MoveOn.org National Call

Notes, MoveOn.org national call, 1/22/17

Recorded by: Ogie Strogatz (ogstrogatz@gmail.com; or you can find me on FaceBook).

Operating principles: MoveOn.org, indivisible.com, WorkingFamilies.org (all 3 co-sponsored the call)
Opposition to Trump agenda
Local-level, defensive Congressional advocacy
Actions driven by progressive values (e.g. honesty; respect for others); don’t be a jerk
Non-violent resistance; reliance on telling our stories to illustrate our concerns, aspirations
De-escalation
Coming to everything out of a place of love
Overview, www.indivisibleguide.com
Adapt from Tea Party strategy playbook: be locally focused, and almost purely defensive
Recommended action regardless of whether you live in a red, blue, other state: go in person as a group of constituents, to the district offices of your members of the US Senate and House of Representatives (aka Members of Congress, or MoCs)
If you can’t meet with the MoC, ask to meet with one of her/his senior staff members/the person in charge of the district office (vs intern or lower-level staff).
If you can’t go in person, call your MoCs; if you can’t call, email.
Record and share via social media what takes place during and after the in-person meetings. Post photos and video clips. If there is resistance to your meeting with the MoC, record and post that.
Before you go to an in-person meeting:
Prepare “asks”
Be sure to align the asks with the issues that are top of mind for the MoC and their staff (what they’re working on/where their heads are now).
Assign roles within your group (who will be the primary point of contact with the media; who will introduce the group at the beginning of the meeting; who will convey the asks to the MoC or staff member; which constituents will share their personal stories that underscore the importance of the asks)
Alert the press about the upcoming in-person event
Recommended actions if you live in a blue state
Thank your MoCs for being champions on the issues that matter to us.
Remind MoCs that we have their backs (e.g. they can count on us if they have a time-sensitive need for robust constituent action – calls, emails, rallies).
Challenge your MoCs about specific ways that they can work harder, be bolder.
Taking action as a local group
Outreach: join a local activist group, or start your own by drawing a list of potential members from your cell phone contacts (friends, relatives, others who can help)
Bear in mind that in addition to organizing or joining a group to visit the MoC’s district office, you can connect with MoCs in person at local public events (e.g. Town Hall meetings, ribbon cuttings).
Social media
Twitter (#indivisible, #ResistTrump); great for posting brief quotes
FaceBook (use FBLive; post photos as well as short videos)
Traditional media
Write a press release or advisory prior to in-person events
Press release templates at www.MoveOn.org, www.WorkingFamilies.org, www.indivisibleguide.com
Include quotes from those most affected by the issue(s) you plan to focus on at the event
Make a list of local media outlets
Television, radio, print, blogs, wire services (e.g. AP)
List of reporters for each outlet
Prior to an in-person event
Email the press release/advisory to reporters, then follow up with a call to be sure they’ve received it.
Have 2-4 people in your group practice the succinct story you want to convey to reporters.
Identify the group member(s) who will greet reporters.
During an in-person event
Record what did (or did not) happen – photos, short videos.
After an in-person event
Send a press release to the media outlets to summarize what happened; helps build relationships with reporters. Always follow up.
Write letters to the editor
Ask if you can meet with members of the editorial board, to see if you can write an op-ed piece (longer than a letter to the editor)
De-escalation (members of conservative organizations may attempt to disrupt events organized by progressive organizations)
Stay calm and avoid confrontation; embody progressive values – be cool, calm, respectful.
Use non-violent, inclusive language at all times.
Share tips with buddies.
[Note: “Resources” is a useful page on www.indivisibleguide.com – links to the Indivisible Guide, the Action Calendar to coordinate with other events nationally, and the Group Leader Toolkit to launch a local group: https://www.indivisibleguide.com/resources/]
Closing calls to action
If possible, call on MoC offices on Tuesdays (ref. Twitter: #resisttrumptuesday) – helpful for us to focus nationally on doing the same thing at the same time in the same place, locally, each week
On your cell phone, text “JOIN” to the number 668366 to get alerts from MoveOn.org
The week of 2/20-24/17 is a district work period. Look for opportunities to connect with MoCs at local public events.