[3KillerBs]

After reading about the problem at the PA open carry gathering a thought occurred to me.

While, as someone pointed out in the thread, it would be silly to go informing the police about your intent to go do something legal it would be a polite gesture to send an invitation and a pair of meal tickets to the sheriff/police chief, the mayor (or like official), the editor of the local newspaper, and/or similar prominent people.

It might be a bit much to do so for an informal gathering of a handful of people, but for even a modest-sized group doing dinner-and-a-program, dinner-and-a-speaker, or dinner-and-annual-awards it could do good things for your public image. :)

And if you weren't planning a program its fairly simple to come up with 10 minutes on How To Properly Secure a Bedside Gun Safe to the Wall or Floor (with hand-outs), 10 minutes for Elaine to report on her experience at the Women on Target program, and a round of applause for Jim who placed 3rd in a local shooting match.

Whether or not the person of prominence actually comes isn't all that important. Its the offering of a friendly contact that will sit in the back of the sheriff's mind. ;)

[hso]

I like the idea of involving the local powers that be to come to a community group meeting that focuses on RKBA.

How would you propose making the contact?

[3KillerBs]

I have no experience with activism of any kind, but I do have some experience with business marketing. And what this is doing is marketing your group and your goals to that prominent person.

Either hand-delivering the invitation/tickets to the prospective guest's office or mailing it would be my top choices. Either way it should be in the sort of envelope that you'd use for a wedding invitation -- something high-class that won't be mistaken for junk mail. Make the inside nice enough to get past the secretary with quality paper and a good printing job. Computers make that sort of thing easy anymore.

Alternately, if any of your members has personal contact with the person in question asking that person to deliver the envelope personally.

As a marketing piece for the organization, it should contain an invitation with the standard time/place/dress code/etc. information, the proposed program for the event, a professional-looking brochure/flyer for the group (again computers make it easy but keep it SHORT and to the point), the meal tickets, and a card with the contact information for the people in charge.

In some circumstances you might include a personal note -- perhaps you're inviting someone who has expressed 2nd Amendment support in some fashion -- but that's completely optional.

You want the way its written, printed, and delivered to say, "These are good people, worthy of my support. (And it gets me a free meal too)".

BTW -- unless its a very high-profile event with a large group, one prominent guest per dinner would be best. Imagine is, in ignorance of the intricacies of local politics, you innocently invited both candidates for an office on the same night.