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"I worked for Congress for 6 years, and here's what I learned about how they listen to constituents": https://twitter.com/editoremilye/status/797243415922515970

"I worked for Congress for 6 years, and here's what I learned about how they listen to constituents": https://twitter.com/editoremilye/status/797243415922515970 https://twitter.com/editoremilye/status/797243415922515970

acqq 10y ago
For us without the access to twitter, can please somebody write what the hell the person learned? "Here's what" titles are the worst I know.
- marak830 10y ago
  Conversation Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye I worked for Congress for 6 years, and here's what I learned about how they listen to constituents. Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye First, tweeting or writing on Facebook is largely ineffective. I never looked at those comments except to remove the harassing ones. Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye Second, writing a letter to the district office (state) is better than sending an email or writing a letter to DC. Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye But, the most effective thing is to actually call them on the phone. At their district (state) office. They have to talk to you there. Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye We repped half a million people, it was impossible to read and respond personally to all letters. Impossible. Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye This was something in particular that I cared about as a staffer and worked very hard on, but the sheer volume of emails is overwhelming Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye So, we batched them with computer algorithms and sent out form letters based on topic and position. Regardless of method received. in reply to @editoremilye Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye But, phone calls! That was a thing that shook up our office from time. One time, a radio host gave out our district office phone # on air.10:09 AM · Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye He was against our immigration policy and told our constituents to call. And they did. All. Day. Long. All I did all day was answer phones. Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye It was exhausting and you can bet my bosses heard about it. We had discussions because of that call to action. Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye If we started getting a pattern of calls, I called up our DC office and asked if they were getting the same calls and we talked. Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye Also, recognize that your letters and your emails get seen by staffers, just like your phone calls get answered. That's the way of it. Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye If you want to talk to your rep, show up at town hall meetings. Get a huge group that they can't ignore. Pack that place and ask questions. Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye We held town halls consistently that fewer than 50 people showed up for. And it was always the same people. So, shake it up. Nov 12 Megan Broderick‏ @megbrod12 @editoremilye I'm literally making an excel right now of all my reps contact info, this is great to have! Esp the DC vs district office Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye As always, please be kind but firm with those staffers. They will listen and talk to you. I always, always did. Sorry about the lack of formatting, I'm on my smartphone. Edit: added line breaks.
StavrosK 10y ago
That's a great link, thanks. What's not-as-great is the next tweet, where she says people "called her suggestions out as ableist". Is this really a thing? People were offended at her because handicapped people couldn't do the things that were most effective?

acqq 10y ago

For us without the access to twitter, can please somebody write what the hell the person learned? "Here's what" titles are the worst I know.

marak830 10y ago
Conversation Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye I worked for Congress for 6 years, and here's what I learned about how they listen to constituents. Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye First, tweeting or writing on Facebook is largely ineffective. I never looked at those comments except to remove the harassing ones. Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye Second, writing a letter to the district office (state) is better than sending an email or writing a letter to DC. Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye But, the most effective thing is to actually call them on the phone. At their district (state) office. They have to talk to you there. Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye We repped half a million people, it was impossible to read and respond personally to all letters. Impossible. Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye This was something in particular that I cared about as a staffer and worked very hard on, but the sheer volume of emails is overwhelming Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye So, we batched them with computer algorithms and sent out form letters based on topic and position. Regardless of method received. in reply to @editoremilye Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye But, phone calls! That was a thing that shook up our office from time. One time, a radio host gave out our district office phone # on air.10:09 AM · Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye He was against our immigration policy and told our constituents to call. And they did. All. Day. Long. All I did all day was answer phones. Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye It was exhausting and you can bet my bosses heard about it. We had discussions because of that call to action. Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye If we started getting a pattern of calls, I called up our DC office and asked if they were getting the same calls and we talked. Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye Also, recognize that your letters and your emails get seen by staffers, just like your phone calls get answered. That's the way of it. Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye If you want to talk to your rep, show up at town hall meetings. Get a huge group that they can't ignore. Pack that place and ask questions. Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye We held town halls consistently that fewer than 50 people showed up for. And it was always the same people. So, shake it up. Nov 12 Megan Broderick‏ @megbrod12 @editoremilye I'm literally making an excel right now of all my reps contact info, this is great to have! Esp the DC vs district office Nov 12 Emily Ellsworth‏ @editoremilye As always, please be kind but firm with those staffers. They will listen and talk to you. I always, always did. Sorry about the lack of formatting, I'm on my smartphone. Edit: added line breaks.

StavrosK 10y ago

That's a great link, thanks. What's not-as-great is the next tweet, where she says people "called her suggestions out as ableist". Is this really a thing? People were offended at her because handicapped people couldn't do the things that were most effective?