Enhancing Political Will Through Grasstops Outreach
Engaging decision makers through grasstops outreach involves mobilizing influential leaders in communities to lobby lawmakers with tailored facts. Grasstops consist of individuals with more influence than the average resident, such as business owners, faith leaders, and academics. They can open doors for meetings, shape public opinion, mobilize donors, and generate media coverage. Engaging them can be done through existing connections, community events, and leadership groups. People are willing to help as they see an opportunity to make a difference and contribute positively to important issues.
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Engaging Decision Makers Through Grasstops Outreach Enhancing Our Ability to Create Political Will 1
Engaging Decision Makers Constituents Staff Colleagues Media Paid Lobbyists Experts 2 Personal History
Engaging Decision Makers Constituents Action Network R Advocates Grasstops 3
What the Heck is Grasstops? ..mobilizing influential leaders in each community who can reach lawmakers at the federal, state and local levels, with facts tailored to their district's interests. PR Quarterly The companies specialize in a cutting-edge form of influence peddling called "grass tops," which attempts to get prominent local citizens and organizations to lobby on behalf of interest groups. Washington Post 4
Grasstops People with more influence than the average resident They could be: business owners, issue experts, heads of departments, other government leaders, people with money, academics, local celebrities, relatives, party supporters, faith leaders, and others They aren t necessarily group members, but people we cultivate to take key actions on our behalf 5
What Can Grasstops Do? Open doors for meetings Shape public opinion Build the local group Get decision makers to take action Mobilize donors Create persuasive pressure Generate media coverage 6
How Does One Engage Grasstops? Through our existing connections and those of friends, family, colleagues Becoming part of leadership groups (Rotary and other service groups) Commenting on something they have done Attending community events and public meetings Cold calls 7 Other ideas:
Why Would They Want to Help? People like to use their positions for good They care about the issues as much as many others You provide them with an opportunity to leverage who they are You appreciate what they do They see that they can really make a difference 8
Who Did You Engage & How? Bob Dickerson, Seattle WA Beth Wilson, Gig Harbor WA Roxanne Allen & Sandra Duckert, Albuquerque NM David Schubert, Houston, TX Margaret Smith Dallas, TX Frances Moore, Omaha NE Eloise Sutherland, Austin TX 9
Exercise: Who Will I Engage? Mapping to your member of Congress Mapping to you 10
Key Engagement Questions Could you help me make a connection? Who do you think would care about this? Who do you know that might help me get the Rep s or Senator s attention? Would you be willing to recommend that people get involved with us? 11
Exercise #2: The Dialogue Find one person on your grasstops list you want to engage and practice the conversation you ll have with him/her. 12
