Countdown to MACTE Day at the Capitol

February 27, 2008

Issue Brief #1

Issue Brief #2

Issue Brief #3

January:  Begin publicizing the Day—talk with colleagues, students, community members.  Bringing a team to the Day at the Capitol is especially effective.                                    

Talk with your institution’s Government Relations Department about MACTE’s Day at the Capitol.  Give them a copy of MACTE’s Talking Points to make sure that MACTE’s positions do not conflict with those of your institution.  Prepare a one-page information sheet about activities that are happening at your institution that are of particular interest to your congress-person.  Share those with your institution, also. 

February:  Finalize plans for the team that you will bring.   

Week of Feb. 5:  Begin setting up appointments with your Representatives and Senators.  To reach your Senators, go to the Minnesota Senate home page at http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/ and to reach your Representatives, go to the Minnesota House of Representatives home page at: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/.                                    

Contact the scheduler in the Member’s office at least two weeks prior to Day at the Capitol. The scheduler will likely require a meeting request letter faxed to their office (a sample letter is at the end of this section). The Member’s scheduler will be able to provide details on faxing a request. Inform the scheduler that you are a Member of MACTE and your institution and briefly explain the purpose for the meeting.                                               

Day at the Capitol meetings should be scheduled for February 27, 2008 between 9:30 AM and 3:30 PM. If the scheduler sets your appointment time prior to 9:30AM – take the meeting at that time and don’t worry about missing the Day at the Capitol Briefing.  We will make sure your group is ready to go with all the necessary information ahead of time.  

February 27          

8:30-9:30         MACTE Briefing in the State Office Building Cafeteria                    

9:30-12:00       Meetings with legislators                                                           

12:00-1:00       Lunch in the Senate Cafeteria        

1:00-3:30         Meetings with legislators                               

3:30-4:00         MACTE Debriefing in the State Office Building Cafeteria