Be The Change - North Penn

Volunteer with Upper Gwynedd Fire Department!

2010-02-15T23:02:00.003-05:00

Upper Gywnedd Fire Department 660 Garfield Ave Upper Gwynedd (202-Valley Forge, 63-Morris Rd) Currently 60 firefighters, all volunteer Individual Volunteer Opportunites:
• Fundraising: Help with existing events (Hoagie sales (2nd Sat. of the month), Mom Market, Lansdale Car Show, Beef and Beer, Holiday craft show, also have fire prevention activities, parade, etc)
• Administrative: Grant writing and grant management, Data entry of fire reports 2x monthly
• Marketing: Handing out flyers
• Money raised goes to: Tools, gear, first aid supplies, air packs (need new ones), uniforms
• Need firefighters
Website: http://www.ugfd.org/index.html

Tips for Writing Letters to the Editor & Editorials

2009-03-06T22:48:00.007-05:00

Editorials and letters to the editor in local newspapers have more of an impact than you might imagine.

In most cases, letters to the editor can be submitted online by going to the paper's web site and clicking on the appropriate icon such as "contact us."
[Claire's note: you can contact area newspapers with the web links at right.]

The purpose for writing should be stated in the first paragraph of the letter. If the letter pertains to a specific piece of legislation, identify it accordingly: e.g., House bill: H.R ____; Senate bill: S.____. If the letter is in response to an article or previous letter, include the article's date and title. If the article endorses a specific candidate, state the candidate's name and office.
Be positive and to the point.
Include key information, using examples to support your position.
If your letter is a candidate endorsement, mail or fax a copy of your published letter to that candidate.
Always include your name and your contact information so that your submission can be verified.

Note: You do not have to reside in the area of a newspaper's circulation to submit a letter to that newspaper. If you want to broadcast your endorsement of an idea or candidate, you can mail the same letter or editorial simultaneously to multiple newspapers.

Adapted from the Montgomery County Democratic Committee Person's Handbook.
--Thanks to Anne Sparks for this submission.

Additional Notes from Be The Change - North Penn

BTCNP asks that members not write letters with their BTCNP affiliation mentioned, as their opinions may not reflect those of the group. Any letters written on behalf of BTCNP will be written by the Public Relations Team, with group approval.
BTCNP asks that if a member submits a letter to the editor or an editorial, s/he contact the group so that we can keep track of members' individual efforts. Please email the BTCNP Secretary (using the link at right) and let us know:

Subject of your letter;
Name of the newspaper(s) to which you submitted it;
Date(s) you submitted it;
Date(s) it was published (if applicable).

Thanks!

Tips for Contacting Your Legislators

2009-03-05T22:31:00.002-05:00

Forms of Address:
To a Senator...
-The Honorable (Full Name), address on contact form
-Dear Senator (Last Name):

To a Representative...
-The Honorable (Full Name), address on contact form
-Dear Mr. /Mrs. /Ms. (Last Name):

Note: When writing to the Chair of a Committee or the Speaker of the House, it's proper to address him/her as:
-Dear Mr. Chairman or Madam Chairwoman: OR
-Dear Mr./ Mrs./Ms. Speaker:

Sending An E-Mail:
When sending an e-mail, follow the same format as for the printed letter. For the subject line, identify your message by bill number or topic.

NOTE: Many representatives, particularly at the federal level, have web forms for submitting public comment. Go to the web site listed on the applicable contact form to determine if this is an option.
[Claire's note: see congressional web links at right for mail, email and phone contact information.]

Making A Phone Call:
If you do not have time to compose a letter or if a particular piece of legislation or an issue is time sensitive, a phone call can be an effective advocacy tool. Your call will likely be directed to a legislative assistant. Collect your thoughts before placing the call and follow the tips below. Be prepared to give your name and address.

Things To Remember When Writing Letters or Placing A Call:

Focus on one issue; identify the bill by name and number when applicable.
Be concise. In the case of a letter, keep it to one page if possible.
Express your view politely, explaining why your legislator should be supportive.
Include important facts explaining the local impact of the legislation.
Request that your legislator take a specific position on a particular bill if applicable. You may want to ask him or her to cosponsor it.
Make sure that your return address is on the letter so that your legislator can respond.

Adapted from the Montgomery County Democratic Committee Person's Handbook.
--Thanks to Anne Sparks for this submission.