Text Messaging – We the advances in P2P (peer-to-peer) texting for campaign (and most effectively) for official purposes. What a great way to keep voters updated and engaged in an informal, easily-accessible way! Ahead are some tangible ideas for using text messaging effectively (and not annoyingly). Don’t get overwhelmed by these ideas, we can help (info at the end). Heads …
Best Practices in Public Service: Pandemic Positives – The Town Hall Meeting
The Town Hall Meeting – The staple of public service – the Town Hall Meeting – got a much-needed makeover and resurgence when elected officials simply couldn’t meet with constituents in-person. Candidates and incumbents planned video events for educational, fundraising, and GOTV purposes, appealing to constituents’ desire to interact with literally anyone outside their home! The most impactful examples saw …
Best Practices in Public Service: Pandemic Positives – Expert Panels
Expert Panels – Another twist on the Virtual Town Hall which gained a lot of popularity during the pandemic, is the Expert Panel. Hosting local, state, and national experts on a complex topic is a great way to be a resource to your constituents, maximize exposure on an issue, and enhance your own credibility by convening people who might not …
Stephanie’s “Why”…
In 1998-2000, I was a grad student in foreign affairs and writing constituent correspondence in the U.S. Senate. Back then, every letter was logged in a database, so you knew which voters received which responses and when. From 2000-2002, I recruited and trained advocacy volunteers for the American Cancer Society and started a newsletter for patients, caregivers, and advocates, explaining …