Having determined that doing my part for this November's election was going to take more of a monetary form than a physical contribution I decided to allot a certain sum toward contributions -- most based upon dKos recommendations via the
netroots candidates link. Other contributions will go toward local candidates as the elections near.
It isn't a vast sum but it isn't a small amount of money either.
Contributing has had side-effects.
I've attempted to leave out my email address. It shouldn't be mandatory but, it seems I'm not allowed to submit my basic info and pay and leave without providing an opportunity to add to my inbox.
Not a single contribution page has an "opt out" box to provide me with a choice to not receive further solicitations.
They also don't have any option to decline to have your information shared on what appears to be a national basis. I've never contributed to her and I'm about as anti-Hillary as they come but that hasn't stopped her campaign staff from sending me mail AND email on a weekly basis. I can't seem to contact the right department to get myself removed from their circulation roster.
My inbox is now filled with quite a large number of email solicitations or self-aggrandizing (and rarely flattering) stump emails. I've got the rule-writing sequence routing them to junk mail down pat.
I believe I'll be using a false email in the future.
Those pieces of correspondence are also snail-mailed to me which is irritating from a waste of money perspective. I bring all my mail in to the office and open and sort on Fridays since it is always my paperwork day. I've just sent no fewer than TWENTY THREE campaign solicitation pieces to the shredder for future recycling. Do they truly not realize I'm a netroots contributor?
I didn't contribute so that they could spend my contribution printing up solicitations and using up volunteer time stuffing envelopes, killing trees etc...
On the other hand I was impressed with Mr. Carter's campaign.
He has not sent me any mail soliciting further contributions. Instead, I received not one but two HANDWRITTEN notes thanking me for my contributions. Classy.
Whether they were actually handwritten by Mr. Carter is up for debate but I was impressed and the first thank-you note definitely made me more inclined to contribute the second time when his daughter posted their end-of-quarter fundraising drive diary.
This is my public "tip of the hat" to the Carter Campaign for this approach. Thank you notes AND handwriting are almost lost arts.
The personal touch worked from my perspective.
I'm in a holding pattern now after my contribution of earlier today until the primaries play out and dKos and others have a chance to analyze which races are going to be most hopeful and in greatest need of contribution dollars.
Any campaign staffers monitoring dKos might want to take a look at their processes. Yes, email is a great and cost-effective tool to spread the news and solicit additional funds but can I be provided a choice between receiving an email or snail mail or neither? I dislike feeling as if my only option is to use a false email address.
Forgive the rant. The news all week has left me feeling pretty pessimistic and grumpy about just about everything except our chances in November. And I was out too late celebrating a neighbor's birthday.
I simply can't help but feel grouchy today and I suppose it is a small hassel to put up with in order to help crash the gate but I can't help but wish for a few more "thank yous" than poorly written campaign solicitation letters.
grumble