Someone asked if I would offer advice on writing effective letters, letters in support of Off-highway Recreation. Rather than critique a specific letter, I think it's more effective to make a few suggestions, and let other build on the recommendations. We can learn from each other's experience.

The major point of writing a letter is to communicate your point and your desires to the person that you are addressing. Many times the message gets lost in the letter (the rant we all love to write).

Write what you feel, but somewhere in the letter make your desire clear and to the point.

Examples:

I want you to support the continued existence of Off-Highway-Vehicle access in the Azusa Canyon area.

Keep Azusa Canyon open to motorized vehicles.

I want you to support me in my wish to allow off-road vehicle access in Roadless Areas.

I urge you to support the needs of the Off-Highway-Vehicle recreation enthusiasts in your Congressional District, and demand that Congress reopen the Glamis Dunes area to the equivalent OHV legal area open in 1990 (OK, make it 1980).

Please respect my wishes to keep the access ramp leading to the beach clear and open to the motorized public.

Can anyone add a few more?

Here's a few I've gotten off the net.

Suggestions for Writing Letters to the Forest Service

The following suggestions for writing letters to the USFS was written by John Nutter of the Minnesota 4WD Association. John may drive a Jeep, but he's still a good guy!

Question the definition of a road, they want to say a lot of roads aren't roads. A good common sense definition of a road may be something like an open path 48" or wider that has sustained vehicular, foot, horse or other travel related use in the past.

Defend multiple use and wise use. Make sure they know you feel that locking this land away from use by the public is wrong.

Question the wording of the proposed rule. It is very very vague and leaves the doors open to removing human use from practically every piece of public land.

Question the science behind their decision. Who are these scientist? Are they objective? Do objective people often go into environmental science areas, or are the majority of these scientist people who went into the field with a pre-disposition towards radical environmental viewpoints? Do other educated people such as scientist from unrelated fields or engineers support their theories?

Question the USFS commitment to local public involvement. How can a few scattered meetings and a brief comment period find out how the average person would like to use public lands? Has the influence of environmental groups overshadowed the feelings of the majority of people?

Question whether Wilderness areas are a cancer that is eating away at surrounding areas? How will wilderness areas be kept in check? What will balance wilderness areas with non-wilderness areas?

Mention that EVERY recreational use of public land is legitimate and that there is room for everyone if we stop closing off vast tracts of land.

Question the process. Is it even legal? Are road right of way laws (RS2477) being violated? Are peoples rights being violated? Has the process been influenced by environmental groups?

Mention the possible negative effects on local economies.

Mention your commitment to keeping public lands accessible to all. Make sure they know that you WILL contribute money to organizations that are going to bring a lawsuit against them if they pass this rule.

Mention that you and your family actually use Nationally administrated public land, and give examples of where and when. Examples in Minnesota are Superior National Forest, Boundary Waters, Voyageurs National Park and Chippewa National forest. Other examples are the Black Hills, Badlands of North and South Dakota, Moab Area, Death Valley and Panamint Valley and just about any other public land West of the Rockies.

Lastly, make sure they know you support common sense laws and that this is not one.

Please write those letters. We all need to do this. We CAN win this battle, but it won't happen unless each person does his part. Isn't to right to access public lands worth a few minutes of your time and a 33 cent stamp? That's all it takes to stop this round of land grabs. The forestry service knows public opinion is against them, but they don't think it's strong enough to stop the process. We need to show them differently.

Think this came from Blue Ribbon:

Bureaucratic Tips

(B = Bureaucrat)

1. Seek First to Understand:
Before you can convince a B of your opinion or needs, you should first
consider trying to understand where they're coming from. Once you understand
(not necessarily agree with) their position, you can better find ways to
negotiate with them.

2. Listen:
Probably the most important trait anyone can have for any dealings with
people, but it's especially true with B's. They've got to believe that
you're hearing their side of the story before they will relinquish any
ground. And if you're busy showing them you're not listening, they're likely
not to give any ground out of a personal reaction. More importantly, you
need to play lawyer a bit. In other words, the more they talk, the more you
find *loopholes and trails.*.....by trails, I mean paper or word trails that
allow you room to manuver during negotiations or meetings.

Let's take an example: suppose you want to convince the local District
Ranger to open a road. During talks/letters, she says "Sorry, I can't open
that road because of our Draft Travel Management Plan."

You say: "I see; may I have a copy of the Draft Plan please, for my records
and review?" She says: "No, it's against our policy to hand out a draft of
this document." You say: "I see; may I have a copy of the policy for my
records, please?"

