Election Day is Tuesday, November 4th, Make Your Voice Heard! Perhaps one of the most powerful, yet overlooked privileges we have as Americans is our right to vote. Voting is a clear-cut way to ensure that your voice is heard by politicians and other policy makers. However, more than 40% of Americans don’t vote in elections. We are rapidly approaching Tuesday, November 4th when elections will be held across the country. The Missouri Recovery Network encourages you to not only vote, but take this opportunity to contact your local and state representatives to see where they stand on issues related to addiction and recovery. To locate your state legislator and obtain his/her contact information, click here. Below are some tips for talking to your legislators when calling on the phone: • Plan what you want to say before you call. It’s always best to personalize your message by providing one or two reasons as to why this issue matters to you. • Immediately identify yourself as a constituent (someone from their district). • Be sure to make a direct request of what you would like to see (in regards to additional funding for addiction treatment and recovery support services). • If the legislator is not available, let the legislative staffer know why you’re calling. Tell the staff person that you would like for your elected official to call you back. Provide a phone number where they will be able to easily reach you. • If your lawmaker is not immediately available and the legislative staffer seems willing to listen, provide a few key points about why you’re calling and why the issues are important to you. • Be sure to thank them for their time. Below are tips when writing a letter or e-mailing your legislator: • Be brief and clear. State upfront why you are writing and stick to one or two points. • Personalize your message. Provide one or two reasons as to why you are making your request. If appropriate, include personal information as to why this issue matters to you. • Close by restating your request, and indicating that you look forward to receiving a response from the elected official. • Include your full name and mailing address so you are easily identified as a constituent. Elected officials are most concerned with the view of their voters. Other ways to spread the word about recovery: • Share information about your thoughts and concerns on your social media sites – Facebook, Twitter, etc. • Contact the Missouri Recovery Network if you’re interested in writing an article for our website or newsletter about recovery issues. • Ask others to join you as an active recovery advocate and become an MRN member (free online at morecovery.org) • Submit a letter to the editor of your local newspaper expressing your viewpoint and concerns. Letters to the editor affect public opinion, educate readers on the issue, and influence legislators. “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” – Alice Walker Missouri Recovery Network
Posted on: Mon, 27 Oct 2014 13:26:22 +0000
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