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Running Effective Issue Campaigns

Running Effective Issue Campaigns. Val Vilott Outreach Associate for Family Economic Security, Education and Employment National Women’s Law Center vvilott@nwlc.org. Part One – What’s a Campaign?. What campaigns are we NOT talking about? Electoral Media What we want to focus on:

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Running Effective Issue Campaigns

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  1. Running Effective Issue Campaigns Val Vilott Outreach Associate for Family Economic Security, Education and Employment National Women’s Law Center vvilott@nwlc.org

  2. Part One – What’s a Campaign? • What campaigns are we NOT talking about? • Electoral • Media • What we want to focus on: • Direct action – the people directly impacted by something organize, decide on a solution, and then take targeted action to change the status quo. • Advocacy – organizations or groups advocate for a community facing a problem, with or without those people knowing it. Combined efforts – direct action with advocacy – almost always yields better results.

  3. Some Truths • Issue Campaigns require PLANNING, even when you might feel you’re doing it on the fly. • Everyone has limited capacity. • Acknowledge your limitations and be realistic about goals, but never underestimate yourself. • Campaign planning takes time, but it can lead to higher rates of efficiency and success. So how do I do it?

  4. Introducing…

  5. Key Considerations: • This chart is a tool, not a solution. The best strategies can fail because there aren’t the right people in the right place at the right time to implement them. • Fill it out from the start • This is a living document. Changes happen. • Keep in mind the “Ripple Effect” – a change in one column should ripple forward to the other columns and backward to the goals.

  6. GOALS What are you trying to do? • Now? get a fair tax bill introduced • Next month? 37 cosponsors by Nov 15 • Next year? Progressive tax policies in place that fund public services for 5-10 years. Goal Pitfalls: Don’t select goals that you can’t measure. Goals are wins. XYZ passes ABC body. Public funding of $123 amount is secured for 456 years.

  7. Organizational Considerations Welcome to your Campaign Reality Check! What and who is doing this? What do you want to get out of it? Murphy’s law – what can/will go wrong? Pitfalls: Don’t be discouraged. If you have a lot of negative organizational considerations, that doesn’t mean your campaign is a bad idea. It means you need to seek support and get creative.

  8. Constituents, Allies, & Opponents • Who cares and why? • How tough are they? Pitfall #1: Remember there’s a difference between organized and unorganized constituencies. “Teachers” as a body are different from “teachers union.” Pitfall #2: Assuming power of constituencies. Pitfall #3: Turning your “opponent” into your target. • BONUS for you: • Helps prioritize a laundry list • Reminds you of the breadth of your movement.

  9. Constituents, Allies, & Opponents Some Questions to ask: • How many members do they have? • Do they work for (or vote for) someone you are dealing with either as a target or a supporter? • Have they already or will they potentially give money to your campaign? • Do they have special credibility? e.g. clergy, special interest groups, community leaders • Do they have unique or special appeal? e.g. children, veterans • Are they organized? If they are, make sure you know who their leadership is. • Do they have a reputation you need to be sensitive of? e.g. unions are tough, business leaders are conservative • Are they newsworthy? (Think: Warren Buffett)

  10. Targets ... Are PEOPLE. The person with the pen. The person with the power. Decision Makers.

  11. Targets If you are in a Virginia coalition and want a bill including standards of care for patients in Virginia clinics, who is your target? Your target is not: • The state of Virginia. • The Virginia government • The Virginia legislature • The Virginia Senate • The Virginia Senate Committee on Education and Health Your target IS: • Senator R. Edward Houck (D-17), Chair of the Virginia Senate Committee on Education and Health.

  12. Targets • Who can make your problems go away? • Why should they? • Who are their cronies? HUGE pitfall: targeting your opponent instead of your true target.

  13. Tactics (the fun part) • WHO does WHAT and TO WHOM? • What leverage does this tactic use (or create)? Pitfalls: Forgetting the ripple effect and jumping to tactics first. Tactics should always be strategic: if you plan a lobby day, you’d better make sure a bill is introduced first. Don’t waste a good tactic by using it prematurely.

  14. Bringing it all together…

  15. ` A GOOD CAMPAIGN WILL … Ultimate Goal !!! Decision-makers Toward So they give you To continue the fight for Take Empower your base to Action! What you want To Strengthen your base

  16. Questions?

  17. Part Two – Put it into action! • Breakout sessions – 25 minutes to fill in a chart based on scenarios provided • Report back • We’ll talk through your charts

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