Venice Diocesan Council of Catholic Women at 111 Tropicana Drive, Punta Gorda , FL 33950 US - KNOW & WRITE YOUR LEGISLATORS!  by Barbara Chamberlain

Wendy and Mary at Capitol Days

Having served for the past six years as the Legislative Commissioner and Respect Life Leader at both Affiliation and Deanery levels, one of the most important roles of the Legislation Commission is to inspire you to write your Legislators about bringing our Catholic gospel values to domestic and public policies, environmental issues and international concerns that affect us all!   Action Alert emails that fill up our inboxes rarely impact legislation as much as a legible hand-written note from the heart of your soul. Well-meaning phone calls add to the myriad of filled message boxes, stiffling the legislator's office unusable, until all the messages are deleted -- but a letter can be read over a cup of coffee or tea, stuffed into their briefcases and read at a quiet moment!  These are the ones that get their attention!

Listed below are those Legislators common to all of us in the Diocese of Venice:

President of the USA:  Barack Obama (D), 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20500
His phone numbers are:  (202) 456-1414  Fax: (202) 456-2461.  WEB:  http://www.whitehouse.gov/

Our US Senate Congressmen are:

Mel Martinez (R) 356 Russell SOB, Washington, D.C. 20510
His phone numbers are: (239) 332-3898 and fax: (239) 332-3447. Web:  http://martinez.senate.gov/public/

Bill Nelson (D) 716 Senate Hart Office Building. Washington, D.C. 20510
His phone numbers are: (239) 334-7760 and fax: (239) 334-7710 Web:  http://billnelson.senate.gov/

Governor of Florida Address is:  

Charlie Crist (R), Office of the Governor, 400 S. Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Governor's Email:  Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com

For the US Congressmen and the Florida Senate and House Representatives, you will need to look at your personal VOTER ID CARD and find the number printed as your own District for the legislator of your area and then go to the web: http://dov.org/ and find the name and address next to that District number.  Please know your Representatives!  Because it is so easy for everyone to use email, they actually take the time to read only legible, HAND-WRITTEN envelopes with notes.  The emails are collected by a staff member and reported only as those who favor and those who opposed; however, the hand-written notes are written from the heart and those are selected by the legislators themselves.  By writing them regarding a particular bill or way to vote utilizing occurrences that have made an impact upon your life, it enables them to know and appreciate your experiences, your intensity, your commitment and your time.  Try to appreciate how many letters they receive a day and create your letters to the point but try to create a masterpiece of  persuassion and a major reason why you think he/she should vote by your direction.  After all, they are all elected by the people they represent!  

So, write, write write!!!!  Please make it your next compulsion -- women can make a difference -- and we shall! As I am at your service for the next two years, if anyone wants to ask me to research a piece of legislation or ask me a question, please email me at barbarachamberlain@embarqmail.com or phone me at (941) 575-6761.  Yours in Christ, Barbara Chamberlain, T.O.C.

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