McG of H, when I said, "who represents someone else" I meant representing some organization, or perhaps representing some multimillionaire, probably for pay.

The little "folk club" example you posited could, I suppose, justify calling the letter writer "a lobbyist" (I wouldn't use that expression myself), especially if the club had authorized him/her to speak for them, but that's not what is being talked about here. Ordinarily I think when people use the expression "lobbyist" or "lobbying activity" it would have to do with much more ambitious activity than writing a letter, such as arranging personal office calls on a number of legislators, or sending a blanket mailing to an extensive group of legislators. Or paying for travel junkets for Senators to "study" Latin American conditions in Rio de Janiero. Or paying for a "seminar" held at a famous golf club.

In the case of a club-authorized writer of a letter or two, especially where the writer is a member of the club, even if the term "lobbyist" is to be used, the writer is merely exercising his/her Constitutional right of petition. No problem.

It's almost always with hired, professional lobbyists whose main connection with the client is that a hiree that the questions and perhaps problems arise.

Dave Oesterreich