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Historic Battlefield to Close

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  • #16
    Re: Historic Battlefield to Close

    I hope that everyone on this list sends the NJ government a letter. I am sending a letter out ASAP. This is bull----!

    Sincerely,
    Chris
    Chris Delew

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    • #17
      Re: Historic Battlefield to Close

      As a former state lobbyist (on behalf of health care for regular people in New York), I've got some advice for those of you who want to do something about this:

      1. Ask for one thing. On this thread we've had people suggesting making Monmouth a national park, keeping it open, etc. Focus on, and speak with a unified voice for what you want the legislators to do. In this case, write only to ask them to keep the park open. Simple, clear, short. If you want to write about making it a National Park, DON"T DO SO NOW. Writing about that is worse than not writing at all. You will neutralize the efforts of those who are writing to keep the park open. Elected officials need simple direction -- they get lots of mail and demands every day. If they get five letters all saying "Keep Monmouth open," they might do it. If they get three letters saying "Keep Monmouth open" and two letters saying "Make Monmouth a national park," and one letter suggesting reduced hours for the park, they will do NOTHING. In their eyes, the people who care about Monmouth aren't unified, don't know what they want. Conflicting demands from the public = dangerous situation for politician = someone is going to be upset. Better to do nothing.

      If you're going to write, ask only for the park to be kept open.

      2. Write where the pressure will do the most good.

      Who: Write to state representatives and state senators in Trenton. DO NOT write US Congresspeople. Think of it as being like the local vs. the state police. If you have a burglar in the house, calling the FBI won't help as fast as calling 911 to get you local law enforcement.

      Two things motivate elected officials -- votes and dollars.

      Live in Jersey? You have the loudest voices -- cause you've got both votes and dollars to talk about. Write the state senator and state assemblyperson who represent you, by name, at their office in Trenton. Don't know who this is? Call the League of Women Voters -- they are non partisan, and their mission is to make government responsive to voters. They have telephone volunteers (and often websites) that can help you find out the name and address in Trenton of your personal representative. Want to kick it up a notch? Find out which committees in the Legislature and state senate are consdiering this and write them personal letters. Want to kick it up two notches? Check out the suggestion for non-Jerseymen and -women below.

      Don't live in Jersey? Do you have a friend or family member in Jersey who would let you use their address to send a letter? See above.

      Nope, know no one in Jersey, but still want to make a difference: Find out which committees in the Legislature and state senate are consdiering this and write them personal letters. Talk about the family vacation to visit all the Revolutionary War sites you've been planning for next summer. Closing Monmouth? Shucks, just have to go to White Plains, NY and then skip directly to Valley Forge, PA. Guess that cuts out a night of hotel, restaurant and souvenirs bought in Jersey -- just budget now for the highway tolls to Valley Forge. Want to kick this one up a notch? Find out who is the state represntative and state senator for the area around Monmouth, and send him a cc of your letter talking about revisted famiy vacation plans.

      WHERE: Write them at their Trenton office, not their local address, unless you know them personally, in which case write them at the local office and perhaps at home.

      HOW: First choice: Snail mail letter with envelope -- can be five lines long, print out of your computer and stick on postage. Elected officials know it takes more time to write a snail mail letter, so they mulitply each letter by a factor of 10 or 20 other upset voters who were too busy to write but who are mad as hell. Speak with a snail mail letter you have 20 added voices in their minds.

      Second choice: Postcard, mailed with stamp. Writing takes effort -- they count post cards as your voice plus 5 other people who are mad as hell but didn't have time to write.

      Third choice: This is a tie -- some elected officials count email as third choice, others count a personal phone call to their Trenton office as third, and rank email as fourth.

      Fourth choice: Email. If this is all you can do, if you're asking for Monmouth to be kept open, it's still useful, but carries less weight than the other choices above. If you're asking by email to make Monmouth a National Park, you're helping them decide to do nothing.

      Hope that's helpful,
      Karin Timour
      Period Knitting -- Socks, Sleeping Hats, Balaclavas
      Atlantic Guard Soldiers' Aid Society
      Email: Ktimour@aol.com
      Last edited by KarinTimour; 04-06-2008, 09:56 PM.

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      • #18
        Re: Historic Battlefield to Close

        Hey guys,

        Needless to say, I'm pretty flippin' furious about this. I volunteer at Monmouth, a place near and dear to my heart, and I work close with Dr. Stone. I'm also a part of the New Jersey Living History Advisory Council, and we have a meeting tomorrow night, so I'll find out straight from Garry what's going on, and as soon as I know, I'll pass it on.
        Jason R. Wickersty
        http://www.newblazingstarpress.com

        Received. “How now about the fifth and sixth guns?”
        Sent. “The sixth gun is the bully boy.”
        Received. “Can you give it any directions to make it more bully?”
        Sent. “Last shot was little to the right.”
        Received. “Fearfully hot here. Several men sunstruck. Bullets whiz like fun. Have ceased firing for awhile, the guns are so hot."

        - O.R.s, Series 1, Volume 26, Part 1, pg 86.

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        • #19
          Re: Historic Battlefield to Close

          Jason,

          How did your meeting go the other night with the New Jersey Living History Advisory Council? Any updates.

          Thanks.
          Micah Trent
          Tar Water Mess/Mess No. 1
          Friends of Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site

          Comment


          • #20
            Re: Historic Battlefield to Close

            Until Wickersty makes good on his "I need to get back on the forums," (eh, give the guy a break -- he's busy!) I'm happy to report that the closure of Monmouth has been averted. We took a little celebratory run out there today; all's well on Wemrock Road.
            Marc A. Hermann
            Liberty Rifles.
            MOLLUS, New York Commandery.
            Oliver Tilden Camp No 26, SUVCW.


            In honor of Sgt. William H. Forrest, Co. K, 114th PA Vol. Infantry. Pvt. Emanuel Hermann, 45th PA Militia. Lt. George W. Hopkins & Capt. William K. Hopkins, Co. E, 7th PA Reserves. Pvt. Joseph A. Weckerly, 72nd PA Vol. Infantry (WIA June 29, 1862, d. March 23, 1866.) Pvt. Thomas Will, 21st PA Vol. Cavalry (WIA June 18, 1864, d. July 31, 1864.)

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            • #21
              Re: Historic Battlefield to Close

              Oh updates.
              Heres one of the latest articles concerning Monmouth. While not lated directly to our interests in the mid 19th century, preservation and battlefield stewardship are important.



              Drew Gruber
              Drew

              "God knows, as many posts as go up on this site everyday, there's plenty of folks who know how to type. Put those keyboards to work on a real issue that's tied to the history that we love and obsess over so much." F.B.

              "...mow hay, cut wood, prepare great food, drink schwitzel, knit, sew, spin wool, rock out to a good pinch of snuff and somehow still find time to go fly a kite." N.B.

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