If you send two separate hard-copy letters, then you've created a File. Some organizations have developed sophisticated methods to use the Internet for lobbying. Recipients actually received faxed letters, on real paper, which look more official than emails. While ActionFax originally reached only Ontario MPPs, Web.net is expanding the service to reach federal Parliamentarians too. In each dated, targeted, action alert, Ploughshares provides a concise summary of the issue, two or three key points to include in a letter, and the name and address of the person who has responsibility for the issue.
Some overlap usually occurs.
To minimize annoyance and maximize effectiveness, please put borders at the top and bottom and then place the launch date and expiry date prominently within those borders on each alert. See tips for petitions and action alerts, below. There are a few effective ways to use the Internet to collect petitions, and one really ineffective and obnoxious way. Unfortunately, the targets receive the same 50 names, umpty-hundred times, and conclude that the originating group is incompetent at best. Without authenticating details, a cyber signature is not worth the ether it s written on.