[MIham] May Newsletter

[FSK]

Legislative Action Assistant (LAA)

Taken from: ARRL Legislative Action Program Management Manual



The number of LAAs in a state depends upon the number of US Senators and US
Representatives for the state. LAAs work in teams of two or three members to
visit local Federal legislators. Their activities are coordinated by the
LAC. LAAs are the front line troops who will make the all-important contacts
in congressional districts. In the case of key legislative districts, you
may wish to identify five or six members to form two LAA teams. These teams
will be able to share the task of making all important visits to their local
legislators to put a face to the Amateur Radio issues with which the
Legislative Action Program in concerned. While only two or three should be
the number making the visit, potential scheduling problems may dictate the
wisdom of recruiting a larger than necessary for a group. But avoid allowing
more than one team to make visits to a legislator on the same legislative
issue. Visits by multiple teams may create confusion during visits and may
result in the Congressman receiving a confused message about ARRL
legislative goals.

Important Considerations for LAAs:

1.Must be a current member of ARRL.

2.Must be a registered voter who has voted in recent elections.

3.Must be readily accessible by both phone and e-mail.

4.Must be familiar with the workings of the program. (Please have them read
the material previously provided by the Legislative Action Committee so they
will understand their place and function.)

5.Must have the skills necessary to work in a two or three person team.

6.Must be reasonably articulate and presentable.

7.Must be willing, when needed, to help recruit additional registered voters
who are also ARRL members living and voting in the Congressional district.

8.Must be willing to coordinate receipt of material and training needs to
fulfill the mission of the Program.

9.Must be willing to speak to local clubs about the ARRL Legislative Action
Program

10.Must clearly understand their mission, as LAAs during meetings with
legislators or their aides, is to discuss only Amateur Radio legislative
issues selected to be supported or opposed through the Legislative Action
Program. As private citizens, LAAs may wish to support of oppose other
hot-button issues of their choosing, but they must avoid appearing to do
this in the name of ARRL. These personal hot-button issues should be
discussed in meetings separate from meetings held on behalf of the
Legislative Action Program.



Primary Responsibilities of the LAA:

1.Schedule face-to-face meetings with local legislative staff and members of
the US House of Representatives or US Senate.

2.Make follow up visits and stay in contact with the Congressional office
over a long period of time to keep the Legislator current about Amateur
Radio issues important to ARRL.

3.Request Congressmen support or oppose certain bills or resolutions.

4.Explain the legitimacy of the ARRL position on Federal legislation.

5.Work in a coordinated team of ARRL members in the local area who desire to
make the ARRL Legislative Action Program a success.



Skills and Knowledge of use to the LAA:

1.Be a personal acquaintance with or be motivated to become acquainted with
local Federal legislative staff and elected officials.

2.Have the ability to work with other local ARRL members to coordinate a
team to participate effectively in the Program.



Does this interest you? If so, and your in Michigan contact Lou Gembolis,
KG8Nk at kg8nk at arrl.net, in Ohio contact Brent Stover, WD8PNZ at
wd8pnz at arrl.net and in Kentucky contact Patrick Thrush, N4PRT at
n4prt at arrl.net or to me at nb4k at arrl.org.



I hope to see you'll consider this position and help us protect the future
of our hobby.



John D. Meyers, NB4K

Division Legislative Action Coordinator