Table of Contents >
   Part I. Organizing for Effective Advocacy
(Chapters 3... >
      Chapter 33. Conducting a Direct Action Campaign >
         Section 1. Writing Letters to Elected Officials >
             Tools & Checklists - A checklist that summarizes the major points contained in the section. >

Writing Letters to Elected Officials

  

Tools & Checklists

 Contributed by Jenette Nagy Edited by Jerry Schultz

Checklist

Here you'll find a checklist summarizing the major points contained in the text.

___You have decided who you will write to

___The official you have chosen has the authority to make a decision about your issue

___You have begun the letter in an official manner, including the official’s full name and title

___The purpose for which you are writing is clear

___You have summarized your understanding of the issue

___The general impact that you expect to occur if a particular decision is made is stated

___You have explained your position on this issue in detail

___The positive and negative effects the decision will have on you are described

___You have identified others who may be affected by the decision

___Statistics have been included if available and appropriate

___You have told the official about appropriate actions and decisions he or she has made in the past

___The action that you want taken is stated specifically

___If your letter opposes some action, you have offered an alternative

___You have offered your help if you have available time

___You have thanked the official for their time

___The letter is signed with your full name

___Your address and phone number are listed under your name at the end of the letter

___The letter you have written is free of spelling and grammatical errors

__ You communicate with all potential letter writers at the start of a letter-writing campaign to inform them about the issue and the need for the campaign.

__ You provide a template for the letters to be written.

__ You make sure there’s help available for those for whom letter-writing is difficult.

__ You use e-mail if you can.