Forming and Advocacy Habit: Get the Scoop

Get it? Scoop?

Today's 10 minute "forming the advocacy habit" activity is to stay up to date on the latest and greatest in advocacy research. Take a moment to review three of the most valuable reports I've seen in recent years, specifically:

• Communicating with Congress: How Capitol Hill is Coping with the Surge in Citizen Advocacy from the Congressional Managment Foundation. The answer? Not well.


• Communicating with Congress: How the Internet has Changed Citizen Engagment, also from the Congressional Management Foundation


• Johns Hopkins University / CLPI: Nonprofit America: A Force for Deomcracy? (on the right hand side of the page)

Each of these includes valuable information for anyone trying to get their message across to elected officials at all levels. And if you just read the Executive Summaries of each, it should take just ten minutes!

Happy advocating!

Forming an Advocacy Habit: Leverage the Media!

Leverage can move mountains or, in some cases, even your elected officials! Utilize the leverage of the media to your advantage.

Review this online directory of newspapers as well as this directory of radio stations to find the outlets in your area. Then take a look at the websites of key resources to find the reporters that cover your issue. Build a database and start getting to know these folks by commenting positively on their stories online and showing your expertise. Let them know how what you have to say will benefit their readers.

Media is an important component of any advocacy habit, because it helps get your message across to policy makers in an indirect and often more creditable way ("hey, I read it in the paper so it must be true").

Consider joining my Grassroots and the Media webinar today at 4:00pm Eastern to learn more about how to incorporate the media into any advocacy effort. Anyone on the planet can join one per year for free! After that, you must buy a subscription, which you can learn more about here.

Happy advocating!

Forming an Advocacy Habit: Do Something about the Economy!

I don't know if you've noticed, but the financial markets are in turmoil. As the stock market plunges, home values decrease and banks fail, many Americans have been watching their net worth decrease dramatically in a matter of days.

Fortunately, we can do more than watch: we can act, and that's what advocacy's all about!

Take some time today to draft a one to two paragraph letter to your elected officials telling them your story of the economy's impact on your family, work and community. Maybe your members are struggling, your nonprofit is seeing reduced revenue from funders or members, or your own financial situation has become difficult.

If you have a preferred solution (increased regulation, deal with the housing foreclosure situation, provide another stimulus check, offer incentives for financial service firms to pick up some of the slack, whatever) share those ideas. Even if you don't have a solution to suggest, isn't it better to DO SOMETHING as opposed to sit back and watch? At a minimum, you'll likely get a response that will illuminate their views on the whole debacle.

You can draft and send the letter online to U.S. House members through Write Your Rep. or to Senators at the Senate website ( look them up by state and click on the webform link).

New Video Resource for Advocacy

Well, I'm mad I didn't think of it myself, but I would be remiss if I didn't share this resource with others. What is it? It's InsideLobbying.com, which houses a series of short videos on how to have an effective meeting with members of Congress. It includes preparation techniques, why advocacy is important and tips from insiders like actual legislative staff and members of Congress. There's also a whole page of useful tips on the site on setting up meetings and preparing to deliver an effective session.

Check it out!

Forming an Advocacy Habit: Check out the Bill of Rights!

Part of the U.S. Constitution is the Bill of Rights (actually, the Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments). They include stuff we use every day (like freedom of speech) as well as stuff we hope we don't have to use everyday, like a right to a fair trial.

Take a minute to review the Bill of Rights and think about how it applies to your life and work. Would we have advocacy without freedom of speech and freedom to petition the government? How do every day stories in the newspaper relate to fundamental Bill of Rights principles?

Why is this important? Well, sometimes it's good to look at our advocacy efforts from a "back to the basics" perspective. Plus. it's fun to whip out your knowledge of the Bill of Rights at cocktail parties (Number 7? Sure, that's rights in civil cases!) People will be impressed.

Forming an Advocacy Habit: Check out the Constitution!

Have you really thought about the U.S. Constitution lately? No? That's OK. Once people get past junior high they usually stop. But not us, right?

Take a few minutes to read at least the Preamble (if you're feeling ambitious you can go on to read the whole thing!). Revel in some of the key phrases , like "we the people", "more-perfect union" (they didn't say completely perfect union, did they?) and "secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity". Wow, that's pretty powerful stuff, especially when you consider the fact that this document was written by citizen advocates just like you -- lawyers, doctors, bar owners, financiers, writers and, of course, "gentleman farmers." Think of the Constitution as the ultimate advocate's toolkit.

Now get out there and secure some of the blessings of liberty to yourself (however you may define that) -- and happy advocating!

Make a Commitment to Advocacy

Yesterday I introduced the idea of forming an Advocacy Habit. Here's the first step in that program:

Say it loud and say it proud -- I am forming an advocacy habit!

An important part of forming any good habit (or eliminating a bad one) is making a public commitment. Today's task is to find at least two opportunities to tell someone that you are making a habit of advocacy. And, if you want to rephrase it, go ahead (I'm making citizen involvement a habit, etc.) The main point is that you're doing something to become a more active citizen. Here are some options you can consider:

• Look at yourself in the mirror and say"I am forming an advocacy habit." You'll probably laugh the first couple times, but that's OK. Advocacy is fun!
• E-mail or call your friends or significant other to let them know of your intention
• Announce it in your staff meeting (but only if your boss won't think you're crazy)
• Add a note to your e-mail signature
• Post a notice on our online social network
• Update your Facebook page (Stephanie Vance is: forming an advocacy habit!)
• Send a Twitter message
• Send a text or IM to someone who knows how to receive those :)
• Add a comment on your voice mail (I'm away from the office right now because I'm forming an advocacy habit. It's much healthier than stepping outside for a cigarette, right?)
• Blog on citizen participation and why an advocacy habit is important (or comment on someone else's blog)

Now get out there and advocate at someone!