Get where I'm going? Listen well enough to see the loopholes and methods to
keep getting information and other ways to get to your desired end results.
In this case, if the policy were not obtainable, you'd naturally give the B
a chance to back-peddle and eventually give you the darn Plan that you
wanted in the first place. Let them save face if at all possible. If you
burn one, it'll eventually come back to bite you. However, in extreme cases,
you may have to jump up the chain of command and give them a thorough
administrative thrashing.

(the following comments were added by "Crash Gayheart")

Know if the route you are interested in is currently on a township map. Many
townships can't afford to maintain all the roads within, but must have the
roads on the map to continue to receive Federal Highway money.

Therefore the road is still a legal roadway, if you meet with opposition
from a B in one division, seek assistance from a township trustee (in those
states where this applies).

Another good selling point to keep track of is the average spending per
vehicle for a ride. Count camping fee's, hotel bills, fuel, groceries and
beverages, parking fee's (for trailers and tow vehicles), parts if needed.
On our larger events we pass around a piece of paper and ask everyone to
write down how much they have spent for the event. We add it up and divide
by the number of vehicles (our average for a 3 day event is $250). This is
money into the local economy, and many times the location of good wheeling
is in a rather low level economy. Hey money talks, and it has opened quite a
few doors for several clubs that I know of.
Jenny "Crash" Gayheart

3. Persist:
Yes, it pays to persist. If you haven't dealt with a big bureaucracy before,
it's kind of like getting a job. You've got to stay at it. Write, follow-up
call, write again, ask, listen, ask, write...etc.

Sometimes it's easier to give in than to fight a persistant user .....come
to think of it, I believe that many eco-greenies get their way with
precisely this tactic!!!

4. Respect:
It always pays to be respectful with B's, even when you're ready to explode
with anger. You'll win in the end. On the other hand, if you lose your
demeanor and become disrespectful, they have every right to cut you off and
sink your ship in the bureaucratic process. They ARE public servants; we do
pay their salaries; but they're no less human than you or me. So we need to
maintain our cool......if you end up in a *hearing* of some sort and can
show that a B lost his/her cool while you maintained yours, you'll gain some
significant ground.

5. Deliver:
If you're working with B's in a project or planning process, deliver what
you promise; and don't promise what you can't deliver! Make sure if you're
going to do something, you do it. You'll always look good. Expect the same
of the rest of your working group.....

6. Know the Jargon:
Ok, this is a hard one if you don't work in the system. But to really be
effective in speaking the language of a bureaucrat, you should take a little
time to learn their rank system, chain of command, and jargon. Not everyone
is a Park Ranger. USFS rangers are called District Rangers or Forest
Rangers. Park Service folks do use the term Park Ranger, as does BLM and the
Bureau of Reclamation.

Fish and Game folks are Wardens or Lieutenants and Captains, or biologists,
or other related terms. The point is, learn a little about the B's you'll be
dealing with. You can do some of this on web pages also..... Take Note: here
is the chain for the USFS:

District Ranger
Forest Supervisor
Regional Forester
7. Due Dates:
When you're working with or negotiating with B's, let them do their job;
give them a reasonable time to do it; but PIN THEM DOWN. In the Plan example
above, you might ask: When could I have a copy of the plan? The B might say:
I'll send it to you. Then you would pin her down by saying: Great, when can
I expect it so I can mark my calendar?

If you can do it, let the B pick the due date......that makes it their
complete responsibility and self-imposed requirement.

Don't remember where I got this one.

THE PUBLIC PROCESS - GETTING INVOLVED AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE

by Ron Schiller, High Desert Multiple Use Coalition

The purpose of this article is to give you a short overview of how to get involved in the management of your public lands. By no means can everything about public participation be covered in one short article; but you will find what you need here to get started and be effective.

The public process as mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, commonly known as NEPA, mandates that all federal agencies solicit and consider public comments during the development of land management actions.

To fully participate in the public process, the first step is to notify the appropriate agency of your interest in becoming involved. This should be in the form of a letter requesting that your name and address be placed on the mailing list for all information regarding the management of public land under that agency's jurisdiction. In most cases, one should specify the extent or range of information desired. In other words, if you are only interested in receiving documents regarding access to public lands for recreational activities (or road closures) and do not care to review grazing allotment plans, mining proposals, timber sales, or other such activities; your letter should state so. Be careful because sometimes timber sales for example, include road closures and re-routes. The following is an example of a letter to request to receive information related to management actions that could result in the loss of motorized access for recreational activities.

