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

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

3. Criteria for tactics
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

4. Considerations in popular tactics
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

5. Petition Tips 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!

6. Letter writing
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

7. Letter writing tips 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

8. Turnout events 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

9. Turnout tips 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

10. Turnout tips continued
Communicate message in 3 different ways:
Mailings
Posters
Leaflets
Announcement at other community events
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. Tips for Visits with public officials
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

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

13. Holding your own public hearing
1st victory (objective) is getting official to come to hearing
It is FUN to do!
Advantages to holding your own hearing
Establishes group as force/authority on issue
Opportunity to reach other groups/individuals/neighborhoods
Shows off influential supporters
Showcase potential candidate
Display of numbers
Easily controlled
Good training for leaders, will probably get media coverage

14. Tips for holding your own hearing
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

16. Official hearing
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

17. Tips for attending an official hearing
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)

18. Mass Demonstrations 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

19. Accountability Sessions
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

20. Educational meetings and teach-ins
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

21. Civil disobedience and Arrest
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)

22. Boycotts
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

23. The Underlying Structure of Organizations
Organizing models:

24. The Model is the Architecture of the organization
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.

25. The 4 elements of the model
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?

26. Model must be clear and internally consistant
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

27. The case of the ambiguous tenant organization
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

28. The Case of the Superfluous Office
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

29. The Case of the Superfluous Office
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?

30. The case of the statewide coalition with local chapters
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

31. The case of the coalition that started a coalition
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

32. The case of the inconsistent board
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)

33. Thank You
The End