🚀 go-pugleaf

----------- Begin Forwarded Message ------------
Message-ID: <sf768b1e.034@esa.org>
Newsgroups: sci.bio.ecology

Memo to:  Ecolog-l and ESA News 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.

Suggested address style is:

The Honorable_______________________
United States Senate
Washington, DC  20510
Dear Senator_______________________

The Honorable______________________
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC  20515
Dear Representative_________________

President William J. Clinton
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC  20500

Vice President Albert Gore
Old Executive Office Building
Washington, DC  20501

Following is a listing of several key committees with members listed
in order of seniority.  Should you send a letter or write a letter to
the editor, staff at ESA's Public Affairs Office would be interested
in receiving a copy.  Please mail, fax, or e-mail to:

Ecological Society of America
Public Affairs Office
2010 Massachusetts Avenue, NW

Suite 400
Washington, DC  20036
fax: 202/833-8775
e-mail: esahq@esa.org

If we can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact
us.
=================================================================

--- OffRoad 1.0 unregistered