Criteria for Tactics, Considerations, A planning Method, Checklist, Using the Strategy Chart to Play

A GUIDE TO TACTICS

THINK STRATEGICALLY

Tactics must be based in strategy What works for one group may not

work for another Remember important CRITERIA

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

TURNOUT TIPS CONTINUED Communicate message in 3 different ways:

Mailings Email 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.

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

PUBLIC HEARINGS Hold your own public

hearing “Official” hearings

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 issueOpportunity to reach other groups/individuals/neighborhoodsShows off influential supportersShowcase potential candidateDisplay of numbersEasily controlled Good training for leaders, will probably get media coverage

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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)

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

The Underlying Structure of Organizations

ORGANIZING MODELS:

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.

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?

MODEL MUST BE CLEAR AND INTERNALLY CONSISTANT

Four Case Histories:1. The Case of the Ambiguous Tenant

Organization2. The Case of the Superfluous Office3. The Case of Statewide Coalition with

Local Chapters4. The Case of the Coalition That Started a

Coalition

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

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

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?

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

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

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)

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THANK YOUThe End