While the preprinted message idea makes sure your message gets conveyed properly, the mere fact that it is a form letter may dilute its effectiveness.  I've heard that government officials at higher levels (Members of Congress, the President, etc.) tend to give little value to such
letters.  They may be more effective at the local level, since officials have a smaller constituency and are less likely to be desensitized to form letters.

Personally, I think a better idea would be to prepare a special information sheet for visitors willing to contact their government officials.  Such a sheet could contain the names and contact information for key officials, tips on how to write an effective letter, and a list of key
points to write about.  A sample letter may even be helpful, though you should make sure your writers phrase things in their own style rather than copy yours.  In some instances, you may even want to encourage key supporters of the museum to actually meet personally with their
officials to express their views.

Hope that is helpful.

Jonathan L. Mahaffey
Senior, Public History major
Appalachian State University
http://www.jonathanmahaffey.com/

Terrie Nolinske wrote:

> Something I've found useful in encouraging visitors to tell others (funders,
> etc.) about the museum is to have postcards with the message you want them
> to disseminate already printed on the left hand side of the card  with
> enough room for them to write something additional in on the left hand side,
> under your pre printed blurb. The right hand side could already be
> pre-addressed -- since that way visitors can just put a stamp on and drop in
> the mail.  Of course, on the front of the postcard is a picture of something
> relevant to the issue on the card...
>
> Terrie
> Terrie Nolinske, Ph.D.
> Chicago, Illinois

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