Elected officials feel responsible for an issue or a community with which they are familiar. The more familiar they are with an issue or community, the more responsibility lawmakers will take on and the more vigorous their efforts will be on the community's behalf. Schedule a visit with your elected officials once a year. Dropping by may be less formal, but you risk missing your legislator, waiting interminably or throwing off their schedule. During the visit, be sure to emphasize no more than three or four issues.
Frequent contacts are important.
Elected officials must be contacted over and over again so that when they see your face, hear your voice or see your name on a letter, they react immediately. Include elected officials on the invitation list for various functions. You may not be involved with planning University functions, but for those who are, please remember to invite your legislators. They may or may not be able to attend, but they will always appreciate the invitation. Write elected officials regularly.