Tools for Team Members

Rapid Response Network

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Tools for Rapid Response Team Members

	Summary of Our Key Legislative Issues
	State Legislator Meeting Report Back Form
	Congressional Meeting Report Back Form
	Town Hall Meeting Report Back Form

Key Points About Letter-Writing

	Pick a timely "hook" for your letter The more you can link your letter to something the newspaper recently published, the more likely it is that your letter will be published. But even if your letter isn’t published, it can bring your point of view into the debate. If the paper gets a lot of mail on a subject, it can clue them in to the fact that readers are concerned, and make it more likely that someone’s letter does get published.
	Correct media mistakes Correcting mistakes the paper made can be a particularly good way to get a letter published. Many newspapers feel obligated to correct errors, even if they otherwise aren't inclined to print your viewpoint. If your position or an event you know about was seriously misrepresented, the first step is often for someone in your union to call the reporter and ask for a correction, and if that doesn’t work, to contact the editor and explain your disagreement. At that point the union spokesman can suggest a "Letter To the Editor" setting out your view of the story.
	Make it quick and short In any case, it’s important for concerned members to respond quickly, while the news is still hot. The letter need not be long -- in fact, shorter letters tend to be more effective. Also, the shorter the letter, the more likely it is that someone will publish it without editing out the most important parts.
	Concentrate on your key point(s) Refer in the first couple of lines to the story that you’re commenting on or disagree with. Give the date it ran or appeared. Don't go after each minor mistake, however. It could make you come across as petty or too defensive. Boil you point of view down to just one key point or a couple of simple points, and don’t get side-tracked into discussing details that aren’t as important.
	Make it readable and credible State your main points clearly and with lively, fun-to-read language, but don't get abusive. Back up your opinion with evidence, which could be anything from a personal experience to a study on the situation. Make sure you get your facts right and have a credible source for every fact you mention. This should take a couple of paragraphs. End with a summary of your view-point and your hope that this correction or point of view will lead to better understanding of the union’s position, or the candidate or issue you’re backing, in the future.
	The more letters, the better The more letters a paper gets on a subject, the more likely it is that one will be printed. So on important subjects, encourage other union members to write in. You might even get together to write letters at the same time.

Key Points About Radio-TV Call-in

	Pick shows you're familiar with Focus on call-in to shows you have listened to before. Think about the best argument and approach for the style and audience of each show.
	Get prepared Think about why you care about the issue, and why you're calling and decide on a major idea you want to communicate. Stick to a few very clear points, and write them down. Study them and practice driving the points home in your own words. Think about how you can decisively communicate your argument in one sentence. Then make sure you have some facts or personal experiences to back you up. Have easy-to-read notes with some key words and facts to remind you of your main points. Consider trying out on a friend.
	Anticipate how the host and callers will respond to you Who is the host of the radio show and what do you know about his or her political beliefs? What can you expect he or she will say in response to your point? Consider possible counter-arguments and be prepared to explain your facts or personal experiences and politely show what's wrong with counter-arguments. Don't worry about preparing for everything - If the host tries to get you off-topic, bring the conversation back to your main points. The goal is to get your message out there, even if you can't convince the host. So don't let anyone throw you off or get you riled up.
	When you're ready to call Turn off the radio. You'll be able to hear the program when you're waiting to ask a question. Also turn off the TV or other noise-makers and get all distractions, such as the dog, out of the room and/or out of hearing range.
	Call at the very beginning of the program If the program is really popular or the issue is hot, a lot of people will be calling in to ask questions. You'll increase your chances if you call before they do. Continue calling if your line doesn't get picked up the first time. Hosts of radio programs like to answer or entertain a variety of questions during their call-in sessions. Be as specific as possible when you tell the screener what subject you want to discuss, and why it's relevant to this show. If the person screening the calls pushes you to clarify, remain polite and courteous. If it seems like the show is screening out certain viewpoints, emphasize the subject you want to discuss and its relevance without going into your argument in full.
	When you're on the air Introduce yourself right away, and tell the listeners and host something about who you are. Don't go into a lengthy description - just give them your name and any relevant information. Quickly get to the point. State as early as possible the key point you want to communicate. You may not get as much time as you want, so make your main point first and fast. Anything you say after that should work to support your argument.