This diary is to encourage and support those on the fence about engaging in activism; it is for those who feel like they “should be doing more” but haven’t quite gotten there; for those who feel disgusted, frustrated, and fatigued by the Dictator, and who “just don’t know where to start”. Do you need to voice your opinion on how a particular Trump Executive Order, or court decision, or proposed Congressional Bill, or Trump nominee or appointee will affect the country and how it will affect you?
- This evening, or this weekend: SET UP THREE TEMPLATES, in Word, for your 2 Senators and your 1 House Representative, for the thousand letters of protest you will be sending them in 2017.
- Research the Fax # for their Wash, DC office, and include the # in your template so you don't have to look it up again. Do the same with the fax # for their local office, in your state.
- THEN, use the two best FREE e-fax services I know of, faxzero and GotFreeFax, to write to your reps on the key issues of the day/week. For these two particular services, there are NO catches, no "trial period", no request for credit card info. It's free! Faxzero allows 5 free faxes daily; GotFreeFax allows 2 daily. That’s 7 faxes a day, if you are feeling extra ambitious and also want to send angry letters to corporations, banks, and the heads of media organizations.
- Keep abreast of the key issues of that day; or that week, so you are sending a relevant fax to the relevant person at the right time.
- Always include as much personal contact info as possible. If you feel OK using your personal letterhead, excellent. If you don’t, fine. At the very least, DO always include your first initial, last name, City & Zip Code. Your Congressional reps will pay far better attention if they know you are a real person, and a voting constituent in their district.
- Be FIRM. But be courteous. Be BRIEF. One page or a half-page is perfect.
- Include facts, specifics, testimonials on how this will affect you and why it is important to you.
- If you need help with the language in your letter, spend some time on google and take advantage of the vast number of advocacy groups on the Internet who will provide you with copious amounts of helpful information: data, facts, history, expertise and wisdom. Copy and paste some of their language, and add your own personal edits.
- None of this replaces the importance of calling reps; if you can call, as well, fantastic. Do so.
If all this is excruciatingly obvious to you, and you have already gone far above and beyond this step, GOOD FOR YOU!! (SO HAVE I!!) But if so, please recognize that this diary was not meant for Old Pros -- It’s meant for the many good people who have heretofore not felt empowered enough or comfortable engaging in any sort of activism, or people who simply didn’t know you could send free e-faxes. This is for all the people who are fed up, frustrated, formerly apathetic, and who now want to DO SOMETHING. For those short on patience, or short on time, or short on experience, whether they are age 25, 50 or 80.
This is just a beginning, if it is your beginning. But it’s not a bad place to start. Now, GO!!