>From:    Joe <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Free California Ferrets!!
>
>>[log in to unmask] wrote:
>> CALIFORNIANS, IT'S TIME TO START WRITING!
 
>Right on, Jeanne!  Each person should *also* call their reps offices.  My
>State Senator's office staffer was shocked that I had bothered to call.
>This time, I'm going to schedule an appointment to meet with my reps.
>After all, I'm paying their salaries.
>
>I encourage everyone in California to get at least five friends to write,
>and distribute posters to five pet stores *and* five vets' offices.  (Ten
>of each if you're really serious.)
 
Okay Joe !!!
 
That's exactly what we did here in Massachusetts, and it worked !!  By
the time that the year was up we were generating at least several calls
per day from across the state and I heard that they were starting a second
file drawer to hold all of our letters and cards full of good reasons why
ferrets should be given their freedom.
 
Even the Dept of Fish & Wildlife was overwhelmed with calls.  One staffer
told me that while ferrets were a 'danger to babies because they went nuts
at the smell of milk', he would still like to see them made legal.  Why?
Because, then maybe his phone would stop ringing...
 
We weren't offensive in any way, just persistent with more good reasons
than anyone had excuses.  Many Many good people from across the state made
calls, wrote, and sent good information all year long.  At the end, we were
blessed with a Pet Expo in Boston during which we were able to collect a
couple of thousand signatures, and generate several hundred calls the
morning before the final vote.
 
It worked, but it was because we had good reasons which everyone could
understand and agree with.  We took special pains to be likeable, work
within the system and attract others to our cause.  We also tried to
anticipate.  None of it would have mattered at all though if we hadn't had
the numbers of people helping out, making calls, and writing letters.  It
has to be perceived as something that a LOT of people want to happen.
 
- Bill Williamson
[Posted in FML issue 3308]