Contact Your Elected Officials - www.nysut.org from Issue 32.2

Elected officials cast their votes based on concerns voiced by their constituents. It is important for you to contact your representatives in Washington and Albany on critical issues ranging from educational legislation and funding to union and budget issues. New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), our state affiliate union, makes it easy for you to contact your State and Federal legislators. You can express your views by going to www.nysut.org and simply clicking the "CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS" link. Enter your zip code and it will list your State Senator and Assembly representatives and Federal member of Congress and their contact information. You do not even need to write your own letter -- simply click a topic and one of NYSUT's pre-written letters will be sent in your name. It takes less than five minutes to participate in the political process. Friends and family can also contact their elected officials using NYSUT's webpage. While you may think that sending a pre-written form letter is not important -- it is! Sending a letter, either pre-written, or in your own words, lets the elected officials know your view and adds one more voice influencing their vote. If everyone does a little, we can make a big difference in public policy. --Nicole Darling, Vote/Cope Chairperson [Posted 1/15/2006]