[WCUSP] Your experience lobbying

[Tura Campanella Cook]

This is a general question to everyone:

Have you ever set up a meeting with your Congress person/staff in the 
home office?  Did you make the appointment as an individual or as a 
group?  What did you say about why you wanted to meet?  What was your 
experience?

Today I called Sen. Hutchison's and Rep. Doggett's Austin offices to 
set up meetings anytime during the current recess (about 4 weeks).  I 
said I wanted to talk about Middle East policy.  I was told they don't 
deal with this in the home office, that's handled in Washington.  I was 
asked if I just wanted to mention my concerns to the person answering 
the phone.  No, thank you, I said.  I wanted to meet with a staff 
person.  I was told to leave my name and number and maybe someone would 
get back to me.  It all felt rather odd.

Suggestions welcome.

Thanks,
Tura