Grassroots Networks:

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Grassroots Advocacy

• Grassroots Networks
• The Basics

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Grassroots Advocacy

• An Exercise
• Count the Fs
• In the following passage,
• count the number of times
• the letter F appears.
• You have 60 seconds.

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Grassroots Advocacy

• Americans of all ages, all stations in life, and
  all types of dispositions are forever forming
  associations. There are not only commercial and
  industrial associations in which all take part,
  but others of a thousand different types
  religious, moral, serious, futile, very general
  and very limited, immensely large and very
  minute. Americans combine to give fetes, found
  seminaries, build churches, distribute books, and
  send missionaries to the antipodes. Hospitals,
  prisons, and schools take shape in that way.
  Finally, if they want to proclaim a truth or
  propagate some feeling by the encouragement of a
  great example, they form an association. In
  every case, at the head of any new undertaking,
  where in France you would find the government or
  in England some territorial magistrate, in the
  United States you are sure to find an
  association.
• Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America

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Grassroots Advocacy

• How many Fs did you find?

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Grassroots Advocacy

• Even on concrete reality,
• we cannot agree!

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Grassroots Advocacy

• Even on concrete reality,
• we cannot agree!
• So, we ADVOCATE!

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Grassroots Advocacy

• Grassroots Program
• its all about...
• Building Relationships!

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Grassroots Advocacy

• Grassroots Program
• its all about...
• Building Relationships!
• With a Purpose ________

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Grassroots Advocacy

• Grassroots Program
• its all about...
• Building Relationships!
• With a Purpose INFLUENCE

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Grassroots Program
Grassroots Advocacy

• An on-going, organized system of recruiting,
  educating, and motivating members to use their
  political power to influence legislation at the
  local level.

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Grassroots Program
Grassroots Advocacy

• Its organized
• Members are recruited, educated, and motivated
• The goal is INFLUENCE

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Why is a GrassrootsProgram Important?
Grassroots Advocacy

• Lobbyists
• Position Papers
• Political Action Committees
• Media Campaigns

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Why is a GrassrootsProgram Important?
Grassroots Advocacy

• Lobbyists
• Position Papers
• Political Action Committees
• Media Campaigns
• These are all important however

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Elected officials are motivated by
Grassroots Advocacy
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Elected officials are motivated by
Grassroots Advocacy

• The people who vote for them

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Grassroots Advocacy
Elected officials are motivated by

• The people who vote for them
• The people who give them money to run campaigns

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Support for Leadership
Grassroots Advocacy

• An organizations leadership (volunteer and
  staff)
• Must provide the support for the grassroots
  effort and constantly promote the grassroots
  effort and recruit new participants.

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Types of Grassroots Programs
Grassroots Advocacy

• Quantitative get an many voters as you can to
  be involved
• Qualitative target a few members who have
  special relationships with the elected officials
• Third-party Programs coalitions with other
  organizations (multiplier effect)
• Can do all at once

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Member Education Essential Elements
Grassroots Advocacy

• The overall goals of the government relations
  program
• Their role in the program and why it is important
  for them to be involved
• How the legislative process works

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Member Education Essential Elements
(continued)
Grassroots Advocacy

• How they can develop and maintain effective
  relationships with legislators and staff
• How they can communicate effectively with elected
  officials
• The importance of legislative staff
• The major legislative issues of the day affecting
  the association and its membership

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Communicate with Members
Grassroots Advocacy

• Newsletters
• Position papers
• Internet/Web Site
• Toll-free phone number
• Staff Calls
• Action Alerts

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Other Components of aGrassroots Program
Grassroots Advocacy

• Attend town hall meetings
• Invite elected officials to a local event
• Use an advisory group
• Host a fund-raiser (individuals not the
  association)
• Volunteer in a campaign
• Make campaign contributions (at least 250 per
  contribution)

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Personal Visits with Elected Officials
Grassroots Advocacy

• Be flexible you may not get to see the elected
  official, but staff are very important
• Do multiple visits in multiple settings dont
  talk about the same issue every time (dont be a
  pest)
• Offer to serve as a resource person on related
  issues
• Be prepared
• Establish a common denominator (begin with
  something you agree on)
• Be concise, specific, and clear
• Be reasonable

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Personal Visits with Elected Officials
(continued)
Grassroots Advocacy

• Localize the issue-show the importance on a local
  level (how it effects your community)
• Acknowledge, but dont denigrate, the opposition
• Provide written materials (briefings, not
  dissertations)-one pagers are very effective
• Close the sale-ask how they stand on the issue or
  how they plan to vote
• Say thank you-if possible, take a small gift
• Follow up promptly-send letter to follow up on
  what you discussed
• Report immediately

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Communication(s) other than personal visits
Grassroots Advocacy

• Faxed Letters
• E-mail Messages
• Phone Calls
• Regular Mailed Letters (uncertain these days)
  not as effective
• Express Mailed Letters (also somewhat uncertain)
  not as effective

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For more information contact
Grassroots Advocacy

• National Association of Agricultural Educators
• 300 Garrigus Building
• Lexington, Kentucky 40546-0215
• [phone] or [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• E-mail JJackman.NAAE_at_uky.edu
• http//www.naae.org