Despite the grassroots efforts, on-line petitions, calls, bad news reports and negative publicity, the Target Corporation has not yet backed off of their policy of allowing pharmacists in their stores who bristle at dispensing the "Plan B" pills to refuse to do so. Now is not the time to let this sleeping dog lie. And electronic petitions are NOT the answer. Nothing is more effective than my favorite solution (I dub it "37 cent therapy"): an actual letter in the mail.
See, most large organizations who are the targets (sorry) of on-line petitions and the like have installed software in their systems that immediately block or delete repetitive messages. (Sad to say, the White House does it, too.) If you really want to reach these folks, there's only one way. Put pen to paper (or fire up the printer) and send a REAL letter to them in the mail.
It isn't as difficult as you think and, believe me, it will actually cheer you up to pop that sucker in the mail. Pointing and clicking is easy, but ineffective.
So...what's the first step?
I'd recommend writing to the big boys: Robert J. Ulrich (Target CEO) and Gregg W. Steinhafel (Target President). Their address is: Target Corporation, 1000 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403.
Below is my letter to them. I would, however, recommend that you NOT cut and paste my letter (even if you like it). Though this is, technically, a small-time letter writing campaign, it is better for you to express your own feelings on the matter. Sincerity cannot be transferred.
And be sure you include your home address, so you can get one of their form letters back in the mail.
Hope you can take the time and write.
My letter:
>>Dear Mr. Ulrich and Mr. Steinhafel:
My wife and I have long been loyal customers of the Target Corporation. For as many years as I can remember, we have been in and out of your stores on a weekly, if not daily, basis. The selection, quality, price, cleanliness and atmosphere in your stores is far superior to that of your rivals (Wal-Mart, K-Mart and the like), so we have never hesitated to pull up the car in our local Target and load up the trunk.
Which is why it is so difficult for me to write this letter. Being such a big fan of your company, it grieves me to have to end my relationship with you. But when I learned that you were going to allow your pharmacists to refuse to sell the "morning after" pill to customers, I discussed the issue with my wife and we agreed that, as long as this policy was in place, we could no longer be your customers.
I appreciate, on the one hand, your wanting to respect the beliefs of your employees. I respect that you are sensitive to their wishes. On this issue, however, I believe you have made the wrong decision. Whether or not someone obtains and administer this drug is a choice of the doctor and the patient and, frankly, the pharmacist has no right whatsoever to refuse a legal prescription. If they feel that they cannot, in good conscience, administer these drugs, then these pharmacists should look for another line of work.
Pharmacists are not doctors. They are highly skilled professionals whose duties are to safeguard and administer prescription medication to the public. That's it. Refusing to fill the prescription of a person who possesses a legal, proper scrip for "Plan B" medications is not in their job descriptions. Injecting their own beliefs into their work is unacceptable and dangerous. That you would condone this behavior is reprehensible.
When, and if, you reverse this policy, I will happily return as a customer to the Target Corporation. Until then, I'll be at the K-Mart down the street.
Sincerely-
Me<<
Go get 'em!