Points to Ponder #07-02
POINTS TO PONDER
Issue 07-02
From CSFC President H. Ray Harrington
CATEGORY: Legislation July 31, 2007
SUBJECT: AUGUST 2007 IS NARFE LOBBY MONTH
In May the Legislative Department in NARFE Headquarters announced that August 2007 would be NARFE Lobby Month. In this Points to Ponder (07-02) we will explain the planning process that the California Federation is utilizing to help NARFE members lobby their Members of Congress during NARFE Lobby Month.
In June, Ellen Rafferty, Palm Springs Chapter 0587 was appointed Chair of the National Legislative Committee and George Bardwil, South Bay Chapter 0465 was appointed Vice Chair. These two immediately took steps to formulate a Federation Plan of Action.
A team leader in each of the Ten Federation Districts was appointed to assist each Chapter in their District to achieve their National Legislative goals. These District contacts are: District I, Tom Buggie, Oceanside Chapter 0706; District II, Alfonso Navarro, Lakewood Chapter 2025; District III, Lenore Manak, San Bernardino Chapter 0073; District IV, Betty Hicks, Oakland Chapter 0040; District V, Edward Bystran, Santa Cruz Chapter 0054; District VI, Steve Almy, Hangtown Chapter 1503; District VII, Lea Zajac, Vallejo Chapter 0016; District VIII, Mae Harper, Antelope Valley Chapter 0877; District IX, Bernhard Ruth, Fresno Chapter 0045; District X, Frank Pipari, Clear Lake Chapter 1566.
The next step was to review the Congressional District Liaisons for each of the 53 Congressional Districts in California. We sought liaisons that were NARFE members and constituents of the House member or a NARFE member that had a close relationship with the Congressional Representative. Listed below are the Congressional Districts (CD) with the names of the House Member (HR Member) and NARFE Congressional District Liaison (CDL):
CD HR Member CDL
email address or
phone #
CD-1/ Mike Thompson Frank Pipari/#1566 celticat@pacific.net
CD-2/ Wally Herger Andrew Farrar/#1245 awfarrar@aol.com
CD-3/ Dan Lungren Robert Smith/#1680 rrs1925@aol.com
CD-4/ John Doolitt Steve Almy/#1503 absalmy@directcon.net
CD-5/ Doris Matsui Robert Chase/#46 916-454-2353
CD-6/ Lynn Woolsey Spence Sutherland/#400 415-331-3205
CD-7/ George Miller Lea Zajac, DVP VII/#16 LDZajac@aol.com
CD-8/ Nancy Pelosi Herman Bracey/#65 hermtaps@sbcglobal.net
CD-9/ Barbara Lee Betty Hicks/#40 bettyhicks@webtv.net
CD-10/ Ellen Tauscher Fil Fong, DVP V/#531 filmil@sbcglobal.net
CD-11/ Gerald McNerney Polly Stonich,/#397 pollystonich2003@aol.com
CD-12/ Tom Lantos Joseph Smith /#65 650-755-8261
CD-13/ Pete Stark Don Ross/#1494 rosvc@sbcglobal.net
CD-14/ Anna Eshoo Dennis Berglund/#544 650-747-0264
CD-15/ Mike Honda Eleanor Culver/#1494 e.culver@sbcglobal.net
CD-16/ Zoe Lofgren H. Rod Peery/#50 rodpeery@sbcglobal.net
CD-17/ Sam Farr Kay Lundy/#1496 kaykl@aol.com
CD-18/ Dennis Cardoza Luis Barboza/#49 lpbgdb710@aol.com
CD-19/ George Radanovich Bernhard Ruth/#45 bernieruth@sbcglobal.net
CD-20/ Jim Costa Bernhard Ruth/#45 bernieruth@sbcglobal.net
CD-21/ Devin Nunes Bernhard Ruth/#45 bernieruth@sbcglobal.net
CD-22/ Kevin McCarthy Clair Smith/#68 clairs@basicisp.net
CD-23/ Lois Capps Kingston George/#1330 kgeorge@pronet.net
CD-24/ Elton Gallegly George Lindsey/#190 geondot@adelphia.net
CD-25/ Howard McKeon Everette Renno/#1016 edrenno@gmail.com
CD-26/ David Dreier Emil Trimillos/#1497trimillos@dslextreme.com
CD-27/ Brad Sherman Norman McCracken,DVP/#61narfe61@socal.rr.com
CD-28/ Howard Berman Jack Mallard/#1810 mallard2@ix.netcom.com
CD-29/ Adam
Schiff Robert Fletcher/#10 and/or 626-795-5279
Jeannine Wolfe/#556 xyadellj@aol.com
CD-30/ Henry Waxman Marguerite Coffey-Hunt/#3 coffeyhunt@netzero.com
CD-31/ Xavier Becerra George Bardwil/#465 gbardwil@aol.com
CD-32/ Hilda Solis Jeannine Wolfe/#556 xyadellj@aol.com
CD-33/ Diane Watson Charlie Mattis/#2323 oldpro998@aol.com
CD-34/ Lucille Roybal-Allard Frank Impinna,DVP/#2025 fimpinna@charter.net
CD-35/ Maxine Waters Marguerite Coffey-Hunt/#3 coffeyhunt@netzero.com
CD-36/ Jane Harman George Bardwil/#465 gbardwil@aol.com
CD-37/ Vacant Charlie Mattis/#2323 oldpro998@aol.com
CD-38/ Grace Napolitano Jack Mires/#333 jwmires@yahoo.com
CD-39/ Linda Sanchez Jack Mires/#333 jwmires@yahoo.com
CD-40/ Ed Royce Chris Nobles/#1266 drnisme@aol.com
CD-41/ Jerry Lewis Ellen Rafferty/#587 HeyEL@wildblue.net
CD-42/ Gary Miller James Crandall/#188 jcrand4604@aol.com
CD-43/ Joe Baca Lenore Manak,DVP III/#73 leemanak@aol.com
CD-44/ Ken Calvert James Crandall/#188 jcrand4604@aol.com
CD-45/ Mary Bono Andrew Morgen, EVP/#587 acmorgen@aol.com
CD-46/ Dana Rohrabacher Doris Nobles/#1266 drnisme@aol.com
CD-47/ Loretta Sanchez George Bardwil/#465 gbardwil@aol.com
CD-48/ John Campbell Sonne Idelshon/#1689 sonnate1@cox.net
CD-49/ Darrell Issa Tom Buggie/#706 twbuggie@cox.net
CD-50/ Brian Bilbray Bob Davidson, DVP/#455 oldbobnarfe@myexcel.com
CD-51/ Bob Filner Sophia Butram/#4 sbutram@cox.net
CD-52/ Duncan Hunter Barbara Painter/#940 bpaint3@cox.net
CD-53/ Susan Davis Elaine Murphy/#669 619-448-8099
This members listed above will assist their NARFE District Legislative team leader and Chapter Presidents and Chapter Members in setting up appointments with local Congressional District Offices during NARFE Lobby Month.
