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Government Affairs- Meetings
  • Most effective and influential means of communication. 
  • Helps establish or maintain a relationship with your public official. 
  • Personalizes the issue. 
  • Conveys your message person-to-person.

Before the Meeting
  • Determine the primary goal of the meeting. 
  • Identify which issues or legislation must be discussed in the meeting. 
  • Look at all sides of the issue and be ready to respond to opposing arguments. 
  • Review the public official’s background on the issue and related topics. 
  • Focus on ore or two issues – presenting a host of concerns is less effective.

Meeting with Your Local Official
  • Make an appointment. Be sensitive to busy schedules. Your meeting should last no longer than 15 minutes unless the public official wants to extend the discussion. 
  • Always set up the meeting at the local official’s office unless they indicate otherwise. Do not expect them to come to your office. 
  • Establish a working relationship with the staff. 
  • Introduce yourself and provide a little background information. 
  • State the issue that concerns you. 
  • Get to the point. Keep the message simple and back up your statements with facts. 
  • Bring materials and/or examples to illustrate your point. 
  • Be prepared to answer questions. 
  • Ask for clarification when you are not sure if you understand what the public official is saying.

After the Meeting
  • Review and discuss strategy for follow-up. 
  • Send a thank-you letter to the public official thanking them for their time and consideration. Include any points made during the meeting that you wish to emphasize. 
  • Write a second thank-you letter after the issue is dealt with or the legislation is passed.

 
 
 

"Serving Over 2,000 businesses in the Columbia Riverbanks Region"
Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce
930 Richland Street • Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 733-1110 • fax (803) 733-1149 info@columbiachamber.com

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