Playing to Our StrengthsPlaying to Our Strengths

Engaging the Political Engaging the Political System on the Local LevelSystem on the Local Level

Russell HarrisonIEEE-USA

What is Grassroots?What is Grassroots?

Citizens talking directly with their Citizens talking directly with their elected officials about issues they elected officials about issues they care about.care about.

Most direct way to influence a Most direct way to influence a legislator. legislator.

Representative democracy in Representative democracy in action.action.

Why Do Grassroots?Why Do Grassroots?

Influence political decisionsInfluence political decisions Engage your membershipEngage your membership InexpensiveInexpensive Improve your communityImprove your community

The Impact of GrassrootsThe Impact of Grassroots

Source: Congressional Management Foundation

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

PersonalVisits

Personalletters

Contact fromCommunity

leader

Personal E-Mail

Lobbyists Personalfaxes

Phone Calls Form letters

A Lot of Influence Some Influence

““We are a learned, We are a learned, professional society. We professional society. We don’t get involved in the don’t get involved in the

dirty business of politics.”dirty business of politics.”

oror

“Our role is to present “Our role is to present un-biased technical un-biased technical

information to elected information to elected officials. We don’t take officials. We don’t take

positions.”positions.”

Engineers need to be Engineers need to be PoliticalPolitical

We in America do not have government We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.by the majority who participate.

– Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson

Most “un-biased” white papers and Most “un-biased” white papers and policy papers state positions.policy papers state positions.

There is no such thing as “unbiased” There is no such thing as “unbiased” policy.policy.

Elected officials are looking for Elected officials are looking for arguments for and against.arguments for and against.

The Life of a The Life of a PoliticianPolitician

A Politician’s WorldA Politician’s World YOU

What do politicians What do politicians want?want?

A chance to impress A chance to impress you.you.

A chance to help A chance to help youyou

Anecdotes.Anecdotes.Senate Majority Leader

Harry Reid

Senator Chuck Schumer

How to Talk to a How to Talk to a Federal PoliticianFederal Politician

Life of a Grassroots Life of a Grassroots MessageMessage Sent by a voter.Sent by a voter. Read / listened to Read / listened to

by a kid.by a kid. Sorted by issue Sorted by issue

into a folder.into a folder. Response sent.Response sent.

Read by a senior Read by a senior staffer when:staffer when:– A decision needs A decision needs

to be made on to be made on how to vote, orhow to vote, or

– The folder The folder reaches a specific reaches a specific size.size.

Impact:Impact:– Bring attentionBring attention– Decide as voteDecide as vote

How to Talk to a How to Talk to a Local PoliticianLocal Politician

Local PoliticsLocal Politics

All personalAll personal More timeMore time Much less staff, much less Much less staff, much less

professional staffprofessional staff Focused on budgetFocused on budget More risk and publicity adverse?More risk and publicity adverse?

School BoardsSchool Boards

School tend to be insular.School tend to be insular. Make sure you are talking to the Make sure you are talking to the

right person.right person. School’s priorities:School’s priorities:

– Protect the kidsProtect the kids– Protect the systemProtect the system– BudgetBudget– Pass the testsPass the tests

School BoardsSchool Boards

How to approach the Manassas, VA How to approach the Manassas, VA School BoardSchool Board

1.1. Talk to the SuperintendentTalk to the Superintendent

2.2. Draft a one – three page Draft a one – three page description of what you want to description of what you want to do.do.

3.3. Know how to pay for it.Know how to pay for it.

4.4. Have a spokespersonHave a spokesperson

StoriesStories

California - EducationCalifornia - Education Colorado – Local activitiesColorado – Local activities Wisconsin – Individual effortWisconsin – Individual effort Indianapolis – Cheap entertainmentIndianapolis – Cheap entertainment Seattle – Engaging politiciansSeattle – Engaging politicians Virginia – Working with the mediaVirginia – Working with the media The Big Black-OutThe Big Black-Out

Now What?Now What?

CARE ProgramCARE Program

Help me talk to your Help me talk to your members.members.

Now What?Now What?

www.ieeeusa.org/policy/lwww.ieeeusa.org/policy/lacac

Sign up for Eye On Sign up for Eye On WashingtonWashington

Discuss policy with your Discuss policy with your members.members.

Communicate with elected Communicate with elected leaders.leaders.

Work with IEEE-USA Tech Work with IEEE-USA Tech Policy CommitteesPolicy Committees

Questions Questions oror

CommentsComments

Wild Applause

?

How helpful is it for messages How helpful is it for messages from constituents to include the from constituents to include the following?following?

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Status of Bill

Recognition of Member'sPosition

Personal Story

Summary of Bill

Reasons for Supporting

Bill's Local Impact

Specific Bill

Address

Very Helpful Helpful

Source: Congressional Management Foundation

The Importance of the The Importance of the AskAsk

76%

22%

2%

Specific AskOtherTouch Base

“What Makes an Effective Advocate?” Advanced Consulting. April, 2003