Legislative Line
THIS IS A VERY BRIEF, but exceedingly
important section. It deals with the local chapter's
relationship with its congressional delegation. Overlooked by
many chapters, this "communications line" to our elected
leaders can be one of the most effective means available to
pursue AFA objectives.
A fundamental priority of a chapter's "legislative line" should be to establish rapport with its local Representatives and Senators and their key staff members. The Vice President for Government Relations is the appropriate chapter contact. The basic point of contact for your Congressmen is normally through the Congressional Member's local or regional offices. Make contact with the legislative assistants -- invite them to your events and get to know them. Once your ties have been established, invite one of the Congressional Delegation to speak during an AFA program. Find out when he/she will be available -- plan your event to coincide with the district work period.
A continuing dialogue is important to establish with your
Representatives. Write or call periodically and ask for their
views on issues. In-turn, give them your personal views,
particularly with reference to national defense and related
issues. Additionally, compliment them when they do
something you support -- i.e. vote for a bill you support
(you can track their voting record through your local library
or AFA's National Defense Issues Department). Expand your
efforts to face-to-face visits if possible.
One way to open communication lines quickly is to present your area Representative(s) with an AFA membership. Encourage your state AFA organization to do the same with Senators. This not only ties your Representative(s) to the formal AFA communications, it also gives the chapter one more opportunity to establish a one-on-one dialogue on key issues.
AFA offers chapter sponsored complimentary memberships for Representatives and Senators of each Congress. The memberships are available exclusively through AFA chapters and can only be initiated or continued if the chapter takes action. Please note that these memberships must be renewed after each Congressional election (November of odd numbered years). This must be done for all re-elected Representatives and Senators and for any Senators with unexpired terms.
All Members of Congress receive a copy of AIR FORCE Magazine in their office on Capitol Hill. The purpose of this Complimentary Membership Program goes beyond that. It is to personalize and localize the membership, including chapter affiliation and the distribution of the magazine. That is why we ask the local level (chapter or state, as appropriate) to act in extending these memberships and that is also why we ask each Congressional applicant to use his or her home address or home district office address.
Complimentary Congressional membership requires the member's approval. Write a letter to the Members of Congress from your chapter area (or, for the Senators, from the state organization) saying that the chapter/state desires to present the individual with a two-year membership in the Air Force Association and the chapter/state organization. (If you are renewing an existing membership you needn't go through the process of advance correspondence to determine whether the member is willing to accept a gift membership).
When a positive response is received, complete any AFA
membership application in the name of the Member of Congress.
Then write "Congressional" in red ink across the "Payment
Enclosed" section of the application. Be sure to indicate
whether the individual has any military experience under the
"Eligibility" section. Don't forget to
include your chapter name and number for chapter affiliation.
When that's done send the application to Volunteer & Regional
Activities, Membership Division at AFA Headquarters. The
membership will be valid for the balance of the current
session of Congress, up to two years. Subsequently, the
Members of Congress should be included in all chapter mailings
and invitations, and either the Chapter President or the Vice
President for Government Relations -- or both -- should keep
up a reasonably frequent correspondence with the member.
One excellent opportunity to meet your Congressional Delegation can occur during a "Congressional Breakfast" held during the AFA National Convention in September. Early in the year, National AFA will begin reminding you to reserve a room on the Hill for your breakfast and to extend a personal chapter invitation to each of your Delegation members to attend the breakfast. As virtually all members of Congress attempt to be responsive to their constituents, this event provides an excellent opportunity for members of the local chapter to meet face-to-face with their representatives and key staff members. But the burden lies with the local chapter. AFA National Headquarters DOES NOT invite members of Congress to attend the breakfast -- only the local chapter extends the invitation. Consequently, if no local invitation is sent, no one from the delegation will be invited.
Finally, while chapter members are in Washington for our National Convention, you can schedule meetings with your elected representatives. Simply call your Congressman's local office and request an appointment with your Representative, while you are in Washington. Recognizing that involvement with our democratic process is one of the most important avenues open to AFA, the "Legislative Lines" that the local chapters establish with Congress form the foundation for action. AFA is, and must continue to be non-partisan. Therefore, you should act and open the "Legislative Line" in your name as an individual, not in the name of your chapter, nor the Air Force Association. This individual approach, coupled with your individual support of the Association, will indeed best communicate the need for a strong national defense to your representatives. Become part of the American democratic process -- help educate your Congressmen and Senators -- and ask them to help educate you!
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