Organization Signature

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Effective Messaging
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"Your votes and speeches may make you well known
and give you a reputation, but its the way you
handle the mail that determines your
re-election." Speaker of the House William B.
Bankhead (1938)
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"We in America do not have government by the
majority. We have government by the majority who
participate." -- Thomas Jefferson
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How many of you

• Believe your elected officials (or their staff)
  read your letters?
• Have received a reply to your letters from their
  elected officials?
• Are pleased with the response?

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Craft an effective message

• Concise
• Has a clear ask
• Is professional
• Well-targeted

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Email is preferred

• Easiest method for staffers
• Saves them time and money
• Allow personalization

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DO

• Target Members who have not made up their mind
• Send messages when they can have the greatest
  impact.
• Send personalized messages that tells how a bill
  affects you
• Combine advocacy strategies
• Send thank-you messages to Members who support
  your issues

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DONT

• Target every Member in the same way
• Send your messages too early or too late
• Send general messages that arent about a
  specific bill or issue
• Just send repetitive and impersonal form messages
• Send the same message over and over
• Convey your position on multiple issues in a
  single letter

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• We would absolutely, absolutely never throw
  away constituent communications. We value all
  our constituents opinions, even those we
  disagree with.  I dont think any office would
  throw away constituent correspondence and if
  they do so, they are doing it at their own
  electoral peril. -- Senate
  Correspondence Director

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