"We use The Databank as an engine for our supporters to contact their legislators and share their feelings on certain issues. We like that we can give them the background information and then really encourage them to write a message in their own words. The ease of communication is great."

- Gayle Miller, Sierra Club Legislative Director

Sierra Club's Michigan Chapter Uses The Databank to Oppose Animal Factory Bill

Things were not looking good for Michigan environmentalists. A bill to deregulate animal factories looked like it was going to pass easily through the State Senate.  Sierra Club's Michigan Chapter was determined to stop that from happening. Gayle Miller, Legislative Director of Sierra Club, wrote a message to the members of the Sierra Club on May 21st , 2007, asking them to contact their senators and tell them they oppose the animal factory bill that would deregulate these factories and legalize their pollution.

160 people joined the outcry and wrote personal letters to their state senators. A follow up action alert was sent out on June 15th and the action item was added to their action network website on June 21st , where it continues to get attention. Because of this powerful response by Sierra Club's supporters, a bill which was originally predicted to squeeze right through the senate saw a huge wave of opposition.

Activists from the Sierra Club's own members and members of the Mackinac Action Network responded to calls to attend hearings on the bills. Instead of ramming the bills through the Agriculture committee, the Sierra Club managed to force three hearings, where dozens of individuals showed up to testify in opposition to the bills. Although the bills ultimately passed through both the Agriculture Committee and the full senate, outcry from citizens slowed the process down and prevented the bills from moving into the House before the legislature's summer recess - allowing time to get media attention and build opposition in the House.

How does Sierra Club's Mackinac Action Network operate? Sierra Club sends out an email to their supporters, urging them to visit a page on their website where they can contact their legislators. The Action Alert page provides the activist with a sample message that they can send to their legislator (which is already filled in for them, based on where they live). They can send it immediately with one click, or they can personalize the message and then send it.

According to Gayle Miller, Legislative Director for Sierra Club, "We use The Databank as an engine for our supporters to contact their legislators and share their feelings on certain issues. We like that we can give them the background information and then really encourage them to write a message in their own words. The ease of communication is great." Miller also added, "Encouraging citizens to personalize their message really helps. We've had scores of truly personal and compelling emails arriving at legislator's offices."

The Databank's Advocacy Module, which allows people to take action with the click of a button, has a much higher response rate than asking them to make a phone call or write a letter on their own time, because it makes taking action so easy and quick. Sierra Club can even track the response rate of each action alert in their Databank, which provides them with details such as how many people told a friend and how many people took action.

If you would like to see what thedatabank's Advocacy module can do for your organization sign up for a free online demo .

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