It is critically important to communicate with your elected officials and their staff on a regular and pro-active basis. If you wait until your program or lab has some special or urgent need, it may be too late to get timely action. The following are ideas on how to get congressional relationships started and keep them going.

Your ARS association is your entrée - use it. Write a letter inviting your Senators and Representative plus their staff to tour your lab and be briefed on the research programs. I can give you sample invitation letters. Send a copy of the letter to the leader of a local customer support group, ag-related organization and/or a constituent who has a strong relationship with the congressional delegation. Ask him/her to participate in the meeting and also to encourage the Member(s) of Congress (MC) to accept your invitation. If your lab has any newsworthy item (CRADAs, patents, research articles or publications, workshop reports about your research, etc.), use this as an introduction and opportunity to initiate/reissue the invitation.

Schedule a meeting. Most MC use recess periods and weekends at home to meet with constituents in their local offices. Also, there are times when you are in Washington, DC for other purposes. If you aren't getting a response to your invitation to visit your lab, call the local or Washington, DC office and make an appointment for a meeting. If the meeting is in the DC office, you may only meet with the legislative aide but you should still push for the staff and boss to visit your lab. Also, encourage the staffer to use you as a resource for ag research issues.

Plan an event that is big enough to ensure critical mass and press such as groundbreaking, dedication and anniversary ceremonies. Schedule the event during a congressional recess period, when Congress is adjourned, or non-voting days (usually Monday and Friday) when the MC is most likely to be home. I can help you determine the best date options, write the invitation letters to Congressional and USDA VIPs, and plan the program. Work with your Information Officer to produce press releases about your event. Send one to the press secretary in the Senator and/or Representatives' office so they will be inspired to issue their own press release. The "care and feeding" of the MC's press secretary is an overlooked but potential way to get MC access.

Partner with other ag groups (Land-Grant University, Farmers Bureau, Professional Society, Customer Support Groups, Industry, etc.) to host a field day, appreciation day for the MC, issues forum, open house, etc. and ask your Senators and/or Representative to participate. Also, think about special day/month events (Earth Day, Black History Month, etc.) to partner with other groups (creating critical mass) and invite a MC to speak. If you can't get an elected official to commit, ask their spouse to speak. Most MC spouses like to substitute and the host of the event (you) won't go unnoticed by the congressional husband or wife!

When opportunity knocks, use it! Elected officials attend the same town meetings, Lions Club luncheons, etc. that you do and staffers often call you for information. Use these opportunities to invite them to come to your lab. And when they come, pull out all the stops!!!!