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DEVELOPING ISSUE ADVOCACY SKILLS

In the future you will be writing different types of letters for different occasions and purposes, for both business and personal needs. Letter writing experience not only can help you to become an effective “issue advocate” with good advocacy skills, it will also help you to build good personal relationships and networks. Here are some areas in which you can apply your skills: follow-up letters; resume cover letters; introductory letters; letters to an editor; reply letters; responding to an inquiry; announcements; congratulations; appreciation & goodwill; declining requests; accepting invitations; organizing special events; generating support for a cause, charity, school gathering; influencing leaders; mobilizing grassroots support; swaying public opinion; coalition forming; promoting policy change; trade promotion; marketing; sales promotion; creating advertising slogans; seeking publicity; requesting a speaker; requesting an interview; seeking advice, acknowledgement, or recommendations; forwarding compliments or complaints; and for obtaining timely & valuable information.

Operating as a citizen lobbyist entails:

Organization--Preparation--Information--Communication.

●Gathering relevant information quickly.
●Full-time monitoring of the activities of competing advocacy groups & lobbies.
●Daily monitoring and reporting on developments.
●Research and analyzing policies, legislation & proposals.
●Gathering information about the previous positions taken by officials.
●Working with coalitions interested in the same issues.
●Make tactical decisions.
●Persuading legislators and decision-makers.

EXERCISE:

●Compile names & email addresses of European Members of Parliament (MEP'S).

●Make a list of email addresses & "forms of address" of the members of any national parliament of the world.

●Create lists for letter writing campaigns to universities, business leaders, think-tanks, academicians, media groups, civil society & NGO leaders, embassies and consulates, ministries of foreign relations, educational institutions and cultural organizations.

DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE

For letters and letter writing campaigns with a focus on diplomatic correspondence keep in mind that diplomatic interest areas and skills include:

●Knowledge and understanding of the diplomat's own country, its geography, history and culture, its political, social, economic and demographic structure and institutions, its human and economic resources (agriculture, industry, and finance)-- in short the determinants of its foreign policy priorities.

●A similar knowledge and understanding of other states and regions. Specialist knowledge of other cultures and societies.

●Skill in negotiating and in day-to-day diplomacy.
●Political awareness. Skill in observing, analyzing and reporting.
●A knowledge of the mechanism and procedures of international intercourse.
●Skill in representation.

●Skill in the management of a mission.

●Skill in communication and public diplomacy.

●Cross-cultural skills.

Forms of Address
ADDRESSEE	ADDRESS ON LETTER & ENVELOPE	SALUTATION & CLOSE
Secretary-General of the United Nations	The Honorable Kofi Annan Secretary-General of the United Nations United Nations New York, N Y 10017	Dear Mr. Secretary-General: Sincerely,
Ambassador in the U.S. to the United Nations	His Excellency [full name] Her Excellency [full name] Ambassador of [country] New York, N.Y. [zip code]	Ambassador [Surname]: Dear Mr. [Surname]: Dear Madam [Surname]: Sincerely,
Ambassador in the U.S. to Washington, D.C	His Excellency [full name] Her Excellency [full name] Ambassador of [country] Washington, D.C. [zip code]	Ambassador [Surname]: Dear Mr. [Surname]: Dear Madam [Surname]: Sincerely,

Other Forms of Address: Names/designations of members of a diplomatic mission accredited to a state
	High Commissioner Apostolic Nuncio (or Pro-Nuncio) Envoy Extraordinary Minister Plenipotentiary Chargé d'Affaires Minister-Counsellor Counsellor First Secretary Second Secretary Third Secretary Cultural & Educational Attachés Military, Naval, Air Force (Armed Services) Attachés Head of Mission ( & those on Diplomatic or Consular List ) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Other Attachés: Public Relations, Tourism, Trade, Commercial, Scientific, Industrial, Legal, etc. Chaplains

DIFFERENT FORMS OF ADDRESS: U.S. EXAMPLE

Forms of Address

ADDRESSEE

ADDRESS ON LETTER & ENVELOPE

SALUTATION & CLOSE

U.S. President

The President
The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:
Madam President:
Respectfully yours,

Senator

The Honorable [full name]

United States Senate

Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator [Surname]:

Dear Mr. Senator:
Dear Madam Senator:

Sincerely,

Representative

The Honorable [full name]

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Congressman [Surname]:

Dear Congresswoman [Surname]:

Dear Representative [Surname]:

Dear Mr. [Surname]:

Dear Ms. [Surname]:

Sincerely,

American Ambassador

The Honorable [full name]

American Ambassador [city]

[city], [country]

Ambassador [Surname]:

Dear Mr. [Surname]:
Dear Madam [Surname]:

Sincerely,

State Governor

The Honorable [full name]
Lieutenant Governor of [state]

[city], [state] [zip code]

Dear Mr. [Surname]:

Dear Ms. [Surname]:

Sincerely,

State Senator

The Honorable [full name]

[state] Senate

[city], [state] [zip code]

Dear Mr. [Surname]:

Dear Ms. [Surname]:

Sincerely,

State Representative,

Assemblyman,

Delegate

The Honorable [full name]

[state] House of Representatives

[assembly]

[House of Delegates]

[city], [state] [zip code]

Dear Mr. [Surname]:

Dear Ms. [Surname]:

Sincerely,

Mayor

The Honorable [full name]

Mayor of [city]

[city], [state] [zip code]

Dear Mayor [Surname]:

Sincerely,