Playing to Our Strengths Grassroots: Using the IEEE Membership to Motivate Legislators Russell Harrison IEEE-USA

What is Grassroots? Citizens talking directly with their elected officials about issues they care about. Citizens talking directly with their elected officials about issues they care about. Most direct way to influence a legislator. Most direct way to influence a legislator. Representative democracy in action. Representative democracy in action.

Why Do Grassroots? Influence political decisions Influence political decisions Engage your membership Engage your membership Inexpensive Inexpensive Most importantly – IT WORKS Most importantly – IT WORKS

The Impact of Grassroots Source: Congressional Management Foundation

In order to manage increased constituent communications, our office has shifted resources away from other priorities. Source: Congressional Management Foundation 50%

The Life of a Politician

A Politicians World YOU

Listening is Hard Source: Congressional Management Foundation (In Millions)(Staff)

Constituent Meetings per Week February - April What Makes an Effective Advocate? Advanced Consulting. April, 2003

How to Talk to a Politician

Life of a Grassroots Message Sent by a voter. Sent by a voter. Read / listened to by a kid. Read / listened to by a kid. Sorted by issue into a folder. Sorted by issue into a folder. Response sent. Response sent. Read by a senior staffer when: Read by a senior staffer when: –A decision needs to be made on how to vote, or –The folder reaches a specific size. Impact: Impact: –Bring attention –Decide as vote

Essential Parts of a Grassroots Communication 1. Address 2. Issue 3. Ask Everything else is secondary.

The Importance of the Ask What Makes an Effective Advocate? Advanced Consulting. April, 2003

What do politicians want? A chance to impress you. A chance to impress you. A chance to help you A chance to help you Anecdotes. Anecdotes. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Senator Chuck Schumer

How helpful is it for messages from constituents to include the following? Source: Congressional Management Foundation

Common Objections

We need to FLOOD congressional offices with communications to really make a difference.

Quality > Quantity A few good constituent letters beats a ton of post cards A few good constituent letters beats a ton of post cards Sincerity beats volume Sincerity beats volume Voters trump lobbyists Voters trump lobbyists Key number - Seven Key number - Seven

We are a learned, professional society. We dont get involved in the dirty business of politics. or Our role is to present un- biased technical information to elected officials. We dont take positions.

Political and Bias are O.K. We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate. We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate. –Thomas Jefferson Most un-biased white papers and policy papers state positions. Most un-biased white papers and policy papers state positions. Elected officials are looking for arguments for and against. Elected officials are looking for arguments for and against. There is no such thing as unbiased policy. There is no such thing as unbiased policy.

We cant advocate for this issue – it would be seen as self-serving.

If you dont, who will? Experts in field Experts in field Political decisions are better the more people participate. Political decisions are better the more people participate. IEEE: promotes the engineering process of creating, developing, integrating, sharing, and applying knowledge … for the benefit of humanity and the profession. IEEE: promotes the engineering process of creating, developing, integrating, sharing, and applying knowledge … for the benefit of humanity and the profession. All policy is self-serving. All policy is self-serving.

Stories Colorado – Local activities Colorado – Local activities Wisconsin – Individual effort Wisconsin – Individual effort Rock River – Cheap entertainment Rock River – Cheap entertainment Seattle – Engaging politicians Seattle – Engaging politicians Maine – Generating support Maine – Generating support The Big Black-Out The Big Black-Out

Now What? Encourage members to visit Encourage members to visit Sign up for Eye On Washington Sign up for Eye On Washington Discuss policy with your members. Discuss policy with your members. Communicate with elected leaders. Communicate with elected leaders. Work with IEEE-USA Tech Policy Committees Work with IEEE-USA Tech Policy Committees

Questions or Comments Wild Applause?

Is this legal? 501(c)3 organizations have limitations: 501(c)3 organizations have limitations: –Cannot be active in elections at any level –Cannot endorse candidates for any elected office –Limits on lobbying expenses Doesnt mean you cant lobby! Doesnt mean you cant lobby! Grassroots is usually seen as an educational, not political, activity. Grassroots is usually seen as an educational, not political, activity. !

Control The more you try to control your grassroots, the less likely they will respond. Good Grassroots Requires You to let go of Your Message.