<p>Because I work at Sen. Snowe's office as an intern, and it is generally my job to get the mail, I thought the thank-you note would be slightly pointless, as seen through experience.</p>
<p>For one, the MOC never actually sees any mail that constituents send in, unless it's something VERY important. And this is in Maine, where the office slows to a crawl on most afternoons. It will most likely go to the head of the office, who will look at it for 10 seconds, smile, and hand it to the intern to file out back in a dusty 3-ring binder. </p>
<p>It may be a nice Victorian-era gesture, but it has no decision on whether the MOC gives the nomination. Only I will know about your pleasantries. :)</p>
<p>would agree it has no bearing on one's "yes/no" vote for a nomination. And if that is the purpose of sending it in the first place, I would default to not send.</p>
<p>As for the gesture- the sad thing is that a thank you note has fallen out of style- to me, a sad thing- we spend far too little time acknowledging those who spend their valuable time on helping us - in all walks of life- and far too little time thanking them, IMO. Perhaps "stuck in time," we (a collective family- we) still send "thank you notes".... for birthday/holiday gifts, for dinner invites, for "jobs well done".... and a host of other things.... sometimes simply for a "just because."</p>
<p>So whether or not the MOC "ever sees it," no matter..... the point remains the same. "The MOC seeing it" only matters when one is of the assumption it will "help"... which, IMO, defeats the purpose of the "thank you" in the first place. And if you were the one that answered a phone call, or helped with booking the appointment, or perhaps answered a question from a candidate, then the fact that you get to enjoy the pleasantries for your "job well done" is good enough. But while that may be the experience in your MOC office, others may run differently. </p>
<p>I think each candidate will do as they will. Some will thank, some will not. Do what comes naturally and reflects who you are, nothing more and nothing less!</p>