Dear Member of Congress,
This letter is my way of introducing myself. My name is Karl Knox and I have been retained by the Free Alaska Committee to help spread the word about the danger posed by Bill No. HR456. That bill would sell 500,000 acres to an oil drilling firm.
Alaska is the country's last great wilderness. If you could visit the land in question, you would see majestic grizzly bears and moose, graceful whitetail deer and scores of other creatures that call this area home.
And where will these animals go? The answer is probably into nearby villages and growing cities, where clashes between humans and animals are now rare. Would you want a grizzly bear in your neighborhood?
Already, Congress has allowed 1.8 million acres of Alaska's frontier to be purchased by oil and lumber companies. The amount of land left is shrinking rapidly.
This land is so important that a group of residents has vowed to raise enough money to match the $5-million price tag. We ask only that they be given a chance.
Next week, I will begin paying visits to certain members of Congress. I hope you can find the time to meet with me. I will be bringing some photographs of the pristine land so revered by Alaskans. I only hope that the land itself can last as long as the pictures.
Sincerely,
Karl Knox
Registered Lobbyist
Michael Ross is a legislative advocate. He says polished oral and written communication skills are clearly required. "Communication skills are very important -- speeches, writing, etc."