Grumble. Grumble. Why can't everyone be in the electronic age.
I quick came back to my computer tonight to help my wife schedule some meetings with our congressional delegation when she's in Washington DC within the next two weeks. She wants to try to get a few moments to introduce herself, as she's going there representing a statewide education association (no, not THAT one). She's there for a national conference, and she's representing SD as they go do their congressional visits. And it went ok, to a point.
Senator Thune, I filled out a handy on-line form and got it sent off.
Congresswoman Herseth, I sent an e-mail describing why she's going and what she wants to discuss.
Senator Johnson... Well, it looks like I have to do everything but provide a security clearance. Here's what I got when I went to try to find an e-mail address to get a note off explaining that she'd like to meet for a moment if possible:
Senator Thune, I filled out a handy on-line form and got it sent off.
Congresswoman Herseth, I sent an e-mail describing why she's going and what she wants to discuss.
Senator Johnson... Well, it looks like I have to do everything but provide a security clearance. Here's what I got when I went to try to find an e-mail address to get a note off explaining that she'd like to meet for a moment if possible:
If you would like to schedule a meeting with me in the Washington, DC office, please send a fax to Sonja Dean's attention at (202) 228-5765 with the following information so that the staff can be as accommodating as possible for all parties involved.Isn't a faxed request a little archaic? No e-mail? (There ought to be a law).... Time for bed. I must be crabby and tired from all my conventioneering this past weekend..
* Your name and the name of the organization (if any) you are representing
* Your hometown and telephone number in South Dakota
* The dates you will be in Washington, DC
* A list of other meeting attendees and their hometowns in South Dakota
* A list of issues you would like to discuss with the Senator
Comments
But it's a lot less hassle to request one via e-mail than a fax.
Each office has their own procedures. South Dakotans shouldn't grumble though. Try getting a meeting with a Senator in a state with 11 or 12 million people.
Not that it would probably make much difference for scheduling.
The anthrax scare in the Senate has really screwed up communications of all kinds as far as I can tell.
I have no idea what goes wrong in the Official Insurance Agency Record Keeping System in the Gov's Office however.
But, more ironic perhaps than politicians still in the smoke signal age, are tech and computer companies still locked to their fax machines.
http://johnson.senate.gov/emailform.cfm
I think PP just has the ability to read and follow directions. If you click on the link aptly entitled "Schedule a Meeting," (http://johnson.senate.gov/schedule.html) it tells you in bold type that you are supposed to send a fax. And the email form pull down for subjects does not include "schedule a meeting."
Maybe you ought to pay a little closer attention before pulling out the M word.
:) I think the anthrax scare must've taken place a few decades ago because the lines of communication in D.C. have been crosswise for years.