This summer, while at the Emerging Leader Summit, you have the unique opportunity to meet with your US Congressional representatives while in the DC area. By scheduling a meeting to advocate for DECA, you can ensure DECA has the government support to continue and expand its impact.
Below is a step-by-step guide to meeting with your US Congressional representatives.
Step 1: Find Your Representatives
Prioritize members of:
- Members of the House Education and Workforce Committee ➡️ Click “About Us” then, “Members.”
- Members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee ➡️ Scroll down to “Committee Leadership and Members.”
If your state has a representative on either committee, reference them and thank them for their commitment to the next generation.
You can also request meetings with:
Once you’ve found your representative, click their name/photo; it will take you to their website.
Step 2: Request an In-Person Meeting
From there, email them or find their “Request an In-Person Meeting” form.
Copy and paste the following email to multiple representatives:
Subject: Meeting Request: DECA (Association Name) Constituent Meeting
Dear Senator/House Representative Name or Staff name,
My name is ______, and I am a constituent of (town/city, state). I’m reaching out to request an in-person meeting during DECA’s Emerging Leader Summit in the D.C. area from July 10-13th.
As the (officer role) of (state) DECA, I serve (# of members) high school students dedicated to emerging as leaders in marketing, finance, hospitality, management, and entrepreneurship. My officer team, advisor, and I would love the opportunity to discuss DECA’s impact, the importance of Career and Technical Education, and ways to continue and expand federal support for DECA.
Our delegation will include # state officers and our state advisor, (name). We would be grateful for a 15-20 minute meeting during the following times:
- Day of the week, date, time
- Day of the week, date, time
If (Mr./Ms. Name) is not available during those times, we would love to set up a virtual meeting or meet with a staff member in education and workforce development. I’ve copied our state advisor (name) on this email chain for logistical support.
Thank you for your consideration and service to (state).
Sincerely,
Name, Officer Position, Phone Number, Email
Aim to send the email at least 2-4 weeks in advance. If you cannot meet with the representative in person, meeting with a staff member is often effective because they advise congressional representatives.
Step 3: Prepare for the Meeting
Walk in with:
- An agenda with key talking points
- Your “DECA Story,” including how DECA has impacted you
- A One-pager on DECA’s Impact to leave with them
Important resources:
Step 4: Follow Up
Within 48 hours:
- Email a thank you
- Attach your one-pager
After the meeting, send your executive officer team a photo and summary so we can recognize you! Please reach out to your executive officers with questions or ways we can support you through this process.
We encourage you to take advantage of this unique opportunity to use your platform to advocate for your association’s members. When policymakers hear from the students they represent, they gain a deeper understanding of DECA’s impact and, therefore, are better equipped to champion the opportunities that support Career and Technical Education.
