[caption id="attachment_140" align="aligncenter" width="700"]Inviting a Congressional Representative into your business gives you the opportunity to build a relationship with state leaders and tell them your story. Inviting a Congressional Representative into your business gives you the opportunity to build a relationship with state leaders and tell them your story.[/caption] Hosting a Congressional Representative on-site is often the best way to tell the CRT story. You can make a lasting impression on them by inviting them to engage with your community and the issues that it faces. It may seem intimidating to invite a Representative into your business, but remember that they are here to serve and help you! Schedule the visit through writing well in advance and be flexible about time. They are busy too! Be sure that you establish a schedule with enough time to tour your facility as well as enjoy informal discussion. When you have the visit scheduled, keep your staff involved! Be sure that they know the objective and keep key personnel available for questions during the tour. It is also important that at least one or two of your customers are in attendance. They will help personalize your business with their story. Choose the key customers who can be effective in communicating the role that your company has played in their success and the value it brings them. While your Representative arrives, introduce him or her to company personnel and other attendees. Provide them with a brief history of your company and customers as well as written information about your products and services. Include the types of customers you serve, types of services and products you provide, number of employees and customers, how many voters, and other information about the role you play in the lives of your customers. We provide some helpful materials here. During the facility tour, remember that action is important to keep your tour interesting! Visit each department and make sure that operations are in full motion. This may be through products being staged, repairing and assembling being done, and customers being assessed or fitted. At the conclusion of the visit, recap the visit in a comfortable setting. Revisit the issues of greatest importance, keeping your objectives in mind. This is when you will ask for the order and get a commitment or secure the next step. Following the visit, send your Congressional Representative a note of thanks. Do your best to build a closer relationship both now and in the future. Good luck with your on-site visit and call NCART for any help!