Personal face-to-face contact is always the most effective means of communication, particularly when contacting state representatives. A phone call is also a very productive option when lobbying state senators and delegates. However circumstances such as travel and a tight legislative schedule can render direct forms of communication hard to achieve. Often, the most feasible approach is a letter or a facsimile. The fax number for the West Virginia Senate is (304) 357-7829 and the House of Delegates fax number is (304) 340-3240.

The Honorable Senator ________________
Dear Senator __________________:

or

The Honorable Delegate _______________
Dear Delegate _________________:

The Governor should be addressed as:

The Honorable Joe Manchin
Governor of West Virginia
Capitol Complex
Charleston, WV 25301

II. Always be sure of your facts. Make certain you comprehend the bill in question.
Many times there are various measures dealing with the same basic subject.
WVRWA will be happy to provide you with copies of bills and inform you of the association's
position regarding that legislation.

III. In your letter, it is imperative you identify the bill by both title and subject.
Given the hundreds of bills that are proposed in the course of one legislative session,
it is asking a great deal to expect a senator or delegate to recall a bill by number alone.

IV. Direct and to the point is the best approach. Concise, clearly stated facts and
opinions are more likely to standout among the countless other letters your letter will
be competing against. Aim for a well-conceived one page letter. Many legislators
maintain files on each bill so write one letter per each bill in question.

V. Be original in writing your letter. This is another means of catching the attention of
lawmakers and having a more memorable effect upon the reader.

VI. Be professional. Never make demands or use harsh words and phrases. Lawmakers
are often caught between conflicting interests. His or her final vote may be against
WVRWA's position or your own opinion, but always be professional. Never burn
any bridges or write anything harmful to you or your agency.

VII. Never stop writing letters. Do not forget, each bill must be voted on by different
groups of legislators as it makes its way through the process. Write to members of
the various committees to which the bill is originally assigned. When the bill has had
a second reading and is approaching a floor vote, be sure to write to leadership of the
House, Speaker Bob Kiss, or Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin. If a bill has made
it through both houses and is forwarded to the Governor, be sure to write him
regarding your views about the bill.

The West Virginia Legislature's Reference and Information Center provides informational services to legislators, the Media, and the general public. The address is:

West Virginia Legislature's Reference & Information Center
MB-27, Building 1
State Capitol Complex
Charleston, WV 25305

The Information Center, (304) 558-8905, provides information to the public through a toll-free line (1-800-642-8650) which permits citizens to obtain bill status information, leave messages for lawmakers during session, request copies of legislation, or obtain governmental information, The office also produces publications such as A Guide Through the Legislative Process, How a Bill Becomes Law, and the Director of the Legislature. In addition, the Center publishes Wrap-up and Interim Report which provides a synopsis of the actions of the Legislature as well as an in-depth review of bills.

Legislative Library, (304) 558-2153, provides lawmakers with a variety of research materials. The library contains the West Virginia Code, the Acts of the Legislature, and the Journals of both the House of Delegates and Senate. The librarian keeps numerous items on the Legislature's actions through current and past newspaper clippings.

In an ideal world, we could all have immediate access to each of our elected officials which of course would lend itself to personal face-to-face means of communication. Given the great distance and the time demands upon our federal representatives such encounters rarely occur. The letter remains the most popular choice of communication with a congressional or senatorial office. Most offices maintain e-mail addresses but those should only be utilized in a last minute situation.

1. Clearly state your purpose in the opening paragraph. If the letter pertains to a specific bill, identify that item by the appropriate number, e.g., House Bill: H.R. ___, Senate bill: S. ___.
2. Be professional and courteous and include any key information to support your reason for writing. Try using some examples to support your beliefs.
3. Keep your letter to one page and be concise and to the point. Stay on one issue per letter. This will help drive home your viewpoint.
4. Always use the correct address and the proper salutation. Letters should be addressed as follows:

The Honorable __________________
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator __________________ :

or

The Honorable ___________________
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Representative ________________ :

5. When writing to the Chair of a Committee or the Speaker of the House, address them as: Dear Mr. Chairman or Madam Chairwoman or Dear Mr. Speaker.

West Virginia Congressional and Senate Addresses and Phone Numbers

The Honorable Robert C. Byrd
United States Senate
Hart Building, Room 311
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-3954

The Honorable John D. Rockefeller IV
United States Senate
Hart Buidling, Room 531
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-6472

The Honorable Alan B. Mollohan
United States House of Representatives
2346 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-4172

The Honorable Nick J. Rahall II
United States House of Representatives
2307 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-3452

The Honorable Shelley Moore Capito
United States House of Representatives
1431 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2711