Connecticut Water Trails Association
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Connecticut Water Trails Association |
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Connecticut Water Trails Program
Connecticut Water Bar
Effective Advocacy - Campaigns
A campaign is a series of activities, or strategies,
used to reach a group's goals. Campaigns are more likely to be
successful if your entire group has an opportunity to be involved in the
planning process. It is crucial that strategies and the means to
accomplish them are consistent with your group's mission. Sometimes your
first goal will be to simply bring the issue and the organization to the
public eye, before any other campaigning can be effective. Other times a
group forms around an issue that is already "hot" and the best strategy
is to get to work immediately on ways to achieve a certain outcome.
Clarifying the outcomes desired, the means to accomplish them, and the
funds needed, are the first steps in developing a campaign.
You may wish to set aside a few hours to plan at a
time other than your regular meeting. Using large newsprint and some
markers, conduct a brainstorming session to identify your goals. Then
come up with a list of strategies and tactics for achieving those goals.
After you narrow down the list to a few goals, make a timeline. Include
events beyond your control (holidays, election day, etc.), other actions
and events you have planned, and all preparations and deadlines leading
up to them. Adjust your timeline to make it realistic.
Pretend you are the opposition and hold a strategy session from their perspective. How would you effectively work against your own campaign? Identify weaknesses and adjust your own strategy accordingly. After the campaign, look back at your goals, tactics, and timeline and do a thorough group evaluation. Save this evaluation and review it when you plan a new campaign. Thinking and planning strategically can make the difference between ho-hum campaigns that get no attention, and dynamic, creative campaigns that excite people, build your organization, and create real change.
Clarify your goals and brainstorm strategies to
create a campaign; discuss it, revise it, and evaluate it after it's
done.
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