First 'Tele-Town Hall' Utilizes New Technology to Reach Out to Tens of Thousands in Hoyer's 5th District (a/k/a So. Maryland)
WASHINGTON - Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) announced today that he will hold a live telephone town hall meeting on Tuesday, May 1, from 6:00-6:45 p.m. The 'tele-town hall,' which is the first hosted by Rep. Hoyer, is intended to provide an additional forum for 5th district constituents to hear directly from their Congressman and to communicate their thoughts, concerns, and questions about federal issues that are important to them.
"I know that family, jobs, school, and other obligations often make it difficult for people to come to a town hall meeting," stated Rep. Hoyer. "It is my hope that this telephone town hall will give my constituents yet another opportunity to share their views, questions, and comments and will encourage more people to get involved in the discussion."
Utilizing a new computer generated program, the "tele-town hall" operates like a large-scale conference call between Rep. Hoyer and potentially tens of thousands of 5th CD constituents. At the outset of Tuesday's town hall meeting, a random selection of 5th CD households will be dialed to receive a call from Rep. Hoyer inviting them to participate. Call recipients then have the option of staying on the line to hear opening remarks by Rep. Hoyer followed by the opportunity to participate in a question and answer session.
To guarantee participation, citizens can also dial into the call. Dial-in information will be available on Rep. Hoyer's Web site, http://www.hoyer.house.gov/, the day before the call on Monday, April 30.