MASSACHUSETTS:The Storm the State House

OFF THE WIRE
The Storm the State House is a RIDE to the State House in Boston with your MMA Brothers and Sisters to demonstrate our united support for Motorcycle Rights and the MMA’s Legislative Agenda. It’s also an opportunity to get the latest information about the MMA’s activities, hear from a couple of our key supporters in the State Legislature, and while you’re there, perhaps visit your Senator and/or Representative.

The MMA is a “Grass Roots” Association: we do not pay expensive lobbyists to deliver our message to our legislative representatives. Legislators are people just like you and they want to be in contact with you; their constituents. Never be afraid to communicate with them yourselves: be polite, be informative.

Building your relationship with your Legislators now may pay dividends in the future.

This is the 9th Annual Storm the Sate House and is being held this Thursday, May 20, 2010. Multiple staging locations have been established and are listed at www.MassMotorcycle.org. All riders will assemble at the Lion’s Club\Senior Center at 9 New Washington Street in Somerville MA. Food & drink will be available for purchase and the Guest Speaker will be Senator Robert Hedlund, who plans to ride with us to the State House.

We’ll be leaving Somerville promptly at Noon for the ride and we’ll be parking next to the Boston Common on Charles Street. We’ve reserved the Gardner Auditorium from 1P-3P, we have a few talks scheduled and we expect 1-2 Guest Speakers to also show and talk for a few minutes.

We’ll then disperse and meet our elected officials to discuss the issues we’d like them to support. Some notes follow that may help you plan the afternoon. If you need help finding the information for your Senator or State Representative, send an e-mail to LegislativeDirector@MassMotorcycle.org and we’ll help out.

Looking forward to seeing you at “The Storm”.

SOME NOTES:

1) Call your legislator or make an appointment to see him (or her) 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 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. (In other words, don’t be a “slactivist.”) 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. Poor handwriting often makes it impossible to read whom the letter is from and respond.

3) With email, it is also important to include your name, address, and phone number. Hundreds of emails arrive weekly and there is no way of knowing if they come from constituents in the district. If senders don't identify themselves or don't give their address, they delete the email. A legislator may not always respond via email. He may want to write or call. There have been many times they’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 House 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 Legislative Aide. These staff people are skilled, knowledgeable professionals who will treat your call respectfully and 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’s 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 and may actually pass each other on the Mass Pike 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! Send a thank you note. Join the Massachusetts Motorcycle Political Action Committee (MMPAC) and remember him at election time with your vote. 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.

People are often moved to contact their state legislator. That is a good thing and vitally important because it is impossible for them to represent their constituents if they don't know how you think or feel about issues. They need to hear from you to do their job.

Contact LegislativeDirector@MassMotorcycle.org for MMA Legislative issues or Contact@MassMotorcyclePAC.org for MMPAC Political issues if you have any questions.

Let’s all be a part of the solution.