160 likes | 261 Vues
Explore the evolution of technology in grassroots organizing, as campaigns harness online tools to promote real-world actions. From the innovative fundraising of McCain in 2000 to Dean's organizational structure in 2004, the internet has transformed how we engage politically. Discover how advocacy groups like Mothers Opposing Bush leveraged the internet to build community and mobilize supporters. As we move forward, new technologies such as SMS and VoIP are set to enhance local organizing efforts, making advocacy more effective and accessible than ever.
E N D
DemocracyInAction.org Technology for the Masses From Netroots to Grassroots: Converting Online Energy into Real World Action
Coming up • Where we are – (and how we got here) • Where we’re going – What’s New
Internet Tools Come of Age • In each election cycle we see the internet evolve to meet new demands. • 2000: McCain provides an effective and innovative fundraising tool • 2004: Dean uses the Internet to create an organizational structure with thousands of supporters meeting regularly in real time
Distributed Campaigns • We all know: All Politics is Local • The tools we’re using online are finally catching up to real world organizing techniques • Orgs and campaigns are relinquishing some of their control and giving the masses the tools they need to organize in their own communities on their behalf.
Affinity Groups • Running Against Bush, Mothers Opposing Bush, Billionaires for Bush, Veterans for Kerry • New networked approach to advocacy: all share something in common, share common branding and message, common communications strategy • Have chapters all over the country building strong social ties in local areas • Could not have organized with the same speed and agility without the Internet
Case Study: The MOB (Mothers Opposing Bush) • Started as a small group of mothers in Annapolis • Now has 352 Chapters in 45 states. • Organized over 25K and raised nearly 200K -- All in less than four months - how?
Moving Supporters Up the Ladder of Engagement • First get them to sign up and establish regular communications • Get them to donate • Get them a local contact to organize in their own communities (chapter tools) • Coordinated hundreds of “Lunches for Change” (event/house party tool)
Ingredient A • That nasty thing called SOFTWARE • Tried and true – email, blogs, tell a friend, faxing, letters to the editor, online actions… • … we all know that stuff. But…..
We’ve got some new stuff • SMS Text Messaging • VoIP • Faxing services • Local organizing • A whole bunch of unemployed activist developers?
This election - VoIP • VoIP – RNC Organizing • Dial in phone for events • Listen to live radio reports • Individual Call loops • Send a VoIP Blast • Conference Calls
This Election - SMS • SMS – League of Pissed Off Voters • Day of election reminders • Polling places • GOTV Organizing • Text Loops
Information overload • WE’RE getting overwhelmed • SO ARE our representatives • Subscriptions to dozens of lists • Portals – eh? Huh? Didn’t this fail? • Aggregate emails (digest) • which leads us to…..
Riding on the coattails of industry • Many problems already sovled • Heading towards web services, B2B approaches • Experiencing an explosion of open source technology • Firefox, MySQL, Linux • …which run on….
Ingredient B – Standards • Develop Standards: • Common data • From government • To government • … which means …
YOU get to decide • Tech becomes more affordable • Put your money, your mouth, and your hamsters on the biggest thing • STRATEGY!