Elected officials often learn the views of their constituents and of industry through letters, phone calls, faxes, or e-mail. Personal face-to-face meetings are typically left to the hired association lobbyist.Today, more than ever, your elected officials want and need to receive written communications from their constituents. Writing effective letters to elected officials is not difficult. Properly done, your letter can help leverage the broader effort.Letter writing guidelines… Use your company’s letterhead or personal stationary. Include your return address on your letter, not just on the envelope. This will help to ensure a response-most envelopes are discarded right away. Be accurate. Spell names correctly, and verify information. Be brief. Tell why you are writing, and get right to the point. If you know the name or number of the bill that is of interest to you, include it. If not, give as much information as possible about the bill. Use INLA sample letters as guidelines when they are available. These will give you specific information such as bill numbers and titles. Look for them on the INLA website at www.inla1.org under “Legislative.” Relate your reason for writing to a personal experience-this is the best supporting evidence for your opinion. Explain how the legislation would affect your business, your fellow employees, and the community in which you live. Ask for a response or for the member to explain his or her position on the issue in the reply so you can avoid receiving a typical “form letter” response. As a constituent, you are entitled to know how and why your representatives feel and how they may vote on a particular issue. Contact officials within Indiana and your congressional district-see the INLA Legislative Directory to find your Senators and Representatives. E-mail Notes: If you choose to communicate via e-mail, follow the same guidelines you would use to write a letter (including the correct salutation). It is also a good idea to send a hard copy of your note or letter to the member’s office when composing a message via e-mail.Suggested Addresses and SalutationsHouseThe Honorable (fill in full name)United States House of Representatives(Room # and Building Name) House Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515Dear Representative (last name onlySenateThe Honorable (fill in full name)United States Senate(Room # and Building Name) Senate Office BuildingWashington, DC 20510Dear Senator (last name only)Indiana HouseThe Honorable (fill in full name)Indiana House of Representatives200 W. Washington StreetIndianapolis, IN 46204-2786Dear Representative (last name only)Indiana SenateThe Honorable (fill in full name)Indiana State Senate200 W. Washington StreetDear Senator (last name only)For more Indiana contact information, go to http://www.in.gov/legislative/contact/