Those members that visit Congressman Howard Berman and Congressman Howard “Buck” McKeon should give them our special gratitude for carrying the water on the Social Security Fairness Act of 2007, HR 82.
On July 10th the California Federation Legislative Leaders participated in a Region VIII teleconference with President Baptiste, the National Resident Officers and the National Legislative Department, led by Judy Park, wherein we discussed the plans for NARFE Lobby Month and our commitments to success.
Position Papers have been made available to all Chapter Presidents from the National Legislative Department and via the narfe.org website. If you need more position papers or discussion items, please contact your District Vice President or your District’s National Legislative team leader listed above.
Visiting Your House of Representative Member
Meeting with a member of Congress or congressional staff is a very effective way to convey a message about a specific legislative issue. Below are some suggestions to consider when planning a visit to a congressional office.
Plan Your Visit Carefully
Be clear about what it is you want to achieve; determine in advance which member or committee staff you need to meet with to achieve your purpose.
Make An Appointment
When attempting to meet with a member, contact the Appointment Secretary/Scheduler. Explain your purpose and who you represent. It is easier for congressional staff to arrange a meeting if they know what you wish to discuss and your relationship to the area or interests represented by the member.
Be Prompt and Patient
When it is time to meet with a member, be punctual and be patient. It is not uncommon for a Congressman or Congresswoman to be late, or to have a meeting interrupted, due to the member’s crowded schedule. If interruptions do occur, be flexible. When the opportunity presents itself, continue your meeting with a member’s staff.
Be Prepared
Whenever possible, bring to the meeting information and materials supporting your position. Members are required to take positions on many different issues. In some instances a member may lack important details about the pros and cons of a particular matter. It is therefore helpful to share with the member information and examples that demonstrate clearly the impact or benefits associated with a particular issue or piece of legislation.
Be Political
Members of Congress want to represent the best interests of their district or state. Whenever possible, describe the connection between what you are requesting and the interests of the member’s constituency. If possible, describe for the member how our or your group can be of assistance to him/her. Where it is appropriate, remember to ask for a commitment.
Be Responsive
Be prepared to answer questions or provide additional information, in the event the member expresses interest or asks questions. If you do not know the answer, tell the member that you will get back with the answer. The credibility of NARFE is at stake with every answer given at these meetings. Follow up the meeting with a thank you letter that outlines the different points covered during the meeting, and send along any additional information and materials requested.
THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION GOAL DURING AUGUST NARFE LOBBY MONTH IS FOR EVERY CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE IN CALIFORNIA TO BE VISITED BY NARFE MEMBERS WHO WILL MEET WITH THE MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OR WITH A STAFF MEMBER AND HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT NARFE LEGISLATIVE GOALS IN THE 110TH CONGRESS AND LEAVE POSITION PAPERS ON HR 82 AN HR 1110. WE WANT TO THANK EVERY REPRESENTATIVE THAT HAS COSPONSORED HR 82 AND/OR HR 1110.
District Vice Presidents will assure that every office located in their Federation District is visited during August and a report is prepared by those attending listing points discussed and the House Members or the Member’s staff’s position and/or response.
This report will then be sent to Ellen Rafferty, HeyEL@wildblue.net, for her to compile and send to the Federation President.
For Senators’ Boxer and Feinstein Offices, throughout the state, the National Legislative Chair has assigned NARFE Members to make appointments and visit the Offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Benardino, Fresno, and Sacramento. The Federation Goal is to visit every Senatorial Office and have a meeting with the Senator or a staff member. NARFE members will visit every Senate Office in California.
Please follow the same guidelines listed above in Visiting Your House of Representative Member, to have an effective meeting.
A report of these Senatorial visits will be the responsibility of the team leader for each office visited. The report will be sent directly to Ellen Rafferty immediately following the official meeting. We will give special thanks to Senator Boxer for cosponsoring both S206 and S773. Our gratitude will be given to Senator Feinstein for introducing S206 and ask her to cosponsor S773.
During NARFE Lobby Month in August, we have the opportunity to inform and educate our Members of Congress on the NARFE Legislative Agenda for the 110th Congress on our home ground and in our local communities. I have the sincere belief that this can become the most successful lobbying effort in the California Federations history.
If you have any questions or concerns about this Points to Ponder, please contact me at hrayharrington@yahoo.com or 530-877-8174.
We Can and Will Achieve.
H. Ray Harrington
CSFC President
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