A Guide to tactics

1. Criteria for Tactics, Considerations, A planning Method, Checklist, Using the Strategy Chart to Play A Guide to tactics

2. Tactics must be based in strategy What works for one group may not work for another Remember important CRITERIA Think Strategically

3. Focused on the Primary or Secondary Target of the Campaign Puts power behind specific demand (example candlelight vigil to save whales?) Meets organizational goals as well as issue goals (builds organization at the same time as winning the issue) It is outside the experience of the target It is within the experience and comfort zone of members Criteria for tactics

4. Petition Drives • Petition Power comes from: • 1. Numbers • 2. Strategic Location and Timing • 3. Organized Follow-up • Elected officials (especially if victory was narrow) • Coming from right people (officials: voters, business owners: customers) • Petition presented just before election, not after Considerations in popular tactics

5. Short message Large, legible names and signatures Get contact info and volunteers Quantity over quality (don’t spend time educating at this point) Teamwork! Is more fun and builds confidence Always make copies! Petition Tips

6. Mail in letters prior to meeting official AND hand over more at meeting to make a strong impression • If audience is sitting, use letters • This represents larger commitment from writer Letter writing

7. Sample text – no more than 3 sentences • Include return address • Address envelope, ask for and accept donations • Combine letter writing with selling something, and spread letter mailing out over a week’s time Letter writing tips

8. The CORE of organizing • For a community group, phoning is best • General Rule: of people who say YES to coming on 2nd call, ½ will actually come Turnout events

9. Don’t start with “Hello, Ms. Garskof. You are on a list.” Stress past connection Mention a previous success Indicate that person will play a role Talk about why person is needed Everyone will go together Get definite commitment Indicate a reminder and follow through Turnout tips

10. Communicate message in 3 different ways: • Mailings • Email • Posters • Leaflets • Announcement at other community events Turnout tips continued • At event, make effort to introduce everyone. Use nametags. • Make your events fun and exciting and get press! • Have something memorable that will be talked about in the future.

11. Try to meet with elected officials rather than appointed ones • Know most recent election results • Only recruit people you know/only have several spokespeople • Come with specific demand • Remember your forms of power: • Numbers, contributors, influential people, embarrass official for not acting in interest of community, official is yielding to pressure/money • Pin down official to a specific agreement • get another meeting if you can’t get agreement Tips for Visits with public officials

12. Hold your own public hearing “Official” hearings Public hearings

13. 1st victory (objective) is getting official to come to hearing It is FUN to do! Holding your own public hearing

14. Remember to present the case, not all sides of it Group must be 100+ members Fill every seat and more Get contact info from all in attendance Prepare testimony in advance Bring letters and petitions Appoint one press person to give out release Close with a rousing statement and give everyone something to do after the event Tips for holding your own hearing

16. Used to open debate, delay decision, create an arena to show strength • Try to get it on your turf when people can attend (neighborhood building at night?) • Official hearings are boring and you may end up waiting • Use humor if/when possible • Example: public housing tenants brought mice to City Council hearing Official hearing

17. Be identifiable as a group Set up table for new supporters with info on issue At very large events, bring “applause managers” so everyone knows who is in agreement Give members talking points and assign when each will talk Bring posters / large signs If possible, get commitments on the spot (this works esp if audience is very large) Tips for attending an official hearing

18. Must be increasing if continued Should be combined with direct lobbying Creates a strong recognizable reputation Pick a good high-traffic location Can be energizing for group Marches, parades, rallies, picketing, sit-ins, vigils, street theater Mass Demonstrations

19. Meeting held with an elected official where you control agenda Say why you want the official to support you Panel of leaders make demands Success is dependant on numerical strength shown in relation to election margin of victory You want high numbers and/or representatives of high numbers on panel Accountability Sessions

20. Not only should this educate, but should get publicity and show strength One speaker, give direction on what everyone can do Not necessary to show other side Remember to always take up collection with 5+ people Educational meetings and teach-ins

21. Never an end, but a way to move forward • Use careful strategy, make sure objectives match long-term goals • Effective when: • Constituency is comfortable • Visible leadership roles available for those who can’t participate • Tactic demonstrates power to target/secondary target (takes away something they need) Civil disobedience and Arrest

22. To be successful, must be a moral issue of national or international importance • Product that: • Everyone buys frequently • Easily identifiable • Non-essential (or there is substitute) • Thread is more powerful than weapon- don’t threaten without intending on follow-through Boycotts

23. The Underlying Structure of Organizations Organizing models:

24. Organizer must pay attention to the plan for building the structure of an organization • Organizers should have an idea of what the organization will look like and how it will function upon organizing. • Answer to “What,” not “How” or “Why” • Example: What is the model? We will have 30 individual members. The Model is the Architecture of the organization

25. Function – what is it? • Win issues? Win elections? • Geographic Basis of Organization • Neighborhood? Housing development? Citywide? • Membership Basis • Individuals? Coalition? • Funding Base • Used to define model • Where does money come from? The 4 elements of the model

26. Four Case Histories: • The Case of the Ambiguous Tenant Organization • The Case of the Superfluous Office • The Case of Statewide Coalition with Local Chapters • The Case of the Coalition That Started a Coalition Model must be clear and internally consistant

27. Housing organization- unclear about service model and organizing model • Man with problem came to organizer, was recommended to get Legal Assistance • 2 ways to handle this: • Organizing model: were others experiencing similar problems? All tenants should act • Service model: staff should have assisted with Legal Assistance The case of the ambiguous tenant organization

28. Nat’l organization based on model of individual members in local chapters Working on passage of nat’l legislation Local chapters focused on corresponding districts Decision to set up regional offices Region has no political jurisdiction- no common targets The Case of the Superfluous Office

29. Problem was model vs. program Program at regional level was not meaningful to reach local and state objectives Members could not see the point in spending money on regional office- state perhaps? The Case of the Superfluous Office

30. Model: Formal coalition membership of statewide citizen organizations Function: pass legislation and elect legislators Board set up local community chapters, local issues Not consistent with original statewide objectives Group must pick between state/local issues The case of the statewide coalition with local chapters

31. Model: Informal coalition Function: passing legislation Created a new coalition for a specific issue New coalition was successful and eventually wanted independence Original coalition created an independent organization not tied to original goals The case of the coalition that started a coalition

32. Very informal coalition, community-based organization Board members from previous and existing organizations and individuals not affiliated with anyone Divisions over how/where to spend money Membership must be considered- individual or organization (coalitions) The case of the inconsistent board

33. Thank You The End