in a row the Westfield float entry won the Grand Prize. It was spectacular. No other float entry has ever won back to back to back! The committee deserves huge recognition for this unprecedented honor. If you followed the news out of Beacon Hill this week you saw that Senate President Robert Travaglini, D-Boston, resigned to pursue a lobbying career in the private sector. The members of the Senate made history when they selected as his replacement the first woman to ever lead the Senate. Therese Murray, D-Plymouth, the former Chairperson of the Senate Ways and Means Committee became the new Senate President. The House met in formal sessions on both Wednesday and Thursday this week. We took up an emergency Bond Bill filed by Governor Deval Patrick to cover urgent and vital capital needs across the state. The House of Representatives is slated to debate our version of the state budget the week of April 23 – 28. Between now and then, my colleagues and I will be barraged by lobbyists of all sorts. People are often moved to contact their state legislator. That is a good thing and vitally important because, speaking as a State Representative, it is nearly impossible for us to represent our constituents if we don't know how they think or feel about issues. We need to hear from you to do our job. 1) Call your legislator or make an appointment to see him at his office or during office hours. Face to face contact is the best way to lobby. Have information available, in writing, to give him about the piece of legislation or issue concerning you. 2) Write your legislator. Next to speaking to him in person, personal letters are the most effective way of communicating. Avoid form letters and pre-printed postcards whenever possible. A hand written or typed letter in your own words shows that you cared about the topic enough to take your valuable time to put it on paper and send it. * VERY IMPORTANT! Always include your full name, address, and telephone number. Print your full name even if your signature is on the letter. Often, poor handwriting makes it impossible to read whom the letter is from and respond. 3) With email, it is also important you include your name, address, and phone number. I receive hundreds of emails a week and there is no way of knowing if they come from constituents in my district. If senders don't identify themselves or don't give their address I delete the email. A legislator may not always respond via email. He may want to write or call. There have been many times I've wanted to respond personally to an email by calling the sender but they failed to include a phone number. * Like you, legislators are very busy. Make it as easy to reply to you as possible. Providing all your contact information makes it more likely you will receive a timely response. There are times when you may not receive that response. During hectic times, like budget or override season, legislators are in the Chamber and are unable to return calls or reply to correspondence. Be assured that they do get your messages and often take the emails, letters, or call slips with them to the floor. 4) Feel free to speak with a legislator's staff person or legislative aide. These people are skilled, knowledgeable professionals who will treat your call confidentially. Many people delay their own satisfaction by waiting to speak directly with the legislator when the aide would have done just fine. Aides report everything to their bosses. It is their job. 5) Invite your legislator to meet with you or your group. Invite him to tour your business or school or get to know your organization so that he has some knowledge and familiarity with you and your cause. 6) If you’re coming to the State House to lobby your legislator, call him first to see if he’ll be there. He may have events in his district that day. You will pass each other on the turnpike going in opposite directions. Save yourself the cost of the trip to Boston and meet him back at home. 7) Don’t forget to thank your legislator! Remember him at election time with your vote. Send a thank you note. Send a small donation. Put up a lawn sign. Campaigning and politics is part of his job. If your legislator was helpful and responsive, be sure to show your appreciation. Support those who support you or your issue. You don't need to pay expensive lobbyists to deliver your message to your representatives. Legislators are people just like you and want to be in contact with their constituents. Never be afraid to communicate with them yourselves. Be polite and informative. Building that relationship now may pay dividends in the future. Representative Don Humason and his new aide Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Their Boston address is State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us
This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group

HOW TO LOBBY LIKE A PROFESSIONAL

By Representative Don Humason, Jr.

March 24, 2007

It was a great day for a walk in Holyoke last Sunday, despite the snow and cold. Westfield was well represented in the Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Congratulations to the Sons of Erin Float Committee. For the third year in a row the Westfield float entry won the Grand Prize. It was spectacular. No other float entry has ever won back to back to back! The committee deserves huge recognition for this unprecedented honor.

If you followed the news out of Beacon Hill this week you saw that Senate President Robert Travaglini, D-Boston, resigned to pursue a lobbying career in the private sector. The members of the Senate made history when they selected as his replacement the first woman to ever lead the Senate. Therese Murray, D-Plymouth, the former Chairperson of the Senate Ways and Means Committee became the new Senate President.

The House met in formal sessions on both Wednesday and Thursday this week. We took up an emergency Bond Bill filed by Governor Deval Patrick to cover urgent and vital capital needs across the state.

The House of Representatives is slated to debate our version of the state budget the week of April 23 – 28. Between now and then, my colleagues and I will be barraged by lobbyists of all sorts.

People are often moved to contact their state legislator. That is a good thing and vitally important because, speaking as a State Representative, it is nearly impossible for us to represent our constituents if we don't know how they think or feel about issues. We need to hear from you to do our job.

1) Call your legislator or make an appointment to see him at his office or during office hours. Face to face contact is the best way to lobby. Have information available, in writing, to give him about the piece of legislation or issue concerning you.

2) Write your legislator. Next to speaking to him in person, personal letters are the most effective way of communicating. Avoid form letters and pre-printed postcards whenever possible. A hand written or typed letter in your own words shows that you cared about the topic enough to take your valuable time to put it on paper and send it.

* VERY IMPORTANT! Always include your full name, address, and telephone number. Print your full name even if your signature is on the letter. Often, poor handwriting makes it impossible to read whom the letter is from and respond.

3) With email, it is also important you include your name, address, and phone number. I receive hundreds of emails a week and there is no way of knowing if they come from constituents in my district. If senders don't identify themselves or don't give their address I delete the email. A legislator may not always respond via email. He may want to write or call. There have been many times I've wanted to respond personally to an email by calling the sender but they failed to include a phone number.

* Like you, legislators are very busy. Make it as easy to reply to you as possible. Providing all your contact information makes it more likely you will receive a timely response.

There are times when you may not receive that response. During hectic times, like budget or override season, legislators are in the Chamber and are unable to return calls or reply to correspondence. Be assured that they do get your messages and often take the emails, letters, or call slips with them to the floor.

4) Feel free to speak with a legislator's staff person or legislative aide. These people are skilled, knowledgeable professionals who will treat your call confidentially. Many people delay their own satisfaction by waiting to speak directly with the legislator when the aide would have done just fine. Aides report everything to their bosses. It is their job.

5) Invite your legislator to meet with you or your group. Invite him to tour your business or school or get to know your organization so that he has some knowledge and familiarity with you and your cause.

6) If you’re coming to the State House to lobby your legislator, call him first to see if he’ll be there. He may have events in his district that day. You will pass each other on the turnpike going in opposite directions. Save yourself the cost of the trip to Boston and meet him back at home.

7) Don’t forget to thank your legislator! Remember him at election time with your vote. Send a thank you note. Send a small donation. Put up a lawn sign. Campaigning and politics is part of his job. If your legislator was helpful and responsive, be sure to show your appreciation. Support those who support you or your issue.

You don't need to pay expensive lobbyists to deliver your message to your representatives. Legislators are people just like you and want to be in contact with their constituents. Never be afraid to communicate with them yourselves. Be polite and informative. Building that relationship now may pay dividends in the future.

Representative Don Humason and his new aide Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Their Boston address is State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group