In cyberspace, it's easy to avoid commitment and accountability. It's easier to transfer thought to action if you have a physical anchor for your activities, perhaps a monthly meeting. Don't confuse email or fax campaigns with action. Decision-makers know how easy it is to create this kind of communication, especially if you're doing little more than typing your name onto a fixed message. If the feedback represents minimal commitment of time and energy, it has lacks weight and makes little impression.
Phone calls are better.
When Jerry Berman was director of EFF, he told me that EFF-Austin should charter a bus to D.C. and show up in our legislators' offices there. This kind of personal investment and immediate presence is incredibly valuable. You could send thousands of emails and make no more than a fraction of the impact. It's logistically difficult to organize online. You can convey information and get a sense of the group online, but it's harder to reach real decisions.