Tips for Effective Activism

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 of our pre-written, customizable messages. U.S. mail addresses for elected officials can be found on our Get Connected page.

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. For each Take Action item, along with the customizable message, we also offer you the intended recipient's phone number should you wish to follow up your message with a phone call.
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.

Writing to elected officials
It is important that we tell elected officials where we stand on issues. Our input on clean water, sprawl, trade, and other issues shapes the way our representatives create and implement environmental and social policy.
Emails, postcards, and phone calls are good communication tools, but letters and faxes are the most effective and persuasive way of communicating our views to elected officials.
These tips will help you write a persuasive letter:

• Keep it short.. Limit your letter to one page and one issue.
• Identify yourself and the issue. In the first paragraph of your letter state who you are and what issue you are writing about. If you are referring to a specific bill, identify it by number (e.g. H.R. 2372 or S. 1287).
• Focus on your main points. 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 legislator 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?
• Ask for a reply. Include your name and address on both your letter and envelope.
• Trust your voice. 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. Thank elected officials when they vote the way you want.

Write a letter to the editor
Letters to the Editor are one of the most widely read sections of the newspaper and reach a large audience. They allow community members to comment on the way issues are being addressed in the media and to influence what topics the local paper covers. Elected officials often monitor this section of the newspaper and take notice of constituents' opinions.
Due to strict space limitations in newspapers, not all letters will be published, but the more letters the newspaper receives on a certain topic, the more likely they are to run at least one letter on the topic. Check the letter guidelines in your local paper and use these tips to write an effective letter to the editor:

• Keep it short and focused. Many newspapers have strict length limits and edit letters for space. A concise, single-issue letter has a better chance of retaining its salient points and keeping the reader's interest.
• Make specific references. While some newspapers will print general commentary letters, most prefer letters that respond to a specific article. Here are some ways to refer to an article:
  "I was impressed by the comprehensive logging solution outlined in the May 5th article, 'Sustainable Logging on a Roll.'"
  "I strongly disagree with Senator Baker's position against increased fuel economy standards 'To be or SUV' June 22)."
• Be factual and highlight aspects of the issue that haven't been previously addressed.
• Include your contact information. Many newspapers will only publish a letter to the editor after verifying the author's contact information. When printed, the letter will usually only include your name and city.
• Type your letter and sign it.
• Send letters to smaller newspapers. Small newspapers are more likely to print your letter and the letter can then spark local community action.

Attend and speak out 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.
• Everyone's input counts and makes a difference

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.