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On page four of most issues of Action
Alert, you will find a sample letter to members of Congress
(MCs) on a priority AAUW issue. Use these letters to
encourage members to contact their MCs about issues
that are important to them and to women in their communities.
E-mailable letters are also available in the 2-Minute
Activist on the AAUW website. Use them either to
e-mail directly to MCs, or as samples to help write
and (snail) mail a letter.
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Nancy Mion & Judith McGinn
NYS Public Policy Directors
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from AAUW's Action
Alert, February 2004.
Letters and faxes are an extremely effective way of communicating
with your elected officials. Many legislators believe that a letter
represents not only the position of the writer but also many other
constituents who did not take the time to write.
These tips will help increase the effectiveness of your letter:
Keep it brief. Letters should never be
longer than one page-and should be limited to one issue. Legislative
aides read many letters on many issues in a day, so your letter
should be as concise as possible.
State who you are and what you want up front.
In the first paragraph, tell your legislators that you are a constituent
and identify the issue about which you are writing. If your letter
pertains to a specific piece of legislation, identify it by its
bill number (e.g. H.R. ___ or S. ___) if possible.
Hit your three most important points.
Choose the three strongest points that will be most effective in
persuading legislators to support your position and flesh them out.
Personalize your letter. Tell your elected
official why this legislation matters in his or her community or
state. If you have one, include a personal story that shows how
this issue affects you and your family. Constituents' personal stories
can be very persuasive as your legislator shapes his or her position.
Personalize your relationship. Have you
ever voted for this elected official? Have you ever contributed
time or money to his or her campaign? Are you familiar with this
person through any business or personal relationship? If so, tell
your elected official or a staff person. The closer your legislator
feels to you, the more powerful your argument is likely to be.
You are the expert. Remember that your
legislator's job is to represent you. You should be courteous and
to the point, but don't be afraid to take a firm position. Often,
your elected official may know no more about a given issue than
you do. |
