Educate Yourself

• What is your constituency?

• Who is your MLA?

• Where is his or her constituency office?

• Do you know representatives of the other political parties in your constituency?

• Do you know how to contact your MLA?

• Does your MLA keep you informed on political activities?

• Do you know your MLA’s views on education?

Keep up with political/education activities

• Skim newspapers/magazines/ websites from an educational perspective.

• Listen to in-depth coverage of provincial political events on radio or television.

• Ask to be put on the Alberta Teachers’ Association’s e-mail distribution list for legislative summaries. y Read Alberta Hansard.

• Decide that you will keep yourself informed on political/education issues.

Make Contact

• Always remember that your MLA is human and has feelings. Commending your MLA for something well done or some stand taken is important—your views count.

• Keep in touch with your MLA by phone, e-mail or letter.

• Keep your MLA informed about what you see happening in education—good and correct information is valuable.

• Raise education issues whenever possible.

• Try to meet regularly and, if possible, informally with your MLA.

• Try to attend constituency meetings, such as town hall meetings, and raise education questions.

Join a political party

• It is easier to influence from the inside than from the outside.

• Be visible. y Don’t have a one-track mind— education should be only one of your issues.

• Promote education resolutions at political party conventions.

• Get involved at the constituency association level.