A “Plastic Kills” postcard designed by artist Leslie Evans, of Sea Dog Press were used at a Beyond Plastics Greater Boston postcard party.

Summer is a great time to host a postcard party and postcards are a great way to deliver a short note to your elected officials about a particular bill and how you’d like them to support it (via signing on as a co-sponsor, reintroducing, etc.).

Here’s a few tips to get started:

• Come up with short examples to help people begin, including things like: “Bottle bills work to reduce litter, increase recycling, and save State’s taxpayers money - please support the Expanded Bottle Bill,” or “Many so-called “chemical recycling” facilities amount to burning plastics. Unfortunately, burning plastic releases toxic air pollution and greenhouse gases. Please support the bill to stop “chemical recycling” in State.” or “Did you know that if plastic were a country, it would be the world’s fifth largest greenhouse gas emitter?! Please co-sponsor the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act to protect our climate and address the growing plastic pollution crisis.” etc.

• Create a list of the bills you want the recipients of the postcards to support, including their names, bill numbers, and primary legislative sponsors.

• Print out enough copies of each of both the postcard “scripts” and the legislative details to have at least one copy for every two people who attend to ensure that they can easily consult these critical references as they’re writing their postcards.

• Provide snacks and drinks!

• Provide stamps as you don’t want the cost of postage to be a barrier to participation.

• Take photos and share them on social media to help build some buzz and encourage more people to join your next event.