Letter usually don't work since they are so easily discarded and the Sen/Cong.
office(s) don't expect to hear from the writer again.
The bureaucracy we are attempting to work with is a regulatatory agency empowered
to make arbitrary administrative law(s) without consulting Congress or the
general public. This has been upheld by the Supreme Court, however, it is
considered by many to be in violation of the Constitution.
Rather than write your congressman or senator, I have found a phone call to the
top administrative official elicits a greater response, with a follow-up call
every week or so. Once you have the grand pooh-bah's name at the local office,
pass it out to your friends for them to contact him as well. Spread over many
days, and weeks, eventually the P/B will get the message!
Take the time to visit the office. Leave your business card. Take the time to
sit and wait to get past the secretary or phone worker.
Then, if you end up with a negative response, keep calling! Don't let a simple
"no" thwart your plan. DON'T GIVE UP!
Most importantly, don't threaten with negatives such as "I won't vote for you
again!" Hell, you probably didn't vote for him last time. Which brings up an
important point: Are you a registered voter? That carries more weight than a
un-registered voter! Common sense.
Also, this is not an overnight process. Unfornately, it will/does take time.
HLH
LEEnCALIF@aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 7/3/00 6:51:40 AM Pacific Daylight Time, BARNCARD writes:
>
> <<
> BARNCARD writes......." I would also encourage members of this list to send
> an email to your senators and representatives urging them to intervene on the
> behalf of military collectors to change this policy decision.
>
> The link below is not the official congressional site, but offers a
> comprehensive listing of all US Representatives and Senator's email addresses
> as well as links to other sites.
>
> http://www.webslingerz.com/jhoffman/congress-email.html"
>
> __________________________________________________________________
>
> Thanks for the link and of course you are right in your suggestions. The
> MVPA and President Lee Holland has done a pretty decent job of trying to work
> with the government to resolve this issue. However, I don't think the
> government has worked with us in the same spirit or enthusiasm. Far from
> it... the proof is in the results.
>
> I am all for a letter writing campaign, calling our Representatives, etc.,
> but I doubt more than 10% of the members would do it, if even that. We still
> not completely understanding or appreciating this issue. If that method were
> to have any effect at all we would need a committed effort by 99.9% of us,
> our numbers are just too small to consider less.
>
> FYI: I have tried this approach and my letters went unanswered, even one I
> sent certified mail to the BATF. I petitioned my Congressman (Wally Herger-R
> 2nd Cong. Dist.) was rebuffed. He was sent back one of these, "we're looking
> into it" letters.
> Others have made similar requests and met with similar stalling. Even the
> famous firebrand, Congressman Ron Paul of Texas was brought into this and he
> made no head way whatsoever.
>
> Clearly, it is in the best interests of the MVPA to support those who support
> us, but we have some roadblocks to remove first. Many of our members fear
> losing our 501, 3c status if we do get political or that it would do more
> harm than good to the group's moral. This of course is not the case with a
> 501, 3c, non-profit status. We are free to express our collective voices in
> support of our own interests by lobbying Congress or whoever we so choose.
>
> As to, "doing more harm than good", perhaps this is true as far as our
> membership harmony goes. This could be a major diplomatic problem. I know
> there are those good members among us who are loyal Democrats and would take
> serious offense to the MVPA supporting a Republican candidate... even if that
> Republican would allow us to import armor or old American military vehicles.
> I can understand that, as they feel there is more at risk than just this
> issue. I agree, there is more at risk.
>
> Happy 4th of July you sons and daughters of the American Revolution....keep
> em rollin!
>
> Jack (Supporting Bush) Lee
> Stallag Chico,
> Peoples Republik of Kalifornia
>
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Aug 07 2000 - 22:15:54 PDT