The One-Hour Activist : The 15 Most Powerful Actions You Can Take to Fight for the Issues and Candidates You Care About

No matter what your political persuasion, The One-Hour Activist is your guide to influencing lawmakers, candidates, and reporters. The One-Hour Activist reveals fifteen powerful, proven grassroots actions that persuade lawmakers and candidates to see things your way. Each action is designed to grab the attention of your representatives and build relationships that serve your issues over the long run. And each action takes less than an hour to complete, so you can make a difference without giving up your life! The One-Hour Activist is packed with insider advice from elected officials, professional organizers, lobbyists, and journalists who share state-of-the-art tips for getting your message across. Real-life examples of effective letters, e-mail, phone calls, public testimony, and news story pitches from concerned citizens just like you illustrate the actions.

PLUS: 5 WAYS TO SUPERSIZE YOUR EFFORTS!

DON’T GET MAD–BECOME A ONE-HOUR ACTIVIST

No matter what your political persuasion, The One-Hour Activist is your guide to influencing lawmakers, candidates, and reporters. The One-Hour Activist reveals fifteen powerful, proven grassroots actions that persuade lawmakers and candidates to see things your way.

Each action is designed to grab the attention of your representatives and build relationships that serve your issues over the long run. And each action takes less than an hour to complete, so you can make a difference without giving up your life!

The One-Hour Activist is packed with insider advice from elected officials, professional organizers, lobbyists, and journalists who share state-of-the-art tips for getting your message across. Real-life examples of effective letters, e-mail, phone calls, public testimony, and news story pitches from concerned citizens just like you illustrate the actions.

Tactics you will learn:

• How to distinguish your letters and e-mail in the flood of correspondence elected officials receive
• Why lawmakers crave your personal stories, local information, and opinions
• Powerful ways to influence candidates so you represent more than a single vote on Election Day
• Strategies for identifying, tracking, and analyzing current legislation
• Ways to neutralize the efforts of your opposition
• Political organizations than can coordinate your efforts with others who share your views
• What local newspaper editors seek to publish in letters from readers like you
• Advanced grassroots actions that include meeting with elected officials, delivering public testimony, and pitching news stories

The One-Hour Activist......Page 5 CONTENTS......Page 9 Preface......Page 11 Acknowledgments......Page 17 The Author......Page 19 Introduction: Democracy in Action......Page 21 Part One: Gather Information and Strategize......Page 31 ACTION 1 Learn How Grassroots Advocacy Works......Page 33 ACTION 2 Pick Your Issues and Your Angle......Page 47 ACTION 3 Identify Your Representatives......Page 61 ACTION 4 Join an Interest Group......Page 75 ACTION 5 Create a Legislative Agenda......Page 83 ACTION 6 Analyze a Bill......Page 91 ACTION 7 Conduct Opposition Research......Page 103 Part Two: Contact Your Elected Officials......Page 113 ACTION 8 Write an Effective Letter......Page 115 ACTION 9 Send a Powerful E-Mail......Page 127 ACTION 10 Make a Compelling Phone Call......Page 135 ACTION 11 Persuade Others to Act......Page 143 Part Three: Get Involved with Elections......Page 149 ACTION 12 Get Out the Vote......Page 151 ACTION 13 Contribute Money to Candidates Who Support Your Cause......Page 161 Part Four: Work the News Media......Page 173 ACTION 14 Start a Press Clippings File......Page 175 ACTION 15 Write a Letter to the Editor......Page 181 Part Five: Super-Powerful Actions That Take a Little More Time......Page 189 ACTION 16 Have a Face-to-Face Meeting with Your Representative......Page 191 ACTION 17 Testify at a Public Hearing......Page 205 ACTION 18 Participate in a Protest......Page 215 ACTION 19 Volunteer for a Political Campaign......Page 223 ACTION 20 Pitch a News Story or Interview......Page 229 It’s Time for Action!......Page 241 0787973009 The One-Hour Activist 5 CONTENTS 9 Preface 11 Acknowledgments 17 The Author 19 Introduction: Democracy in Action 21 Part One: Gather Information and Strategize 31 ACTION 1 Learn How Grassroots Advocacy Works 33 ACTION 2 Pick Your Issues and Your Angle 47 ACTION 3 Identify Your Representatives 61 ACTION 4 Join an Interest Group 75 ACTION 5 Create a Legislative Agenda 83 ACTION 6 Analyze a Bill 91 ACTION 7 Conduct Opposition Research 103 Part Two: Contact Your Elected Officials 113 ACTION 8 Write an Effective Letter 115 ACTION 9 Send a Powerful E-Mail 127 ACTION 10 Make a Compelling Phone Call 135 ACTION 11 Persuade Others to Act 143 Part Three: Get Involved with Elections 149 ACTION 12 Get Out the Vote 151 ACTION 13 Contribute Money to Candidates Who Support Your Cause 161 Part Four: Work the News Media 173 ACTION 14 Start a Press Clippings File 175 ACTION 15 Write a Letter to the Editor 181 Part Five: Super-Powerful Actions That Take a Little More Time 189 ACTION 16 Have a Face-to-Face Meeting with Your Representative 191 ACTION 17 Testify at a Public Hearing 205 ACTION 18 Participate in a Protest 215 ACTION 19 Volunteer for a Political Campaign 223 ACTION 20 Pitch a News Story or Interview 229 It’s Time for Action! 241 The One-Hour Activist is a direct, hands-on guide for anyone_who want to make a difference in government and the world. Christopher Kush outlines_fifteen simple steps-- each taking less than a hour-- ordinary citizens can take to influence their local, state and federal representatives. The book includes a wealth of tactics and helps readers design a personal legislative agenda, craft the personal stories that are most effective with political leaders, post a letter to the editor and contact elected officials by letter, phone, or email From education to tax reform to jobs, this is a citizen's guide to influencing lawmakers, candidates, and reporters. It reveals fifteen proven actions each taking less than one hour that show readers how to speak out effectively on a host of issues.