N-Child: Contacting US Senators

Dear U.S. nchilders:

The following website contains a listing of all the US Senators, their
mailing addresses and phone numbers in DC, as well as a link to each
Senator's own website.

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

There are many ways to get in touch with your Senator. Letters are
great, but don't hesitate to just pick up the phone and call. Always
identify yourself as a constituent. They hear from paid lobbyists all
the time, so make sure they know this is a personal call from a
concerned constituent.

Mention briefly to whoever answers the phone that you are calling to
ask for the Senators assistance in regard to a situation impacting
yourself and hundreds of other families who are adopting in Nepal.
State briefly that the Nepali government has suspended adoptions and
that these families and their children are now caught in a legal limbo
that has gone on for months. Ask who there in the Senator's office
handles matters related to foreign affairs, State Department, or the like.

If they offer to have someone call you back, please ask (1) when can I
expect to hear from that person, (2) what is that person's name, (3)
is there a direct number where I can reach him/her?

Also, if the answer to (1) above is anything other than a return phone
call that same day, ask if there is anyone else in the office that you
can speak to sooner, in order to express you concern. Stress that
this matter is very time sensitive.

Hope this helps!

- Patti Arias


--- In nchild@yahoogroups.com, "Megan Glor" <drwhimsy@...> wrote:
>
> I will add that if someone has a letter that they have sent to their
> senators, and would be willing to share it, it would be very helpful.
> Others could use it to get the basic "talking points." I will be
> calling my senators this week, but would like to follow up with a
> letter.
>
> I echo the thanks to all of you who are working hard in Nepal. I
> wish I could be there to help.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Megan in Oregon
>
> In nchild@yahoogroups.com, "carolegandavis" <carolbee1@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Mary Celeste and all Nchilders,
> >
> > Thanks for the synopsis of the meeting at Mike's breakfast. I
> > recently learned that some representative families for the French
> > (who are very well organized by the way) recently met with the new
> > French ambassador in Nepal. They met with their ambassador! I
> > think that is so impressive. The French ambassador agreed to work
> > on this issue with the Spanish ambassador, along with the Italian
> > ambassador. They intend to meet in Kathmandu in September.
> >
> > For those of you who met at Mike's breakfast. Thank you so much
> for
> > getting together and developing an action plan. I agree that
> > involving the prime minister, and other levels of government, is
> > necessary at this point. Also, maybe this was already part of your
> > plan, but I would like to suggest that the American families who
> are
> > in-country now, meet with our ambassador or his representative.
> Ask
> > if he is aware of advocacy plans of other countries and ask if he
> is
> > working with the other countries. Ask how he has been, and will be
> > advocating.
> >
> > For those of us who are in the U.S. we can contact our senators.
> > Request that your senator ask the embassy to work with the
> > ambassadors of the other countries, and be in on any meetings in
> > September, ask the embassy to advocate with several levels of
> > government, not just the MOWCSW.
> >
> > I think it would be very interesting to know how many of the 446
> are
> > U.S. families. Does anyone know? I know there are about 80 French
> > families. Does anyone know the number for Spanish, Italian, and
> > Canadian families?
> >
> > Take care everyone,
> > Carol
> >
> >
> > --- In nchild@yahoogroups.com, "STARZYK, LAWRENCE" <lstarzyk@>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > NChilders:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > My partner was able to attend the meeting of waiting parents held
> > > yesterday at Mike's Place.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > A plan was developed by the parents to apply group pressure on the
> > > minister and the Prime Minister to resolve the situation with the
> > 440
> > > waiting files.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > In addition, Spain and Switzerland seem to be planning to send
> > their
> > > envoys to meet with appropriate government officials regarding
> this
> > > issue. If this does indeed occur, it would certainly be
> helpful.
> > One
> > > of the parents present at the meeting is planning on submitting a
> > more
> > > detailed write-up of what transpired.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > There was a question regarding the whereabouts of the proposed
> > Terms and
> > > Conditions. I checked again. It is my understanding that they
> are
> > > still in the Law and Justice Ministry. They have not been sent
> to
> > the
> > > Parliament for discussion.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Mary Celeste
> > >