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Below is an excerpt from a message posted to an environmental listerv some time ago which is relevant to the Udall effort. ******************************************* Date: Fri, 24 Mar 1995 14:21:00 EST From: [log in to unmask] Subject: Reaching Congress To: Multiple recipients of list ECOLOG-L <[log in to unmask]> Memo to: Ecolog-l Subscribers From: Public Affairs Office, Ecological Society of America Subject: Reaching Congress The 104th Congress is moving quickly on many fronts, including legislation affecting endangered species, forest management, and wetlands, just to name a few. While the Ecological Society of America is working to respond to many of these issues through such venues as ESA ad hoc committee reports, and letters of support, the effectiveness ESA can have in conveying information to legislators pales in comparison to the ability of individual ESA members (= constituents and voters) to provide their representatives with important information. Congressional staff pay far more attention to individual constituents than they do other sources of information. According to data from Burson-Marsteller/Washington, an average 75% of offices say they pay a "great deal" of attention to constituents while only 23% of offices say they pay a "great deal" of attention to interest groups. According to a recent article produced by the American Society of Association Executives, letters from constituents are a main source of information congressional staff use to develop opinions and learn about issues important to their electorate. A survey of 170 congressional offices undertaken by Peter D. Hart Research Associates in Washington, DC showed that an average of 59% of senior staff officials pay a "great deal" or "quite a bit" of attention to spontaneous mail. The more obvious the effort taken in writing the letter (i.e. not a form letter) the more attention it will garner. In contrast, only an average of 8% of congressional offices pay a great deal of attention to position papers produced by organizations. Another effective mechanism to reach both legislators and the public is through the media. Letters to the editor, opinion or op-ed columns, and editorials to local papers capture the attention of congressional offices who spend a fair amount of time paying attention to news from their respective home states. Tips on writing your representative include: Keep it concise; a one-page letter is best, two pages maximum. State purpose of letter up front and focus on one subject area. Back your position up with the remainder of your letter. If the subject is a specific piece of legislation, cite it by name and bill number. Note likely ramifications of legislation and, if possible, suggest a better approach. It is easier for congressional offices to respond to letters that address specific legislation. They may not know what to do with general "information" on a topic not tied to legislation. Ask for legislator's views.