Sample Letter

ADDRESSING CORRESPONDENCE:

To a Senator:

The Honorable (Name)

Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee (EHE)

2 West, Miller Senate Building

Annapolis, MD 21401

Dear Senator__________________

To a Representative:

The Honorable (Name)

Health and Government Operations Committee (HGO)

Room _______, House Office Building

Annapolis, MD. 21401-1912

Dear Congressman or Congresswomen_______________________

NOTE: When writing to a Chair of a Committee or the Speaker of the House, it is proper to address them as:

Dear Mr. Chairman or Madam Chairwoman or Dear Mr. Speaker

Your purpose in writing should be stated in the first paragraph of the letter. If your letter pertains to a specific piece of legislation, identify it accordingly.

House Bill: HB34

Senate Bill: SB17

Be courteous, to the point, and include key information using examples to support your position

Address only one issue in each letter; and, if possible, keep the letter to one page.

REMEMBER: Address the members of the Assembly properly, identify the bill, be polite and be specific. Also, limit your correspondence to one topic; and, if possible, keep the letter to one page.

Suggested Letter content for our Purpose

(You can get more specific and/or personal with family connections etc., just keep the letter brief (1 page))

I am writing to express my sincere hope that you will support and vote for [HB34 or SB17], the German-American Heritage Month bill. Since the mid 1700s Germans have played a major role in the development and progress of Maryland. They have had a significant impact in Education, Politics, Manufacturing, Business and the Arts. For information about the many contributions and the rich history of Germans in Maryland, please visit http://www.germanmarylanders.org.

According to the US Census Bureau in 2008, German Americans comprise 16.5% of the US population. In Maryland, the German population is also the largest ethnic population with 16.5% (932,275 of the 5,633,597 Marylanders).

Today’s Maryland still has many German clubs, social, civic, benevolent, all with active memberships. Events such as Oktoberfests, Schutzenfests, Schlachtfests, Fasching and many others are part of our lives.

The German community in Maryland is active and diligent. I hope to see your name on the list of sponsors for the bill during the 2013 session and that we may be assured of your support of this legislation.

Sincerely,

Name, Address and Email.