Involving TRiO Students and Alumni in Advocacy

Attention: open in a new window. PrintE-mail

Involving TRiO Students and Alumni in Congressional Advocacy Efforts

1) Empower your TRiO Board, Leadership Council, etc. to host an event to gather students to call and write their Representatives and Senators.

Things to keep in mind:

  • The students should be responsible for creating the instructional guides, fliers, and creating and sending the e-mails advertising the event.
  • No federal grant dollars can be used for the event (i.e. no long distance calls on program phones, no postage, postcard, paper or envelope purchase)
  • If TRIO staff are to be present-schedule the event over lunch time or after work hours
  • Students can not be required to participate!

2) Send requests by e-mail to alumni and current students, asking them to call or write.

3) Ask individuals to write when they express an appreciation for TRiO programs.

Handy Tip:

  • Keep postcards handy in your office (paid for with non-federal funds of course!) and encourage students individually to write to their Senators and Representative about the way TRIO has impacted their lives. This can be done year round.

4) Assist students to set up a meeting with their local Representative and Senator's Offices and accompany them to the meeting.

Sample e-mail:

Dear current students and alumni,

Please take a moment and call or e-mail your congress person's office and urge him or her to include $780 million for TRiO and GEAR UP in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009!  If you call, you simply need to state that "I am calling to urge Congressman XX to include $780 million for TRiO and GEAR UP in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009!"  If possible, explain how you have benefited from TRIO programs. That's it!  If you e-mail, just state the same thing.  The call and e-mail can be very short.  A call is most effective. Please help TRiO. This is urgent.  If you are from Minnesota, your Senator is Amy Klobuchar (the other seat is still vacant).  If you go to the website below, you can search for your Senator(s) or Representative.
http://www.senate.gov/
http://www.house.gov/ (See the message below for more information.)


Sample Instruction Guide:

Thank-a-Thon/Invest in TRiO

1) Find your representative.

2) Find your senator.

3) What to mention in the letter/phone call/ post card:

  • Thank the Democratic Members for their work in securing the very significant Pell Grant increase that was included in the Stimulus Bill.
  • Ask them to support an increased investment in TRiO funding by $123.5 million
  • Thank them for supporting TRiO programs in the past

4) Write a personal story how TRiO has helped you and therefore they should increase Trio funding by $123.5 million.

Minnesota Representatives:

District 6: Michele Bachmann (Republican)

6043 Hudson Rd, Suite 330

Woodbury, MN 55125

Phone: 651-731-5400

Fax: 651-731-6650

 

107 Cannon HOB

Washington, DC 20515

Phone: 202-225-2331

Fax: 202-225-6475

 

District 3 : Erik Paulsen (Republican)

250 Prairie Center Drive, Suite 230
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Phone: 952-405-8510
Fax: 952-405-8514

 

126 Cannon HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-225-2871
Fax: 202-225-6351

 

District 5: Keith Ellison (Democrat)

2100 Plymouth Avenue N
Minneapolis, MN 55411

Phone: 612-522-1212

 

1122 Longworth Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2305

Phone: 612-522-1212

Fax: 612-522-9915

 

District 4: Betty McCollum (Democrat)

165 Western Ave N. Suite 17
St. Paul, MN 55102
Phone: 651-224-9191
Fax: 651-224-3056

 

1714 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-6631
Fax: 202-225-1968

District 8: James Oberstar (Democrat)
231 Federal Building
Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: 218-727-7474

 

2365 Rayburn HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-225-6211

 

 

District 7 : Collin Peterson (Democrat)

714 Lake Avenue, Suite 107
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
Phone : 218-847-5056

 

2211 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-2165
Fax: 202-225-1593

 

District 1 : Timothy Walz (Democrat)
1134 7th St NW
Rochester, MN 55901
Phone: 507-206-0643

1722 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-225-2472

 

District 2: John Kline (Republican)

101 W. Burnsville Pkwy #201

Burnsville, MN 55337
Phone: 952-808-1213

Fax: 952-808-1261

 

1210 Longworth HOB

Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-2271

Fax: 202-225-2595

 

Minnesota Senators:

Amy Klobuchar

302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Main Line: 202-224-3244
Main Fax: 202-228-2186
Toll Free: 1-888-224-9043

Al Franken

(202) 224-5641
Web Form: franken.senate.gov/contact/

Legislative Aides: Sherry Orbach and Stephanie Potter

DC Phone: 202-224-5641

Created by: Quyen Duong, St. Olaf College student SSS Board Member, February 2009