Join the VTA network to support transit in Virginia

Just in time for General Assembly 2015, the Virginia Transit Association (VTA) announced a new outreach program that will connect transit supporters to their elected officials at every level of government. In order to make this new venture successful, they need subscribers - they need your help in getting people signed up! The new online advocacy program allows VTA to send e-action alerts to constituents in each legislative district. VTA can draft a message asking the elected official to take a certain action on a bill and then send it to subscribers. From there, the subscriber or “e-activist” can finalize the message and can send the email directly to his or her targeted legislator through the new software program.

An example of how this might work: A state senator submits a bill to fill the MFA transit funding gap. The bill is going to be heard in Senate Finance Committee next Tuesday. VTA drafts a sample email message with rationale asking that the Senator vote YES. VTA sends the message to all subscribers whose Senator is on Senate Finance. Those recipients customize the message as they wish and click “Send.” The message gets routed to their Senator. It’s so easy the subscriber doesn’t even have to know who his or her Senator is. The system makes that determination through the home zip code.

VTA can make this service available to transit system members upon request if there is a local or regional issue where you wish to generate messages to City Council members or even to the local newspaper. It’s a great organizing tool that can connect transit supporters across the community.

But if this tool is going to work effectively, VTA needs lots of participants. Individuals should sign up with their home addresses so they will be assigned to the correct districts and elected officials. VTA wants transit supporters of every stripe to sign up – not just transit professionals. So civic leaders, faith community representatives, small business owners, etc. should all be recruited. VTA is not asking e-activists to become dues-paying members – they are asking them to sign up as Friends of Transit to help promote legislation, policy, and funding.

Sign up today by going to www.vatransit.com and clicking on the red button on the homepage. And help VTA spread the word by sharing this appeal.

For more information please contact.

Lisa M. Guthrie; Executive Director

1108 E. Main Street; Suite 1108

Richmond, VA 23219

O: 804-643-1166; C: 804-240-1976

www.vatransit.com

LGuthrie@lmg-llc.net