<p>Hello all! My d just had a congressional interview and I was just wondering if a thank you note would be in order. </p>
<p>To whom do you address it to? The congressman? The staffer? The panel?</p>
<p>anything else?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I just had my interview, and personally, I think it would be more tactful to wait until a decision is made in regards to the nomination (whether she's nominated or not). To send a letter beforehand may be misconstrued as beggy.</p>
<p>wondering... how would it be "tactful" to send it after the decision is made?</p>
<p>Because if she sends it before then it looks like she's sucking up. Even if it's her habit to send thank-you notes for everything, most people don't and it's like a wave at them, saying hey look at me. Sending a note afterward is better, it's like hey thanks for all of your time and consideration and picking me!</p>
<p>If you check books/web sites for advice about job searches, they consistently advise job candidates to send thank you notes immediately after any interview - before they necessarily know if they have the job offer. IMO, MOC interviews are job interviews, and the same advice holds. All you are doing is thanking them for giving you the opportunity, and taking the time to listen to you.</p>
<p>I've heard that there was a time (in some states) when a "thank you note" enclosed with a generous "campaign $$$ contribution" was the only way to secure the nomination.</p>
<p>Thankfully those days are past (or are they?)</p>
<p>Absolutely, without question, a thank you note should be sent. A handwritten note, not an email or typed word document. A short, pleasant, handwritten note thanking them for their time and attention. I would address it to the MOC.
And another note should be sent if chosen.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I've heard that there was a time (in some states) when a "thank you note" enclosed with a generous "campaign $$$ contribution" was the only way to secure the nomination.</p>
<p>Thankfully those days are past (or are they?)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>What are you insinuating? That candidates should be campaign contributors?
That a thank you note implies expected favoritism?
I am not sure what you are getting at here.</p>
<p>While I think sending a thank you is a nice gesture I don't think it has much to do with winning a nomination. But that is not why one would send it. The only motivation is that it's the polite thing to do.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I've heard that there was a time (in some states) when a "thank you note" enclosed with a generous "campaign $$$ contribution" was the only way to secure the nomination. Thankfully those days are past (or are they?)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Uh, this would be the best way to make sure you DON'T get a nomination. </p>
<p>For the umpteenth time, you do NOT need to know your MOC, or be of the same political party, or make a political contribution. The main reason that MOCs use citizen committees is to get away from charges of favoritism and nepotism. I'm not naive enough to believe there aren't any exceptions, but I've yet to hear of one.</p>
<p>When I was applying, my parents were actively working to unseat the MOC who gave me the nom. So, it really doesn't matter. </p>
<p>As for writing thank-you notes, I'm not sure I have a strong feeling either way. If you do write one, make it VERY short & sweet. That said, it's not necessary and there is a risk that, depending on the recipient, it may be viewed as sucking up. </p>
<p>In the job context, I've never made a hiring decision based on whether someone did or did not send me a thank-you note after an interview. Unless the thank-you note had grammatical errors or typos! :)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I'm not "insinuating" anything. Don't read more into the post than what it was, a possible HISTORY of how nominations USED to occur in SOME states in the PAST.</p>
<p>:rolleyes:</p>
<p>I can't tell you how many people (older than I am) have stated the exact same thing to me, that IN THE PAST, the MOC's office would think nothing of sending a letter to the constituent/nomination seeker informing them of the current "campaign debt" that needs to be retired, and asking for their "help."</p>
<p>Notice the key phrases.</p>
<p>Do you know 100% for sure that this did not occur in any state, from any Congressman or Senator, in the history of the USA. Do you?</p>
<p>:rolleyes:</p>
<p>Do I think a "thank you note" implies expected favoritism?</p>
<p>Yes, I think it could be viewed as sucking up, just as others have posted.</p>
<p>Well I can say in our case we followed up with a thank you note to the Congressman's Office. It was the Office Staff and the group assembled for the interview that should be thanked at this point in time - the Congressman is not yet really involved until you get the nomination letter. So my kiddo penned a brief note thanking the woman, whom by then we had known well ( for 3 previous years my kiddo made a once a year visit to the office to let them know she was one day going to be asking for a nomination - so we were known with smiles on a first name basis) ...after all ..that woman was the key contact person who made everything happen for all the interviewees. Then once the nomination letter came one month later, a brief thank you was penned directly to the Congressman. </p>
<p>What my daughter did not know at that time was that I specifically called BEFORE the interview and asked exactly the question asked in this thread..."what is the protocol for thank you notes...and would it be viewed as seeking favoritism if a candidate sends a thank you following the interview from the Board" The nice lady told me that no, it never is viewed as anything but appropriate ettiquete if a young person writes a thank you note to the office for anything the office does. It is not viewed as ...worded in this thread....'begging'.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Relax, take a pill, don't get hysterical again. I'm not "insinuating" anything. Don't read more into the post than what it was, a possible HISTORY of how nominations USED to occur in SOME states in the PAST.
