By Ellen Mass
Boston Branch

January 2023

The Boston chapter of WILPF US started a Saturday morning letter writing group in September 2020 because of memories from the letter writing group of Yvonne Pappenheim here in Boston who would insist on bringing senior WILPF women together at her home where she prepared unusual desserts for each of the 6 to 8 of us in the 1990s. All the letters were handwritten then and responses back from elected officials were read at each session, as well as our outgoing letters. Yvonne had the stamps and envelopes right there, and personable sisterhood always brought satisfaction. 

While the present Boston chapter letter writings are virtual (only one writer does them longhand), some of the same process takes place in regards to discussion of issues, writing time, and critique of the letters and who to send them to.  We’ve written about 75 letters over the past 28 months which cover disarmament, domestic and gun violence, war developments, women’s rights, legislative disputes and grassroots initiatives, especially from WILPF. We join other group initiatives such as Massachusetts Peace Action.

We are fortunate to live in a state with progressive legislators such as Ayanna Pressley, Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, and Jim McGovern, and on occasion Rep. Katherine Clark. We sometimes thank them for their stand and their introduction of progressive bills and resolutions such as Rep. McGovern’s support of Cuba. Recently, one of our members received a promising letter in response to US destruction in Yemen from Senator Edward Markey stating his determination “to continue to monitor this issue and advocate for the United States to pursue policies of peace.”

Letter writing is a highly satisfying pursuit because of how much relief it gives one to directly address the decision-maker in our own words, whether we write a short one-paragraph letter or a longer one that will likely be read by congressional staff. We educate ourselves and find validation in our pain or hopes and dreams. Our letters will also be sent to the WILPF Committees that are familiar with and keep abreast of the different topics we are writing about.