Advanced Training and Sharing for On-line Campaigners

Submitted by clenchner on May 10, 2007 - 3:40pm.
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This session will be on: June 30, 2007 - 1:00pm

It will be held at: Room 1408 room at the Westin Hotel

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Organization Description

DemocracyInAction.org believes technology can be a decisive force for social change. We exist to empower those who share our values of ecological and social justice to advance the progressive agenda. Just what that's all about confuses some folks, so what you need to know about us probably depends on where you're coming from. We're a progressive nonprofit whose core activity is providing e-advocacy tools to other progressive nonprofits for pennies on the dollar relative to the fees demanded by the private sector. In a word -- well, three words -- we democratize e-activism, freeing practitioners to pour resources into mission and strategy. The organization was founded by April Pedersen and Chris Lundberg in February 2004. April and Chris come from both the nonprofit and software development sectors. Upon close examination of how we were using information and communication technology tools, which sector controls them and how much nonprofits were paying for them, they saw a necessity to change the landscape. The question they asked themselves was this: How can we use technology as a tool to support grassroots organizing efforts and enhance the communication efforts of hundreds or thousands of organizations, rather than generate more work and fees, and deplete a narrowing pool of resources?

Session Description

Your organization is email blasting, running a CMS website and using a CRM database. Now what?
- How can on-line organizing translate into real world change?
- How does on-line campaigning build your programs and field organizing?
- Do the presidential campaigns and MoveOn do anything we can’t do ourselves?

The progressive movement is becoming increasingly wired. Some of us need help to get started. This workshop is for those already proficient in using technology who want to learn from others about innovative ways to use technology.

We will explore advanced questions, such as: when will online CRM’s interface with full featured donation software? When is ‘list building’ manipulative? Are emails to Congress effective? What has stopped working, and what will be next year’s hot tactic?

The session will incorporate the experiences of those attending. We’ll use real case studies to build a portfolio of best practices and innovative ideas for engaging our constituents.

The initial presentation will review some well known organizations’ efforts, to showcase important elements of a successful online campaign strategy.

The organizers of this session welcome the participation of other on-line professionals, accidental techies, as well as curious folks looking for more than a demonstration of products. Please contact us at clenchner@democracyinaction.org.

This session will be conducted in English. Handouts will be provided, in English.

Note: There are at least two other proposals that address on-line campaigning. It would be great if we could collaborate on creating an 'on-line' mini-track where the content of each session complements the other. Three sessions on this topic is not too much. One positive outcome of multiple sessions is that information is offered at all levels, rather than just for beginners, or just for those with experience.


First Name

Charles

Last Name

Lenchner

Contact E-mail

clenchner@democracyinaction.org

Proposing Organization

Democracy in Action

Organization Website

www.democracyinaction.org

Position or Title

Support & Outreach Manager

Contact Telephone

202-460-5199

Event Day

Saturday, June 30th (Strategizing the Achieving of Another World)

Contact Address

1700 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 402

Format

Short Powerpoint presentation. Case examples from the participants will lead the discussions that ensue.

Contact City

Washington

Keywords

Advocacy
Communication
Development

Audience Number

25-50 people

Contact State

DC

Contact ZIP

20009

Person Reviewing

Cobb