What to say?

When I call them, I usually tell them that I am new to the political scene, and that I don't make a habit of calling my representatives/ senators... Then I tell them that I am just a regular guy, who feels so strong/ passionate about bill # xxxx that I felt I had to call and have my voice heard. I then ask them, as a lay person, what is the best way for me to get my voice heard by my representative. That usually opens up some dialogue, and I can tell them some examples of how a certain bill applies to me. The people on the other end of the line have always been very polite, and informative. Some say that a written and mailed letter gets more attention than an email, others may have a different take.