citizen engagement

We are entering a busy time of the year when organizations, associations and nonprofits conduct their fly-ins to make a connection between their supporters and those supporters’ Members of Congress. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is a group that conducts fly-ins very effectively through an integrated and intensive plan. Tony Kudner, Manager of Grassroots Advocacy for NHPCO, generously shared with CMF some of the lessons they have learned by building on successful advocacy strategies from previous years.

New Senate Budget Committee Chair Patty Murray recently announced the launch of “MyBudget,” the committee’s new online effort to encourage members of the public to participate in the federal budget process. This new online tool allows the public to share their stories, budget priorities, and ideas with the committee as it writes a budget.

The 113th Congress looks as if it is quickly adapting to the changing world of social media. In fact, the vast majority of the newly elected Congress members (all but three, to be precise) have Twitter accounts. Read on to learn some useful tips on optimizing your communication through twitter.

The election is long over. By now the advocacy community is settling into 2013 legislative strategies and identifying key figures to champion their agenda. With one of the largest freshmen classes this century, which new Members will join your cause? Which Members may have a connection to your issue or your supporters?

Whether serious (how will your state fare in the allocation of federal education dollars) or frivolous (is your Member of Congress a Yankees or a Mets fan), constituents are genuinely curious about the views of their elected officials. Unfortunately, the opportunity to pose these questions doesn’t often present itself.

Enter VYou, the online Q&A forum where online participants can conveniently upload questions to celebrities, experts and even their Members of Congress … if that Member has decided to participate, he or she can answer the questions posed by their constituents  in an audio-visual format.

Does your organization advocate well on the local level, but is afraid to make the leap to Washington? Look no further. Anyone can launch a winning advocacy campaign on Capitol Hill – you just have to follow the right steps.

As the Congressional Management Foundation continues to expand the Partnership for a More Perfect Union, we are seeking ways to provide Partners with additional tools to educate your grassroots supporters on effective citizen advocacy. With that in mind, CMF is creating two new benefits for Partners.