Along I-5 in Salem there is a billboard "Oregon is Your Treasure. Keep It That Way. Volunteer." That opportunity presented itself in a new way for me at an Extension Advisory Council meeting. We were encouraged to get in touch with our representatives and senators, and possibly attend a public hearing, to encourage them to fund the OSU Extension Service adequately. I had never done that before. If you would like to advocate for a cause at the state level, but aren't sure just how to go about it, here are some things I learned that you might find helpful.

We were given the list of senators and representatives on the committee dealing with the extension's part of the budget. It was helpful that one of the members is my representative, Kurt Schrader. I made an appointment to see him; and, because he was from my district, his office was very willing to make time for me. About a week before the hearings of the subcommittee, I went to Salem to meet with him, and I visited with the aides of several other committee members. I think that it was very helpful to personally visit with several members of the committee who were dealing with the legislation that concerned me. I had written out a one-page statement on why I believed the Extension Service needs adequate funding, and I also had some literature about the activities of our own county extension service. This proved to be especially helpful because it would be very difficult for the legislators to remember all of the information that citizens bring to them if it were just verbalized. Because I had never met with legislators in Salem before, I admit I was nervous. I shouldn't have been - everyone was very receptive to what I had to say.

That same day I attended an unrelated public hearing to become familiar with the hearing procedure. At that hearing a sheet was passed out about how to make the most effective presentation. Among the suggestion were: limit testimony to no more than 3 minutes, be respectful to the committee members and others who are testifying, do not read your testimony but be prepared to tell the committee what it contains, and have about 25 copies of why you support or object to the legislation so that it can be passed out to the committee members. Committee schedules can change so it is important to check ahead of time to be sure that the issue you are interested in will be on the docket as scheduled.

I returned on April 4, ready to express my opinion in the public hearing. What I didn't realize is that a public hearing is well organized by different interest groups who have made prior arrangements to testify. There is a sign-up sheet for those who wish to testify; but one is certainly not guaranteed a spot on the docket. Many of the testimonies did run over the three-minute suggested time limit; and, as a result, many who came prepared to testify, did not have the opportunity. I was glad that I had my testimony written out and ready to pass out to the committee. As it turned out, I was the last person called on. (Rep. Schrader took over as chair of the committee for the last ten minutes. When he called on anyone who had come from 50 to 60 miles away, I raised my hand in a hurry!) Another reason for having one's testimony written out is that, although there were eight members on the committee, one member was not able to be there at all; and many of the others were not able to be there during all of the testimony.

Not only did I find it interesting to observe the legislative process, I found the Capitol a great place to visit. I was able to see the Senate in session, there was a wonderful display of woodcraft by the Northwest Wood Art Guild and the Oregon Department of Corrections Work-Based Program, displays of many of the festivals in Oregon, and a history of the Capitol building itself. And if you ever wonder where to park, there is plenty of underground parking under the mall in front of the Capitol (bring lots of quarters!).

For more information, there is a publication How To Testify Before a Legislative Committee, available by phoning 503-986-1813. There it is stated: "The members of the committee are 'citizen legislators.' They care that you have taken time out of your day to come and testify before them." I certainly found that to be true. It was a great new learning experience!

Editor's Note: Clackamas County tree farmer, Jean McCloskey, serves on the Clackamas County OSU Extension Service Advisory Committee.