Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/1537409
74 ASCP Skin Deep Summer 2025 If you have an appointment, try to show up fi ve minutes early. Introduce yourself and the organization or industry you're representing. Don't assume a staff er will know who you are. A quick refresher never hurts. Treat staff with the same respect you would aff ord a legislator, and don't call a staff er a secretary. They often fi ll multiple roles at once—scheduler, policy advisor, chief of staff . Meeting with them is often just as helpful as meeting with the legislator for whom they work. At the end of the meeting, leave behind a clean, concise paper with your business card or personal contact information. Phone Call Guide If you're making a call instead of an in-person meeting, keep it brief. If you're leaving a voicemail, don't request a return call without providing any other information: State your name, who you're representing, if you're a constituent, why you're calling, and what response you would like (return call, email, support for a bill, etc.). Email any background information to the legislator and refer to it in the call rather than rattling off an encyclopedia of facts. After the initial call, don't call back or leave an angry voicemail if a legislator doesn't return your call right away—the volume of communication they fi eld can be daunting. After the Meeting or Call Always thank the legislator or regulator and their staff for meeting with you when you leave, even if you didn't get the answer you wanted. Writing a brief thank-you email is appropriate, but not necessary. Copy any staff who joined your meeting or call and provide follow-up information on your issue that they can reference later. If you were unable to provide an