1. Letter to your official

2. Start by 1. Choosing your issue.  What do you care about? 2. Decide what level of government handles that issue. 1. Federal 2. State 3. County 3. Find out who your representative is for that issue

3. Federal  Laws that effect the whole country.  What legislation is being considered? https://www.opencongress.org/  Washington Post on issues to watch for 114 th congress, http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinion s/the-road-map-for-a-do-something- 114th-congress/2015/01/03/4afc9d1e- 912b-11e4-ba53-a477d66580ed_story.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinion s/the-road-map-for-a-do-something- 114th-congress/2015/01/03/4afc9d1e- 912b-11e4-ba53-a477d66580ed_story.html

4. STATE  Laws that affect only Virginia  What legislation is being considered? http://virginiageneralassembly.gov/index.php  Washington post’s issues to watch for VA General Assembly in 2015, http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virgini a-politics/issues-to-watch-during-virginias- 2015-legislative-session/2015/01/10/e7c2e208- 98d2-11e4-8005-1924ede3e54a_story.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virgini a-politics/issues-to-watch-during-virginias- 2015-legislative-session/2015/01/10/e7c2e208- 98d2-11e4-8005-1924ede3e54a_story.html

5. County  Laws that effect only Loudoun County  What policies are being considered?  Board of Supervisors 2015 Leg program, http://www.loudoun.gov/DocumentCenter/View/ 110024 http://www.loudoun.gov/DocumentCenter/View/ 110024  School Board policies and regulations, http://www.lcps.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=70 http://www.lcps.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=70  School Board budget, http://www.lcps.org/site/default.aspx?PageType= 3&DomainID=1&ModuleInstanceID=7221&ViewID= 047E6BE3-6D87-4130-8424- D8E4E9ED6C2A&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=208285 &PageID=1 http://www.lcps.org/site/default.aspx?PageType= 3&DomainID=1&ModuleInstanceID=7221&ViewID= 047E6BE3-6D87-4130-8424- D8E4E9ED6C2A&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=208285 &PageID=1