 Making
your Views Known
(Guidelines provided by the
Garden Club of America)
- Letters and telegrams are important ... better than petitions,
except during a zoning case where you are making an appearance.
- It's best to write legislators from your own district.
- Write legibly... be brief... discuss only one issue in each
letter.
- Use your own works. Be courteous, never threatening.
- Become acquainted with legislative assistants, legislators, agency
heads by constant contact.
- You may include pertinent editorials from local papers.
- Elicit the aid of other people to also contact their legislators.
- Don't be vague; don't begin with "as a taxpayer". Don't
apologize for taking time.
- Be persistent... and follow through.
- Try to keep track of the legislation so that you can time your
appeals and calls. Sometimes members of a coalition group can
help in this respect. Being a member of a joint effort does not
wed you to other organizations or to all tenants of the coalition
unless there have been formal by-laws.
- Ask your legislator if he/she would please inform you afterwards,
as to how he/she voted on your issue.
- Than him/her if you are pleased.
Address your legislators correctly. Forms of address are as
follows:
|
Address |
Salutation |
Complimentary Close |
The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20050 |
Dear Mr. President |
Very respectfully yours, |
The Vice President
The White House
Washington, DC 20050 |
Dear Mr. Vice President |
Sincerely yours, |
The Honorable Secretary
of _______
Washington, DC [Zip Code] |
Dear Mr. Secretary |
Sincerely yours, |
The Honorable _______
United States Senate
Washington, DC [Zip Code] |
Dear Senator ______ |
Sincerely yours, |
The Honorable _______
House of Representatives
Washington, DC [Zip Code] |
Dear Mr. _______
or
Dear Congressman/ Congresswoman _________ |
Sincerely yours, |
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