So I have made a template here that can simply be copied and pasted into an email, the blanks filled in and away it goes. It couldn't be simpler!
The template is based on the one that I sent to my Deputies, one of whom has already responded telling me she completely agrees with me.
Don't be scared to email them, that's what they are there for!
Template -
Dear <insert States Members name here>,
I write to you as a constituent to canvass for your support for a vote due to be debated in the States on the 6th of March on an amendment to P.5/2012.
I am aware that an amendment is to be put forward by Deputy Roy Le Hérrisier to replace the 3 States Members on the Electoral Commission with unelected and independent members instead. I feel it is important to ask you, as my elected representative, to back Deputy Le Herrisiers amendment and maintain the position that was decided last year following former Deputy Wimberly's proposition.
Over the years the States of Jersey has proven itself to be incapable of reforming itself and it is of vital importance that the Electoral Commission is independent so that there are no vested interests on board. I am utterly dismayed at the attempts of Senator Bailhache (with the backing of the Chief Minister) to try and usurp the Commission for himself to put forward his own views which do not reflect the wish of much of the electorate.
The States of Jersey as it is currently constituted has severe deficiencies in democratic accountability. The election turnouts are appallingly low, there is considerable disproportionality in the representation of certain parts of the island and there is a lack of separation of powers. This can only be solved by a commission of people whose sole objective is to improve Jersey's democracy and not those who have a vested interest in their seats being maintained. I fear that if we allow the commission to be taken over by politicians then we will simply have another few years of wrangling, disagreement and no progress whatsoever.
I hope I can count on you to support this amendment, and the principle in general.
Many thanks,
<Insert your name and parish here>
Obviously amend according to any differences of opinion you have with that expressed here.
Template -
Dear <insert States Members name here>,
I write to you as a constituent to canvass for your support for a vote due to be debated in the States on the 6th of March on an amendment to P.5/2012.
I am aware that an amendment is to be put forward by Deputy Roy Le Hérrisier to replace the 3 States Members on the Electoral Commission with unelected and independent members instead. I feel it is important to ask you, as my elected representative, to back Deputy Le Herrisiers amendment and maintain the position that was decided last year following former Deputy Wimberly's proposition.
Over the years the States of Jersey has proven itself to be incapable of reforming itself and it is of vital importance that the Electoral Commission is independent so that there are no vested interests on board. I am utterly dismayed at the attempts of Senator Bailhache (with the backing of the Chief Minister) to try and usurp the Commission for himself to put forward his own views which do not reflect the wish of much of the electorate.
The States of Jersey as it is currently constituted has severe deficiencies in democratic accountability. The election turnouts are appallingly low, there is considerable disproportionality in the representation of certain parts of the island and there is a lack of separation of powers. This can only be solved by a commission of people whose sole objective is to improve Jersey's democracy and not those who have a vested interest in their seats being maintained. I fear that if we allow the commission to be taken over by politicians then we will simply have another few years of wrangling, disagreement and no progress whatsoever.
I hope I can count on you to support this amendment, and the principle in general.
Many thanks,
<Insert your name and parish here>
Obviously amend according to any differences of opinion you have with that expressed here.
Email addresses are on my last blog post.
As always, any comments and constructive criticism is welcome.
Thanks,
Sam
Sam.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time in constructing this template e-mail. Your time has not been wasted as my e-mail below demonstrates. Let's hope that more of your readers will engage in the democratic process and lobby their "representatives" because as you have said that's what they are there for.
Also the colour change to you Blog is, for me, much more user/reader friendly...............Keep up the good work.
from: voiceforchildren voiceforchildren voiceforchildren@googlemail.com
to: "l.norman" ,
s.pinel@gov.je,
clifford baudains
date: 6 February 2012 18:52
subject: Sabotage.
Dear Constable/Deputies.
I write to you as a constituent to canvass for your support for a vote due to be debated in the States on the 6th of March.
