Write Letters
Send emails
Letter Writing Tips
Contact your Local Newspaper
Sample letters
Write
letters! In a world where email
is so prevalent, the power of a well-written letter sent via Royal
Mail should not be underestimated. While emails can be effective, they
can also be viewed as “easy” correspondence by their recipients,
requiring little thought or effort. Catch your target audience off-guard
by sending them something through the post! What should you write about?
The choices are endless. See below for some letter writing tips.
Send emails to
businesses or organisations you wish to target. It’s a quick,
cheap and easy way to get your opinions voiced. Most companies have
websites and email addresses these days, so contacting them has never
been easier. For ideas about who you may want to email and ideas
of what to say, see letter writing tips.
Letter Writing Tips
Who should you write to? There are so many possibilities! Here are
a few ideas to get you started:
•
A local restaurant to encourage them to add more vegetarian options,
or to remind them that vegetarians do not eat fish;
•
A large supermarket chain to request that they begin carrying a favourite
veggie product, or change the ingredients in one of their products;
•
Your school or college caterers to request better provision for vegetarians;
•
Your local MP to ask them where they stand on animal rights issues
such as animal testing, hunting, etc. (You may not be able to vote
yet, but your parents can and you will be able to one day!)
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Writing a powerful letter
•
If possible, address your letter to a specific person. Call the business
or organisation you plan to contact and ask for the name and exact
title of the manager/head chef/public relations officer/etc. Ask
for the correct spelling of the person’s name. Alternatively,
if the business or organisation has a website, you can probably find
the information you’ll need there.
•
Use proper business-letter writing format in creating your letter.
Include your address, phone number, and the date as well as the business’s
address. If you address the letter to a specific person, you could
close the letter with “Yours sincerely”. If your letter
is addressed “Dear Sir or Madam” or “To Whom It
May Concern”, perhaps conclude with “Yours Faithfully”.
Take a look at our sample letters for
guidance.
•
Be specific in your letter. Let them know what you hope to achieve
by writing to them, why you think it is important, and that you look
forwards to hearing their views.
•
If you are a member of The Vegetarian Society, be sure to mention
that in your letter.
•
If you are a young person, indicate your age. They will be impressed
that a young person is passionate enough to contact them, and they
will realise that you will be their potential customer for a long
time to come.
Follow-up
• Should your letter achieve successful results, be sure to thank the business
or organisation for taking your concerns seriously. Congratulate them on improving
their services for a wider audience.
• Should the business or organisation fail to address your concerns, you
may wish to do some of the following:
o Send another letter expressing your disappointment.
o Let them know you will no longer be patronising their establishment/using
their products/etc.
o Start a petition to demonstrate that you are not alone in your
desire for change.
Contact your local newspaper to
let them know about your activities. Most newspapers will have a
website providing their contact details.
Email is probably the best way to contact the news desk. An email
allows you to provide your news clearly and concisely, and it allows
the newsroom staff to review your information in their own time.
If you would rather call the newsroom, take some time to think about
what you want to say. Make some notes about the points you want to
cover, and then place your call! Make sure you speak clearly and
ask for the newsroom. Hopefully you will get some coverage in the
local paper, but don’t be too disappointed if they are unable
to print your story. For some examples of The Vegetarian Society’s
own latest press releases, click here.
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