"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
LETTER WRITING TIPS
Begin your letter by briefly explaining who you are and where you
are writing from.
Be polite and take a firm position in your letter. Be confident in
your understanding of the issue and remember that the legislator may know less
than you.
Be brief - respect the fact that the official is very
busy. Limit your letter to one page and one issue.
Include a brief summary of the crime or issue youÕre writing
about, and make sure your information is factually correct. Carefully
read the entire case and the case updates so that you can be sure that the
information youÕre quoting is the most current. Referring to inaccurate
or outdated information will discredit your letter and you will not be taken
seriously.
Choose the three strongest points to support your argument and
develop them clearly. Too much information can distract from your position.
Make it personal. Tell your officials why the issue matters to you
and how it affects you, your family, and your community. Make a connection to
the legislator. Did you vote for her? Did you contribute to the campaign?
Be specific - tell the recipient exactly what youÕd like to see
happen. ÒPlease make sure this man cannot ever hurt another animalÓ is
less compelling and useful than something like ÒPlease ensure that this man is
sentenced to the maximum term of jail time allowable by law, required to
undergo mandatory psychological counseling and banned from owning animals for
as long as possible.Ó
If you live in the area where the case is being prosecuted, let
the official know that the issue is very important to you and that the way they
deal with the situation may affect your future voting decisions.
If you live in a different area from where the case is being
prosecuted, let them know that his or her position on the issue may make you
reluctant to visit the county, state or province and that you may be inclined
to spend your money elsewhere.
Proof-read and spellcheck your letter - typos and grammatical
errors will reduce your credibility and you may be taken less seriously.
DO NOT WRITE IN ALL CAPS. Use your words to convey how
strongly you feel. Letters written in all caps are harder to read and
often imply ÒshoutingÓ.
Include your real name and mailing address. A random selection of
names may be contacted to verify signatures. (Hence, if names/addresses cannot
be contacted, they will only hurt our cause.)
Letters without full names or mailing addresses could be taken
less seriously, as it could be construed that you are attempting to hide behind
anonymity. When people are willing to be held accountable for their
opinions, those opinions typically have more weight.
Use the proper title and salutation in your letter, and always
address your letter to a specific person. If youÕre using the
Pet-Abuse.Com Action Alert forms, will automatically fill in the title and
salutation for you.
PROPER SALUTATIONS
Prosecuting Attorney/Judge:
The Honorable John/Jane Doe
Presidents:
Dear Mr./Ms. President Doe
Mailing address to Members of Congress:
The Honorable John/Jane Doe
Greeting to Member, Senate:
Dear Senator Doe
Greeting to Member, House of Representatives:
Dear Congressman/woman Doe
Mailing Address to Ambassadors:
His/Her Excellency John/Jane Doe
Greeting to Ambassador:
Dear Ambassador Doe
Prime Ministers:
Dear Prime Minister Doe
Other Officials and elected representatives:
Dear (Title) Doe
Writing to newspapers, TV or radio stations:
Dear (Title) John/Jane Doe
Dear Mr./Ms. John/Jane Doe
When a
prosecutor or judge comes through with a meaningful sentence, be sure to
write to them and thank them for their efforts.
LETTER, FAX,
PHONE, OR EMAIL?
A typed or
handwritten letter carries the most weight with any recipient. You can copy
(and paste into your word-processing program) any pre-written message, and
customize it. U.S. mail addresses for elected officials can be found on our Get
Connected page.
Most of Take
Action messages should be sent via fax. However, for certain issues or in cases
where you cannot find a fax number for the intended recipient of a message,
send your message by email instead.
A telephone call
shows that you care enough to spend a little money, and if you can actually
speak with the recipient, phone conversations offer unparalleled opportunity
for feedback.
Emails require
less commitment from the sender. Recipients, of course, have this in mind when
they read emails. However, the convenience - not to mention the potential to
mobilize hundreds or even thousands of messages - makes email an indispensable
tool in the activist's arsenal.
RAISE HELL AT
PUBLIC HEARINGS AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS
Public hearings
provide an opportunity for public comments on a particular project or vote.
This kind of community involvement can make a strong statement.
Some tips:
* Time is limited at public hearings, so arrive early
to sign up for a slot to speak.
* When you speak, focus on
your main points. You will often be able to submit written statements which
will allow you to address additional concerns.
* Be polite and respect
other community members' ideas. A hearing is a forum for the exchange of ideas,
not a neighborhood contest.
NOW'S YOUR CHANCE:
MEETING WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS
Meeting with
elected officials in person is an opportunity to make personal contact with
decision-makers and convey your position in a persuasive and animated manner. A
lobby visit allows you to tell your Senator or Representative what you think
about a certain issue or bill and ask her/him to take positive action.
Here are some
suggestions for a successful lobby visit:
Before the
Meeting
* Request a meeting in
writing with specific times and dates. Follow up with a call to the scheduler
or secretary to confim the meeting.
* Make sure to convey what
issue or bill you would like to discuss.
* Decide on talking points
to express your most important ideas.
* Set a goal for the
meeting. Do you want the Representative to vote for or against a bill or
introduce legislation?
During the
Meeting
* Be prompt.
* Keep it short and stick
to your talking points.
* Take the time to thank
the elected official for past votes in support of your issues.
* Provide personal and
local examples of the impact of the legislation.
* Be honest and don't claim
to know more than you do about an issue. You don't have to be the expert, just
a committed and active constituent.
* Set a deadline or
timeline for response.
After the
Meeting
* Write a thank you letter
to the legislator.
* Send any materials and
information you offered.
* Follow up on deadlines
and if they are not met, set up others. Be persistent.
GET CONNECTED
Phone:
Your Senator and Representative can be called via the U.S. Capitol Switchboard
at 202-224-3121.
Write:
Your Senator at U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC 20510.
Your
Representative at U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC
20515.
Look up your
Senator or Representative online. Look up all your representatives online,
including your local ones such as city council officials, governors, etc.
Contact the
President:
The White
House
1600
Pennsylvania Avenue
N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
Comment line:
202-456-1111
Fax:
202-456-2461