I am aware that an amendment is to be put forward by Deputy Roy Le Hérrisier to replace the 4 States Members on the Electoral Commission with unelected and independent members instead. I feel it is important to ask you, as my elected representative, to back Deputy Le Herrisiers proposal and maintain the position that was decided last year following former Deputy Wimberly's proposition.
Over the years the States of Jersey has proven itself to be incapable of reforming itself and it is of vital importance that the Electoral Commission is independent so that there are no vested interests on board. I am utterly dismayed at the attempts of Senator Bailhache (with the backing of the Chief Minister) to try and usurp the Commission for himself to put forward his own views which do not reflect the wish of much of the electorate.
The States of Jersey as it is currently constituted has severe deficiencies in democratic accountability. The election turnouts are appallingly low, there is considerable disproportionality in the representation of certain parts of the island and there is a lack of separation of powers. This can only be solved by a commission of people whose sole objective is to improve Jersey's democracy and not those who have a vested interest in their seats being maintained. I fear that if we allow the commission to be taken over by politicians then we will simply have another few years of wrangling, disagreement and no progress whatsoever.
I hope I can count on you to support this amendment, and the principle in general?
VFC.
Sam you will be pleased to hear that I've already received a reply from Deputy Baudains who will be supporting the amendment!
ReplyDeleteHi Sam.
ReplyDeleteNice to see another blog up & running, very good idea to but a template up for people to use.
Thanks TJW
Well done, Sam. Good luck with this.I will also put up a link to your blog on my website links page which I hope to update in the coming week or two.
ReplyDeleteGood work Sam. Mobilise the youth - Facebook it out there - put that email to some heavy riffage and drop it in Sir Philips inbox.
ReplyDeleteThis madness has got to stop
rs
Nice one Sam I shall put up a link from pj with a link to the email section of the Gov.Je website - Tuesday.Well thought through.
ReplyDeleteBoatyboy.
Thanks very much for your feedback guys, I appreciate it. Lets try and spread the word and get some sort of campaign to make it well known among States Members that the public will not tolerate politicians hijacking the Electoral Commission.
ReplyDeleteI've been told that with 4 signatures it is possible to force a Parish meeting on an issue. I am in Jersey for the second half of this week and and going to try and get something sorted. More news at it develops.
Hi Sam.
ReplyDeleteWhat Parish do you live in, may be an idea to do the Town Hall.
St Saviour. Any idea how I would go about doing it in the Town Hall?
DeleteGreat stuff Sam.
ReplyDeleteMine has been signed, sealed and delivered! (by e-mail of course).
Thanks for this.It is exceptional one surely.
ReplyDeleteAgreement Templates
I've sent my own worded emails to Bailhache,Le Marquand, Ozouf, Routier, Paddock and Reed. I have only received a reply from Routier ! I got an automated 'out of office' from Ozouf on the day he returned to his office. !! Not only are they incompetent they are also very rude !
ReplyDeleteExcellent! Don't get your hopes up for either responses, let alone positive responses, from some of those.
DeleteI'm going to send a specific email to some of the ministers, explaining why they can still vote against the Chief Minister even though they are on the Council of Ministers and not breach collective responsibility.
I have forwarded this link to Senator Ozouf on Twitter and will let you know if he responds. He tends to actually be pretty good when it comes to responding to these sort of things on social networking. I don't expect him to agree, but it's obviously important to hear the other sides view.
ReplyDeleteThis is identical to another email I have received – word for word
ReplyDeleteCan you tell me why that may be?
Regards
Alan Breckon
Just Received this.
Hi Alan. I am the original author of the email. I sent it to my Deputies, and because it isn't appropriate for me to contact States Members who I am not a constituent of, I uploaded it on here so that people who are interested can send it to their representatives too so that we can spread the message.
DeleteApologies if you have received several copies.
Thanks,
Sam
Sam.
ReplyDeleteHow Things Are Done In JERSEY