Step 1.  Invite your state house member and state senator member to visit your program.  Not sure who they are?  Go to the IHSA website, Find My State and Federal Representatives.  Select find my “state and federal representative”.  Enter your address, push “find my address”.  Then push okay and then confirm.  You will have the name of your state senator and state house member, their phone number and email address.  You will need to send out two invites, one for your State Senator and one for your State House Member.  Personalize the sample letter and send to their respective email address or by snail mail to the address provided.  Don’t give up if they don’t reply, sometimes I need to contact them three times before they reply.  Be persistent because it’s important! 

Step 2:  Plan the program visit and activities that will leave a lasting, positive impression. Use the sample visit plan to get started!  Wondering, what to do while they are onsite?  While your elected official is on-site, you can take them on a tour of the facility, have them read to the children, and hear from community partners.

Step 3:  Use the press advisory template to invite your local newspaper and TV stations to cover this special occasion. Be sure to personalize the advisory.

Step 4:  Thank your member and all who accompanied him or her. Use the “two Ps” to say thank you: Post pictures from the visit on social media and tag your members to thank them.  Personally thank them using this letter template.