Contacting Your Legislators
If you haven't contacted your state representatives before, it's pretty easy.
First, to find out who your legislator is and thus who you should write to, go to http://www.elections.alaska.gov/maps.php and find the letter and number of your district based where you live. The number is for your House district and the letter is Senate. You might write the combo down somewhere or burn it into your brain. It's a good thing to just know, and it doesn't change often.
Second, go to http://www.elections.alaska.gov/distleg.php and look for your Senator on the left (by matching the letter) and your House Rep on the right (by matching the number). On this page you can click on your legislators’ links. You might burn those names into your brain also!
Third, once on your legislator’s page, click on their e-mail address and write your letter.
Make your case, say why you care and do so respectfully.
At the moment, our key issues are returning to Defined Benefit Retirement, Full and Forward Funding for Education in Alaska, and decent teacher housing in rural Alaska, but NEA Delegate Assembly and the local EA's across the State have also taken stands on many other issues.
You will almost certainly get a response. When you do, if it is an education issue, it would be great if you would forward the response (and your original letter if it is not part of it) on to John.Alcantra@neaalaska.org . John is our Government Relations Director and is in regular contact with legislators in and out of session. The response you get may be different than the response other people get, or what the representative says in public. It is very helpful to know these things as we go about working with the legislators during the session. We are interested in all issues you hear back on that relate to education, teachers, or public employees in general.
I would urge you to find time to write a couple of times a year. Identify yourself as a constituent (if you are), a teacher, and by other roles you play in the community. It matters that legislators know they've heard from 100 teachers instead of thinking it was only 50. If you see your legislator on the news or in the paper saying something you agree with, don't hesitate a second to send a "Thank You.” They need to hear both sides.
If you are going to be in Juneau during the session, John would be glad to facilitate a meeting between you and your legislators. You will find that they are almost all extremely gracious and welcoming. Drop him an email in advance, or let him know that you're visiting. In addition to your legislators, as an NEA-Alaska member you always have a friend in Juneau working on your side of the issues.
For more questions about contacting your legislators, contact Andy Holleman at andyh@anchorageea.net.
