Before the meeting, decide the key points that should be covered, and who will raise which points. This is important because it will help you share your information and not take too much of the staff or Member s time. They will appreciate your advance preparation. Delayed appointments can be very beneficial if they give you time to get to know the Member's staff. Meeting with staff can be as productive as seeing the Member personally.
Flexibility is important because Members' schedules get juggled at a moment's notice.
You may meet with a Member in the chamber lobby, walk with him or her to the Capitol for a vote, or may even meet with a staff person instead. Congressional offices are friendly places and usually have a sense of the state or district they represent. It is appropriate for you to ask their position. Ask to take a photograph with your legislator so that your public information officer at you college can send a news release and picture to your local newspaper for publicity. Ask your legislator to keep you informed of congressional action on those issues and remind the legislator that staffs of the two national community college associations in Washington can serve as a local resource for them for additional information.