This OTYCD entry originally posted in January 2017.

 

Stock up on postcards and 35-cent stamps.

 

When a Congressional representative from another state does something that delights you or annoys you, don’t call their offices.

 

Jamming their lines only makes it harder for their own constituents to get through, and they only listen to their own constituents.

 

Instead, see if you have friends in that state and urge them to contact their reps. Help them find their reps’ contact info if they need it (See the first blog post, ‘Self-advocacy 101: Find Your Congressional Representatives’, for tools to help you do this.)

 

If you still want to say something to the out-of-state rep that made you happy or mad, send a postcard. Your opinion will show up in a physical way while leaving the rep’s phone lines free.

 

It also sets a price on your emotions: OK, you’re mad, but are you 34 cents’ worth of mad? Yes? Then have at it.

 

Good ‘happy’ example: Sending thank-you postcards to Lindsey Graham, Chuck Schumer, Jack Reid, and John McCain for calling for a bipartisan investigation of the Russian hacking scandal.

 

Good ‘mad’ example: Sending a postcard to Ohio governor John Kasich, asking him to veto both of those Ohio anti-abortion bills.

 

IMPORTANT: When you write your postcard message, you need to leave room for your name and your full address. This is per Emily Ellsworth, author of Call the Halls. Initials and a zip code are NOT enough. If your postcard lacks a full address, the MoC’s office folk will probably trash it. If you can’t fit your address and your message on a postcard, best to send an email or a letter instead.

 

Here is a link through which you can purchase postcard stamps:

se/uspsProductDetailMultiSkuDropDown.jsp?categoryNav=false&navAction=push&navCount=0&atg.multisite.remap=false&categoryId=buy-stamps&productId=S_117604

 

This “Fanciful Flowers” stamped card is the closest thing to a pre-stamped postcard that the USPS sells:

https://store.usps.com/store/browse/uspsProductDetailMultiSkuDropDown.jsp?categoryNav=false&navAction=push&navCount=0&atg.multisite.remap=false&categoryId=cards-envelopes&productId=S_222110

 

 

Many venues sell postcards. If you live in a touristy area, you’re set–try your local Visitor’s Center and souvenir shops.

 

You can also try stationery and paper goods stores; museum gift shops; big pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS; and any place that sells tchotchkes, knick-knacks, keepsakes, and assorted shelf-clutterers.

 

The Norman Rockwell Museum Store sells postcard versions of his Freedom of Speech painting for a buck each (Item no. P057):

http://store.nrm.org/stationery/postcards/freedom-of-speech-postcard.html

 

The first action that the Women’s March organizers asked in their 10 Actions/100 Days campaign is to send a postcard to your senators about the issues that matter most to you, and say how you will fight for them. They included a postcard design that you can download and print:

https://www.womensmarch.com/100/

 

 

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If you’d like a fine, subtle, albeit pricey way to troll Trump, stock up on postcards of Titian’s painting of Danae.

 

Danae is a mortal princess from Greek mythology who was impregnated by the god Zeus when he visited her in the form of–no joke–a golden shower.

 

Here’s the link through which you can order the Danae postcards (warning–the company is in the UK, so the postcards and the shipping will be on the expensive side of things):

Danae

 

And here is the story of Danae:

http://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Mortals/Danae/danae.html

 

 

And if you’re crafty, visit Michael’s or A.C. Moore and buy card stock, paper cutters, and rubber stamps and make your own postcards.