Stories from the week of August 19, 2011

COP on the Hill

 Your Voice in the United States Congress

Day at the office– bovines, steers, milk cows??:  Entering an office on Monday, 3 staffers were having a lively chat about cattle.  ”Can you tell us the difference between a milk cow and a steer?” one asked.  “Yeahhh” I replied.  I explained the difference between a milk cow, steer, bull and the word bovine.   They thanked me for the help and then I had my chat with their colleague on the issue of drug policy. 

Must have been the hat that tipped them off* that I knew something about cattle.    As I have written before, I must be ready to know something about nearly everything.

Busy week:   I made 26 presentations this week, as I take advantage of the August recess.   Sundays are spent catching up on the data entry into the spread sheets, the contact list and thank you letters.  Karen is a saint to not fuss* at me.

Fruits of Longevity:  The Legislative Director of a Washington office politely refused a meeting this year.  “I remember quite well your arguments and concerns from our meetings the last two years.  Besides, you have also met with two others now on my staff.” 

Checking my records the LD and I had had a 45 chat and a 20 minute follow-up chat.  I could not ask for more exposure to our issue.  Three in one office may be a first.

Transitions:  Jennifer Stiddard was the first ever staffer I spoke to in the US Congress in the fall of 2005.  She was with Eddie Bernice Johnson’s office (D-Dallas, Texas).  We had a nice chat every year for five years.   She recently moved on to another job.  I will miss her.

*tipped them off = bekannt machen

*fuss = Umstände machen

COPs 2nd year stats to date:

257 presentations to Congressional staffers:  26 this week

TV appearances: 14 … this week (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, etc) 

Newspaper stories: 7 dailies, 3 weeklies

Radio appearances: 13 – this week

Published LTE: 20 (this week) –see below

Other media (bloggers, cable TV, minor publications, etc): 12   (this week)

 12 (Member of Congress) contacts:     this week

6 other VIP (state Senators & Reps):   

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