Epistemic status: I have written only a few emails/letters myself and haven’t personally gotten a reply yet. I asked the volunteers who are more prolific and successful in their contact with policymakers, and got this response about the process (paraphrased).
It comes down to getting a reply, and responding to their replies until you get a meeting / 1-on-1.
The goal is to have a low-level relationship:
Keep in touch, e.g. through some messaging service that feels more personal (if possible)
Keep sending them information
Suggest specific actions and keep in touch about them (motions, debates, votes, etc.)
What do you mean by “following through”? Just sending another email?
Epistemic status: I have written only a few emails/letters myself and haven’t personally gotten a reply yet. I asked the volunteers who are more prolific and successful in their contact with policymakers, and got this response about the process (paraphrased).
It comes down to getting a reply, and responding to their replies until you get a meeting / 1-on-1. The goal is to have a low-level relationship:
Keep in touch, e.g. through some messaging service that feels more personal (if possible)
Keep sending them information
Suggest specific actions and keep in touch about them (motions, debates, votes, etc.)