Except when local issues flare up, usually only a few dozen people show up at congressional town hall meetings. Even fewer show up for public meetings with state and local representatives. And the vocal people at those meetings are usually complaining about taxes. This is why we have a situation where the overwhelming majority of the public supports strong environmental laws, but legislators act otherwise. Politicians are a lot like weather vanes and turning out the public at meetings can change the wind's direction.
Representatives tend to reflect their constituency's expressed views on most issues.
One letter may have more impact than a hundred Email messages, but one concerned citizen in a legislator's face is worth dozens of letters. Since representatives are already aware that right wing astroturf groups are trained to manipulate electronic communications like email and faxes, once we fill a few town hall meetings much of the communication from the right will begin to be discounted. Wise use group's newsletters are often skimpy and pathetic, with small circulations. With a few well publicized and spectacular exceptions, their regular meetings are often poorly attended and disorganized. By filling town hall meetings we can leapfrog the right's present advantage in electronic communication.