Agency Name Address City, State, & zip code

Dear sirs:

This letter is to request that my name and address be placed on all mailing lists for any planning activities that could result in closing existing roads or trails. In addition to management plans that focus specifically on motorized use, I am interested in receiving planning documents for other resource management plans that may involve the closure of motorized access as a sub-issue.

Thank you for your valuable time and consideration.

Sincerely, your name address phone number

It is very helpful to get on the USFS mailing list to receive the list of proposed actions (all kinds). The document is called the Environmental Analysis Quarterly. You must write and ask to be placed on this list (usually by name). It will give you the full scope of projects under consideration and the point of contact.

STEPS INVOLVED IN THE PUBLIC PROCESS

1. SCOPING

This is the initial step in the public process. The purpose of this step is for the agency to briefly explain to the public what a proposed management action involves and to gather information regarding public concerns. This step usually involves holding a public meeting which is often publicized in the local media. A sign in sheet is always available at the meeting. The purpose of the sign in sheet is for the agency to have the names and addresses of interested parties to allow follow up information to be mailed. If one is interested in participating in the public process, it is very important to sign in and write legibly.

In most cases the agency will have handouts that further describe what is involved in the proposed management action and provide the name and address of the agency's point of contact. In many cases verbal public comments are taken during the meeting but very often the comments are not documented well enough to be interpreted back at the office. It is, therefore, much more effective to provide comments in writing at the end of the meeting or, better yet, by mailing written comments shortly thereafter.

If you cannot attend the scoping meeting you can still participate in the process by contacting the agency and expressing your interest and concerns.

2. DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (DEIS) OR DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (DEA)

The second step of the public process is the development of a DEIS or, for management actions of lesser scope, a DEA. If you signed the attendance record at the scoping meeting or otherwise indicated your interest, you should receive this document in the mail.

The DEIS or DEA includes an analysis of issues previously recognized by the agency as well as those identified by public comments received during the scoping phase. The DEIS or DEA will include a range of alternatives and indicate a proposed action based upon the compiled information.

This step also includes the opportunity for further public participation. The DEIS or DEA always involves a public comment period ranging from fifteen to ninety days for interested parties to submit additional written comments to the agency. It is critical to focus closely on the 'Purpose and Need Statement' in the environmental document because a bias can be built in right from the start. Your input may need to rebut the original intent and the way the assessment was approached.

3. FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (FEIS) OR FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (FEA)

After the comment period has expired, the agency will again analyze public input and develop a FEIS/FEA. All participants in the public process will receive a copy of the FEIS/FEA in the mail. By law, the agencies must have responded to all reasonable public comments within the environmental document.

Contained within the final environmental document, is a decision notice which should give an explanation of the procedure for challenging the decision. This could involve an appeal, protest, or other action depending upon the scope and significance of the decision. At this point, the only recourse the public has is to formally challenge the final decision using the procedure defined in the decision notice.

4. APPEALS, PROTESTS, AND OTHER REMEDIES

This step involves filing a formal written appeal or protest to force reconsideration of the final formal decision. Because each agency has different appeal processes, it is best to contact the agency and request a written copy of their appeal procedure. It is important to note that you cannot file an appeal or protest if you have not participated in public process and provided comments.

5. LEGAL ACTION

Although rarely filed by individuals, management decision lawsuits filed by organizations are commonplace. It should be noted that if a party has not participated in the public process, they have no 'standing' in a court of law. Therefore, even if you don't have the resources for litigation, you should at least appeal a bad decision that has adverse effects on your interests. This is because a third party such as a legal foundation or larger national organization could come to your aid if your issue is significant and you have fully participated in the public process.

NOTE: The above explanation of the public process is a basic outline and not intended to be totally comprehensive.

For additional information or clarification, please contact:

Got this from Yourcongress.com (great site).

Communicating with Congress

Tips On Telephoning Your Representatives

To find your representative's phone number, you may use our searchable online congressional directory or call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202)224-3121 and ask for your Senator's and/or Representative's office.

Remember that telephone calls are often taken by a staff member, not the member of Congress. Ask to speak with the aide who handles the issue to which you wish to comment.

After identifying yourself, tell the aide you would like to leave a brief message, such as: "Please tell Senator/Representative (Name) that I support/oppose (S.___/H.R.8___)."