[/quote]
HUH?? Take a pill? hysterical again? Luigi - get serious.</p>
<p>you are the one who brought it up. </p>
<p>USNA1985 is correct - that type of practice certainly does not appear to be customary today (favoritism due to campaign donations).
MOC's use citizen committees for this very reason. I also know that my democratic congressman has a republican on his committee.</p>
<p>Candidates - don't fear that you will win or lose a nomination do to "favoritism" - most MOC's from what I hear they take their responsibility seriously and nominations are won according to merit - i.e. the best candidate wins.</p>
<p>send the note.
keep it short and simple.
simple paper, simple message, simple "thank you for your time and consideration of my application for the united states naval academy."
no colored paper, note cards, fancy stationary or perfume-scented stock.
Plain and white (or ivory, your choice), with neat HANDWRITTEN note.
DON'T send money.</p>
<p>Remember- you are seeking to be an "officer and a gentleman." Consider this a "must do" on the gentleman side of things.</p>
<p>IMO.</p>
<p>ps... if you think sending a simple thankyou note is "sucking up," just wait until I-day!!!!! ;)</p>
<p>While I agree completely with kevinsmom and 2012 mom, here's another experience:</p>
<p>Let me preface this by saying we are consistent thank you note senders and our kids do the same. Our son out of habit, wrote a cordial, generic, TY to each panel member. The local office said, no problem, bring them here we'll address them and send them off. <accordingly, they="" did="" not="" want="" to="" divulge="" the="" personal="" addresses=""> TY's were delivered to the office, our son gets home and his phone is ringing as he walks in the door. They checked with the DC office and they said an emphatic no, it would be inappropriate to have any communication with the panel. And they asked my son to please come and pick the notes up from their office.</accordingly,></p>
<p>After our son received the nominations, he wrote a note to the kind MOC. No problem there. </p>
<p>Again, it shows how differently each office is run.</p>
<p>All the best to you daughter hair net!</p>
<p>Been to I-day. Still think thank-you notes are sucking up.</p>
<p>let me ammend my post to say I would agree that it would not be appropriate to send thankyou notes to the members of the nominating boards.....the note I was referring to was a more generic one to the MOC.</p>
<p>jacktraveler.... thank you notes are no more than what they are.... "thank you."</p>
<p>Oh my gosh.. here we go again. and you are so right Jack</p>
<p>So let's take a poll...
TY notes polite ...2
TY notes suck up ... 3</p>
<p>I am with Jack. Thank you notes to Grandma and Grandpa are loved...to everyone else before the last sentence is read it has already hit the circular filing cabinet</p>
<p>While I think the intent of a thank you should be nothing more that a nice gesture - I think they are unnecessary. If you are so compelled that it is keeping you up at night go ahead and write one - it won't make a difference if you get the nomination or not.</p>
<p>My daughter didn't write one and she got a nomination. I honestly don't know how most kids would have the time anyway. As far as the MOC office goes - they get so much mail in a day they could probably care less.</p>
<p>^^^^and no doubt true.</p>
<p>in the end, do what you feel comfortable doing. Consider them "secondary, optional and conditional." "Nice if you do them, ok if you don't." Be true to yourself, and do what you think is right for you.</p>
<p>(ps... our son got 3 nominations, to 3 academies. He wrote thank you notes not only following the interview, but after receiving the nomination. The following year, when he needed a nomination for the foundation program, he received another 2- and he wrote thank you notes for those as well. They make the time for what they feel is important. But that is who "he" is.)</p>