preserving the quality of life in Olney, Maryland

An Easy Guide to Letter Writing

The impact of your letter is 75% the fact you wrote a letter and 25% content.

Writing to a government official sends a very important message: you care enough about what is happening to take a few moments of your time to let them know you are concerned. So the essence of your letter should be just that: who you are, what you are concerned about, and what you want done.

The letter can be three paragraphs (1 – 3 sentences each).

1. First paragraph: Explain who you are
, such as:
• I have lived in Olney for…
• I moved to Olney because…
• I commute everyday from … to…and have to wait in traffic….
• My kids go to ___School and have …(explain situation)
2. Second paragraph: Explain why you are writing, such as:
• I do not support …
• I disagree with the current language in the Olney Master Plan…
• The Olney Master Plan says…. I think it should say …
• Click here for specific examples on the Olney Master Plan
3. Third paragraph: Explain what you want the recipient to do
, such as:
• I want you to vote for/against….
• I want you to consider….
• I want you to include/exclude….

Maximize Your Impact!

• Always include your name and address.

• Letters can be sent via email or through the post office.

• The same letter signed by two people counts as one letter. Therefore, have each member over 18 in your household write a separate letter (first paragraph will be different).

• Letters with factual mistakes are disregarded as uninformed resident – no matter how trivial the fact.  If you are not sure of a fact, leave it out.  Less can be more.

• Letter writing tips that the Olney Coalition sends out will provide material for paragraph 2 & 3. If you are sending a letter to the Planning Board, cc the County Council & County Executive and vice versa.

Addresses:

Montgomery County Council

E-mail to each Councilmember: Councilmember.Andrews@montgomerycountymd.gov; Councilmember.Berliner@montgomerycountymd.gov;  Councilmember.Floreen@montgomerycountymd.gov; Councilmember.Knapp@montgomerycountymd.gov; Councilmember.Leventhal@montgomerycountymd.gov; Councilmember.Ervin@montgomerycountymd.gov; Councilmember.Praisner@montgomerycountymd.gov; Councilmember.Elrich@montgomerycountymd.gov; Councilmember.Trachenburg@montgomerycountymd.gov; county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov

You can address it to "President Praisner" or to the "County Council".

Regular mail:
Montgomery County Council
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland  20850

Planning Board

E-mail: mcp-chairman@mncppc-mc.org

Regular mail:
Planning Board
MNCPPC
8787 Georgia Ave.
Silver Spring, MD 20910