You will also want to state reasons for your support or opposition to the bill. Ask for your Senator's or Representative's position on the bill. You may also request a written response to your telephone call.

Tips On Writing Congress

The letter is the most popular choice of communication with a congressional office. If you decide to write a letter, this list of helpful suggestions will improve the effectiveness of the letter:

1.Your purpose for writing should be stated in the first paragraph of the letter. If your letter pertains to a specific piece of legislation, identify it accordingly, e.g., House bill: H. R. ____, Senate bill: S.____.

2.Be courteous, to the point, and include key information, using examples to support your position.

3.Address only one issue in each letter; and, if possible, keep the letter to one page.

Addressing Correspondence:

To a Senator:

The Honorable (full name) __(Rm.#)__(name of)Senate Office Building United States Senate Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator:

To a Representative:

The Honorable (full name) __(Rm.#)__(name of)House Office Building United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative:

Note: When writing to the Chair of a Committee or the Speaker of the House, it is proper to address them as:

Dear Mr. Chairman or Madam Chairwoman:

or Dear Mr. Speaker:

Tips On E-mailing Congress

Generally, the same guidelines apply as with writing letters to Congress.

While this isn't letter writting (I think this could be better) thought I'd include it. Yourcongress.com comes through again (I think they have a setup to send this in also).

WHAT IS THIS "WRITE YOUR OWN BILL" ALL ABOUT?

Uncle Sam wants you! Yes, you. No, not to don fatigues and sign up for duty in the next chapter
of "U.S.A., World Policeman," but something anyone can do: give your Representatives and
Senators some good ideas for bills. God knows they could use the help!
Bills are just ideas. Members of Congress get their ideas for bills from everywhere: from their own
professional experience before they came to Congress, constituents, lobbyists, or even a family member
sitting next to them at Christmas dinner. The best ideas for bills come from regular people who probably
don't even know they've hit on a good idea - they're just calling `em like they see `em.

Think about what you do in your daily life. What do you think should be changed?

Are you a stay at home mother who thinks that there's too much violence on TV?

Are you a business person who thinks you're taxed too much?

Hate those damn little inserts in magazines and wish they would be banned?

Your bank pissing you off?

Airline recently treat you like a schmuck?

Recently thought, there ought to be a law?

The next time you think of something that should be changed, log on to YourCongress.com, use our bill
writer to write it up, and send it to Congress. You pay your elected officials, and they need good ideas -
if you don't send them some, we already know what they come up with on their own!

In 1999, the first session of the 106th Congress, 5514 bills were introduced, slightly over 10 per
member. Of these, committees in Congress considered and approved about 14%, or about 800. One
hundred and eighteen, about 2%, became law.

HERE'S THE QUICK 5 STEP GUIDE TO WRITING YOUR OWN BILL AND SENDING IT TO
CONGRESS

1.Get a good idea. I can't help you with this.you'll have to it on your own.

2.Second, you have to give your bill a sexy title. Usually the name has to get across what you're trying to
do, or sound great when the President signs it into law. Actually, you don't have to give the bill a title if
you don't want to - just leave it blank.

For example, a bill to ban magazine inserts (which I would wholeheartedly support) could be called the
"Ban on Magazine Inserts Act," but that's too boring. The "Freedom from Magazine Inserts Act" or the
"Magazine Insert Act Liberation Act" also work.

3.Next, most bills have a section called "Findings." In this section, Congress just gives a bunch of reasons
for why they're doing the bill itself. It's not mandatory, but it does help get your point across. These are
called "Whereas" clauses because the findings section always starts with "Whereas."

Let's make a couple samples. "Whereas magazine inserts are annoying, magazine inserts prohibit easy
reading, whereas magazine companies leave the inserts in even if I've already subscribed to a magazine,
whereas I always find a ton of magazine inserts behind my bed during spring cleaning, it is the sense of
Congress that magazine inserts should be banned.

4.Next comes the meat of the bill which makes new law, usually by amending current law. Don't worry -
you don't have to be a lawyer here. Just put down what you'd like to happen and send it to your
Represenative or Senator. They have lots of staff and official people who can translate your idea into
the legalese needed for a bill. Example: "Upon enactment of this law, no magazine company shall be
permitted to include inserts in their magazine."

5.Now add your name and address, and send it to Congress. If you don't put on your address, they'll
probably just throw it out. After you put in your information, by pressing submit, you will have created
an email-ready and printable version of your bill for future enjoyment. Enact and enjoy.