Ballpark Fans & Friends

Over the past few months we’ve called upon you to contact your elected officials and tell them why you support building a new regional ballpark. Many of you took action, and we are extremely grateful. For those who haven’t yet called, emailed or sent a letter to your legislators we hope the following information will help you take action today!

Contacting Your Elected Officials is as Easy as 1 – 2 – 3

1. Find your Minnesota Senator and Representative by visiting http://www.gis.leg.mn/OpenLayers/districts/ and entering your full home address.

2. Once you know who represents you, call, email, write or schedule an appointment to meet with your elected officials. (See our tips below for writing to your elected officials.)

3. Remember that your elected officials are at the Capitol representing you. Make sure your voice is heard by telling them your story and why the ballpark is important to you.

Ten Tips for Writing Your Elected Officials

Letters from constituents are very important to legislators. Here are 10 tips to help you write a compelling letter to your elected officials:

1. Begin by stating that you are a constituent. If you voted for the decision-maker, let them know that as well. Make sure that you write your return address on the envelope, so that the decision-maker knows immediately that you are a constituent. If you’re sending an email, include your address below your name at the bottom of the email.
2. Personalize your letter. Research consistently shows that handwritten letters have the most impact. However, whether you are sending a handwritten letter or an email, be sure to personalize the message by telling your story. If you are basing your letter on a form letter, rewrite it, or at least retype it. Photocopies of generic letters are the least effective. In making your case on the issue, use personal examples.

3. Use the news. Watch news stories in your local community that you can use to illustrate your point. Use a local news item as a springboard for your issue.

4. Local, local, local. Make a strong connection between the issue and your local community that the elected official represents. Again, use local examples that illustrate why your issue is important and why your position is a strong one.

5. If the elected official has supported your issues in the past, acknowledge this—but don’t take it for granted that the support will continue. Give reasons why the decision-maker should continue or intensify his or her support.

6. Show restraint. Keep your letter brief—three to four paragraphs at the most. Make sure that supporting information that you leave behind is brief as well.

7. Persuade a like-minded friend, family member, or colleague to write a letter as well. Again, quantity is critical. Elected officials pay attention to issues when they believe that many of their constituents care about that issue.

8. Report your letter. When you are part of a grassroots organizing effort, your participation is helpful only if the people mobilizing the effort know about it. Let them know that you wrote the letter, and what you intend to do to follow up. You can let Ballpark Fans and Friends know that you sent a letter by emailing us at lowertownbaseball@gmail.com or call us at 612-424-1678.

9. Follow up. In the letter, ask your elected official for a response. To get a better picture of your official’s position, consider following your letter with a phone call or visit.

10. Communicate more than once. Again, quantity is as important as quality in grassroots advocacy. One letter will not gain influence. As you monitor the issue, communicate with the decision-maker through phone calls, additional letters, email, or visits to ask for specific support or action as appropriate to the process.

Example of a Letter to an Elected Official

This is just an example – it is important that you write a letter that reflects your personal feelings and reasons for supporting the ballpark.

Dear [Senator/Representative X],

I’m writing you today to ask for your support of a regional ballpark facility in Saint Paul. The ballpark will serve the needs of youth, amateur and minor league baseball. In total, the park will host over 180 events a year, only 50 of which are games played by the park’s primary tenant, the Saint Paul Saints.

[Insert your personal perspective here.]

The City of Saint Paul and the Saints are funding nearly 50% of this project, making a strong case for public/private partnerships. Residents, small business owners, corporations, and amateur sports organizations have come together in support of the ballpark but we also need you. I am asking for your support of $27 million in state level funding for this valuable community asset.

Thank you very much for your time and attention. Please send a reply to let me know if you will support the regional ballpark.

Sincerely,

[Name]
[Mailing Address]
[City, State Zip]