Action CenterAttend a Town Meeting Invite Your Elected Official to Visit Your Program
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Response to Gulf Hurricanes Rule Making 2005
Save AmeriCorps 2003

From the passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act to the approval of historic funding levels for the Corporation for National and Community Service, 2009 was a landmark year for service.  But we cannot let this momentum disappear.  Communities across America continue to face pressing challenges, and nonprofit organizations need human capital to help them provide critical assistance.  National service is a powerful and proven resource that helps build the capacity of community agencies and nonprofits while allowing Americans to share in the responsibility of seeing us through these difficult times.

As Congress begins work on FY 2011 appropriations, it is important to reach out to our elected officials and share with them stories of impact and relevant data from programs operating in their states and districts.  Please refer to the sections below to learn more about contacting and interacting with your Members of Congress.  Take advantage of District Work Periods to invite them to visit programs and participate in service events, and attend town hall meetings held during these recess times.  Write and call Members’ local and Washington, DC offices with updates on your projects and outcomes.  Through this outreach and direct experience, our legislators gain better understanding of the power and potential of service in our communities and country.

	RESOURCES Senate Dear Colleague Letter House Dear Colleague Letter

You can help build bipartisan support for national service by encouraging your elected officials to join the National Service Congressional Caucus.  The National Service Congressional Caucus was established in both the House and the Senate to promote the growth and advancement of national service.  Caucus members work to educate their congressional colleagues about the impact and potential of national service.

The leadership of the National Service Congressional Caucus in both the House and the Senate have issued Dear Colleague letters inviting their peers to join the Caucus.  You can take action to support this effort:

1. Click here to review the current members of the National Service Congressional Caucus and determine if your elected officials are already members.  Don’t forget to thank those who have already joined.

2. Visit your elected officials in Washington, DC and deliver a copy of the House or Senate letter that invites legislators to join the Caucus.

• For tips on scheduling a visit click here.

3. Write to the members of your congressional delegation, tell them about your interest in expanding national service, and forward a copy of the Dear Colleague letter with instructions on how they can join the Caucus.

• Click here for a template you can use to write your Representative in the House.

• Click here for a template you can use to write your Senator.

4. Call your elected officials today and ask if they have joined the National Service Congressional Caucus.

You can directly share your concerns with Congress about national service funding by attending a town hall meeting in your community. Members of Congress often hold public meetings in their communities when Congress is not in session. The meetings occur at community centers, schools, religious institutions, and other public spaces, allowing voters to share their views and concerns directly to their elected officials.

Contact your Representative and Senator’s local district offices to find out when they are holding a town hall meeting in your area. To prepare for the meeting click here to read a Guide to Town Hall Meetings.

Engaging our public leaders in service is a wonderful way to build support for national service and convey the impact that your program is having on your community.  We hope that you will contact your public leaders, including your mayor, governor, city council members, and Members of Congress, and invite them to visit your program or participate in a day of service.

111th Congress, 2nd Session (2010) – Tentative Recess Schedule:

• Click here for a sample invitation letter

• Click here for tips on how to schedule a visit with an elected official

• Click here for tips on promoting your service day to the media

Please help us keep track of how many Members participate in site visits by emailing info@voicesforservice.org or calling 202-742-7374 once participation is confirmed.  We would also love to receive a copy of any photos you take with your Members of Congress.  Photos can be emailed to the address above.

Call Labor HHS Appropriators and tell them to restore funding for national service. Click here for instructions and talking points.

Write the Members of Congress and tell them that the national service programs in their states are in jeopardy. Visit www.congress.org to identify your Congressional representatives and click here to view a draft letter that you can customize.

Locate instructions for how to write to the Opinion Editor of your paper. Instructions often appear on the Opinion page of the newspaper or you can visit the newspaper’s website.

You can then write your own Letter to the Editor or Op-Ed. Write about your personal experience with national service programs and call for elected officials to support full funding for national service. It is best to be specific about recent legislation (see Legislative Updates) and what action you want taken.