From Michele Koppes, Congressman Inslee’s staff :

• Be concise – you will only have 3-5 minutes

• Talk to the local NOAA officials

• Submit written testimony – they actually keep statistics.

• Let your elected official know

• Tell them you affiliation

• Tell them how you are connected to the issue

• Factoids – what are the economic impacts, what are the social impacts. How does it impact you. How much money do you spend in recreation in general, in a year etc.

• Useful to restate common knowledge b/c there are multiple points of view.

• Do NOT bring up factoids that you have no personal knowledge of – if your note an engineer, don’t talk about the fluid dynamics of raceways.

• Metaphors. Most of the people taking testimony don’t know the subject as well as you do.