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Each of the 40 state legislative districts
has one State Senator and two State Assembly
members elected to represent that district.
If you don't know who your legislators are
or what district you live in or the district
in which your camp operates, you have several
options:
- Please go to the ACA Web site under Public
Policy/ CAPWIZ to find your legislators
online by zip code. The link to
CAPWIZ is as follows:
Find Your State Legislators: http://www.capwiz.com/acacamps/dbq/officials/
- Please go to the New Jersey Legislators
web pages to locate them online. The pages
are as follows:
Find Your State Legislators: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp
Contacting Your Legislators
Writing a personalized letter, and sending
it by regular mail or fax, is one of the
easiest and most effective ways to communicate
with your elected officials. Because you
are not only a constituent, but also an
employer who works with children, legislators
are very interested in what you have to
say on the issues.
Because most legislative offices are not
equipped to handle frequently large volumes
of e-mail, sending an e-mail is the least
effective way to communicate with most lawmakers.
We strongly encourage letters or direct phone
calls into their district offices. They will
take your call!
Become a Legislative Key Contact
Here is your opportunity to join ACA-NJ’s advocacy team. You can
help ACA-NJ advocate for the youth camp industry as an ACA-NJ Key Legislative
Contact.
What is a Key Legislative Contact?
A Key Legislative Contact is an ACA-NJ member
who establishes a relationship with a legislator
and may be called upon by ACA-NJ to help
educate legislators and policymakers on
the issues of import to the camp industry
in New Jersey.
What if I don’t know any legislators?
Some key contacts have long-standing relationships
with lawmakers - - perhaps through their
business or are members of the same community.
Other key contacts are simply fascinated
by the legislative process and are interested
in establishing these relationships in
order to raise awareness of the issues
faced by the camp industry.
How much of a time commitment is involved?
Not to worry! It does not take much
time at all – but it is very important
to all ACA accredited camps that your voice
is heard in Trenton and throughout the state. You
may be called upon to reach out to your legislators
when ACA-NJ is working on a specific bill
or issue being currently debated in Trenton.
If you are still asking WHY?
There are issues debated by the State Legislature
every day that impact the camp industry.
You have taken the first step as an advocate
by becoming an ACA accredited camp. The
next step is to actively use your knowledge
and experience as a camp professional and
combine that with the power of being a
constituent in your legislators’ district.
The result is your ability to help advance
issues of interest to you and educate your
legislators generally about the realities
of running a youth camp in New Jersey so
that they know how to address issues that
come before them in Trenton.
How do I sign up?
Simply contact Mary Ellen
at executive@ACAcampsnj.org if you need more
information or you are ready to join ACA’s advocacy
team as a Key Legislative Contact! Once
you have expressed interest to become an
ACA-NJ Key Legislative Contact ACA-NJ will
help match you with your district representatives
in the New Jersey State Legislature and send
you legislative updates on high priority
issues.
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