What is lobbying?

Lobbying is taking action to influence our elected representatives. Pure and simple.

One Member of Congress in the State of Washington said that if she received 13 phone calls about an issue in one day, she would re-open the file and reconsider her position.

Only 13 phone calls! Your voice can make a powerful difference!

There are a strong and mighty group of representatives from the Southern California area -- albeit small in relation to everyone reading this --  that are attending the national conference in Washington DC beginning Friday this week, through Monday next week.

On Monday, March 23, 2009, we will be actively lobbying our elected representatives by visiting their offices and meeting with their staff, encouraging them to support -- or more passionately support -- the legislation to create a cabinet-level Department of Peace in our government. We need you to add your voice to our group -- every voice that is added will create a greater impact!

You can participate without ever leaving home!!

Two steps:

1. Today, write three emails. Do this no later than Wednesday March 18th!

2. On Monday March 23rd, make three phone calls.


Step One

Write three emails to Terry Mason at terry@lupineproductions.com.

Each one will be printed and added to the packet to be delivered to each of your elected officials!

1 - To your representative in the House. If you don't know, check at www.congress.org.

If you are represented by Congresswoman Diane Watson, Congresswoman Maxine Waters or Congressman Brad Sherman -- write a message supporting their decision to co-sponsor the legislation, HR 808. Write your own message, or copy, edit and paste the following, signing with your name and address:

Dear ( please paste the correct one:   Congresswoman Watson - Congresswoman Waters  -  Congressman Sherman  )

Thank you for your sponsorship of HR 808, legislation to create a cabinet-level Department of Peace. I support this concept, and greatly appreciate your support. From an economic perspective, no economic recovery plan would be complete without addressing the cost of violence in our society.

For example, on average we spend $100,000 per year to incarcerate a youth in California. At the same time, programs exist to educate children in conflict resolution and peer mediation skills that are 95% effective at keeping kids out of gangs -- that cost only $250 per child. (www.tkf.org). This is just one program that exists to prevent violence, or to ameliorate the effects of violence. The current legislation requests $10 Billion annually, dedicating 85% of the funds to supporting domestic programs such as these.

The math is so simple. The children that proceed through high school without being incarcerated have a greater chance of being contributing members of society, to the tax base, and the entire equation shifts.

Please, become a stronger advocate of this legislation. Move it forward in the process, and do whatever you can to make this Department a reality. Now is the time.

Thank you for all that you do.


If you are represented by any other Representative in the House -- write a message asking them to support the legislation, HR 808. Write your own message, or  copy, edit and paste the following, signing with your name and address:

Dear ( please paste the correct one:   Congress man/woman ---- )

Please become a co-sponsor of HR 808, legislation to create a cabinet-level Department of Peace. I support this concept, and would greatly appreciate your support. From an economic perspective, no economic recovery plan would be complete without addressing the cost of violence in our society.

For example, on average we spend $100,000 per year to incarcerate a youth in California. At the same time, programs exist to educate children in conflict resolution and peer mediation skills that are 95% effective at keeping kids out of gangs -- that cost only $250 per child. (www.tkf.org).  This is just one program that exists to prevent violence, or to ameliorate the effects of violence. The current legislation requests $10 Billion annually, dedicating 85% of the funds to supporting domestic programs such as these.

The math is so simple. The children that proceed through high school without being incarcerated have a greater chance of being contributing members of society, to the tax base, and the entire equation shifts.

Please, become an advocate of this legislation. Do whatever you can to make this Department a reality. Now is the time.

Thank you for all that you do.



2 and 3 -- to Senators Boxer and Feinstein. Ask them to promote and support legislation similar to HR 808, to create a cabinet-level Department of Peace in our government.

Dear Senator Boxer:

Please create legislation such as HR 808, to create a cabinet-level Department of Peace. I support this concept, and would greatly appreciate your support. From an economic perspective, no economic recovery plan would be complete without addressing the cost of violence in our society.

For example, on average we spend $100,000 per year to incarcerate a youth in California. At the same time, programs exist to educate children in conflict resolution and peer mediation skills that are 95% effective at keeping kids out of gangs -- that cost only $250 per child. (www.tkf.org).  This is just one program that exists to prevent violence, or to ameliorate the effects of violence. The current legislation requests $10 Billion annually, dedicating 85% of the funds to supporting domestic programs such as these.

The math is so simple. The children that proceed through high school without being incarcerated have a greater chance of being contributing members of society, to the tax base, and the entire equation shifts.

Please, become an advocate of this legislation. Do whatever you can to make this Department a reality. Now is the time.

Thank you for all that you do.

and number three:

Dear Senator Feinstein:

Please create legislation such as HR 808, to create a cabinet-level Department of Peace. I support this concept, and would greatly appreciate your support. From an economic perspective, no economic recovery plan would be complete without addressing the cost of violence in our society.

For example, on average we spend $100,000 per year to incarcerate a youth in California. At the same time, programs exist to educate children in conflict resolution and peer mediation skills that are 95% effective at keeping kids out of gangs -- that cost only $250 per child. (www.tkf.org).  This is just one program that exists to prevent violence, or to ameliorate the effects of violence. The current legislation requests $10 Billion annually, dedicating 85% of the funds to supporting domestic programs such as these.

The math is so simple. The children that proceed through high school without being incarcerated have a greater chance of being contributing members of society, to the tax base, and the entire equation shifts.

Please, become an advocate of this legislation. Do whatever you can to make this Department a reality. Now is the time.

Thank you for all that you do.



Terry will print all three of your emails.

Each one will be included in the packet of information delivered to each of your elected officials in Washington DC on Monday, March 23rd.


Step Two:

On Monday, March 23rd, call the National Switchboard at Congress three times.

The number is (202)224.3121.

Ask for your member of Congress, and then ask for each of your Senators.

Tell the staff member that answers the phone this, or something similar in your own words:

I am aware that representatives of my local area are visiting your office today supporting the legislation to create a cabinet-level Department of Peace. I support this movement, and hope that you will, too. Please let me know what my elected representative thinks about this legislation -- I'm very interested in knowing his/her position. Thank you for all that you do to support the citizens.


Thank you so much for your support in our lobbying efforts!