Grass Roots Advocacy

You can make a difference! 

Here are The Seven Pillars of Effective Grassroots Communication by John Kaul:  

Pillar 1: Believe you can make a difference! 

  • Suspend Disbelief: We have an open process, our elected officials are generally accessible
  • One person can make a difference  

Pillar 2: Start Early and Get Organized

  • Get Organized and Start Early! (18 months before the first vote)
  • Recruit others: Every person magnifies your efforts
  • Communicate: Keep your members informed
  • Clarify: Map out clear objectives
  • Contact legislators: Make your contacts as early as possible
  • Be honest and direct: Don’t argue, follow up with a thank you note

Pillar 3: Make It Personal

  • Set up personal visits with legislators: in his/her home district
  • Send a thoughtful letter: include your contact information
  • Make a phone call: start with legislative staff
  • Avoid impersonal emails: make them formal
  • Make a friend: stay conciliatory with visits
  • Use logic and personal anecdotes: connects legislator to your issues
  • Say Thank You!: legislators appreciate it  

Pillar 4: Tell Your Story Well

  • Goals: set your goals for the meeting ahead of time
  • Stress 3 to 4 Most Important Points
  • Be Positive
  • Sustain your efforts: there are hundreds of efforts at the capitol, you need to keep yours on the radar
  • Meet more than once: effective grassroots can require three or four visits
  • Have realistic expectations: compromise  

Pillar 5: Timing is Everything

  • Pay attention to deadlines: if legislation is not passed through committees on certain dates – it dies
  • First Deadline: bill must be passed by all policy committees in its house of origin
  • Second Deadline: bill must pass all policy committees in both bodies
  • Third Deadline: bill must be passed by spending and tax committees in both bodies

Pillar 6: Work with Staff

  • Legislative staff members are an invaluable resource
  • Get to know the staff Members
  • Use available resources: legislative manual, websites, resource libraries
  • Subscribe to, and read legislative publications: Session Weekly, Senate and House Committee Schedules

Pillar 7: Who We Elect Matters

  • Follow the activities of legislators in the media
  • Attend town hall meetings
  • Get involved in campaigns
  • Contribute your time, energy, and resources