Letters

•     Be factual and support your position with information.  A clear and concise explanation of your position is best  understood;
•     Remain courteous, do not threaten or cajole. Simply explain local impact;
•     Offer to provide additional information or arrange a meeting;
•     Send a second letter thanking the legislators for their  favorable action; and
•     Address the elected official properly.

Faxes

Plusses: A quick way to get clear and concise points across.

Minuses: If the issue being addressed is of great interest, fax machines can become overloaded, and possibly ignored.

To have the greatest impact when faxing communications,  you should:

• Identify your position and school district on cover sheet;
• Follow the general guidelines for letters;
• State how and why you want the legislators to vote on the issue; and
• Use this method as a last resort.

E-mails

Plusses: Extremely quick way to get your points across while also providing a permanent record.

Minuses: Sometimes too quick and impersonal. Also, if your email doesn’t indicate in the subject line or early on in the message that you are a constituent, it might well be deleted.

To have the greatest impact when e-mailing your communication, you should:

• Make sure you identify your position and your school district in the opening paragraph of the e-mail;
• Follow the general guidelines for letters;
• State how and why you want the legislators to vote on the issue; and
• Recognize that e-mails are often used for mass legislative contacts on major issues and therefore might not receive the careful consideration due.