Activist's Grass Roots Handbook

Compiled by William H. Dailey, Esq.

This booklet is dedicated to all the health and environmental activists whose hearts, minds and actions are changing the world into a better place. Thank you for your inspiring examples and all the tireless effort you have so selflessly contributed to the betterment of humankind and the planet. The following is a work in progress. If you have comments, or a chapter or ten to contribute, please mail, fax or e-mail them to me. All materials will be used with attribution to the author unless otherwise requested. This booklet will be posted on the Internet on the Legal & Legislative Center of HealthWorld Online (www.healthy.net). Permission is granted for copying and distribution as long as attribution is given the authors and any sale price is no more than the actual cost of reproduction.

INFORMATION COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION

One of the greatest difficulties facing the current grass roots health care movement is information collection and dissemination. Status quo organizations can afford to hire publicists, researchers, lawyers and lobbyists who can collect the various facts of a situation and ensure that they are delivered to the proper people - whether members, government or public.

We do not always have that luxury and should not rely solely upon it. Therefore, we depend on the united efforts of a wide group of individuals from numerous groups and supporters of all types. The primary tools that will allow us to efficiently and inexpensively collect and disseminate all the information necessary to be informed about the federal and 50 states actions concerning health care and natural products are the Internet and fax networks.

FRIENDS, SUPPORTERS
AND ALLIES

Our friends are everywhere. Many people within the US see the need for change within the Healthcare system. Most feel powerless and are busy simply making ends meet. Therefore, the core groups of activists should strive to create tools and networks that require as little action as possible for the majority of their supporters. For example, Rainforest Action Network (RAN) has a marvelous Website which contains an e-mail program that will automatically send the member's message to the appropriate politicians. We are working on something similar for us. This makes participation very easy for anyone who is on the Net.

But how do we reach the rest? Simple. We have friends and allies who own health food stores, natural product companies, who write newsletters, who are health practitioners with offices that have patients visiting every day, etc. Every person whose daily activities involves visits from numerous other persons who would be interested in our issue should be recruited and included on local faxnets. Don't expect your supporters to have time or inclination to create their own flyers on an issue. The central organization, aided by the state coordinators, should expect to create all flyers, position papers and the database necessary to support the goals of the organization. Although, should people volunteer to help, by all means they should be encouraged. Whenever possible, and as a general rule, we should request, and even require, that all flyers with Coalition letterhead and information be approved. This is not a control thing, but rather the desire to ensure accuracy and continuity of presentation.

FAX NETWORKS OR FAXNETS

Faxnets are an easy and inexpensive means of keeping the membership informed. Easy because technology allows for a computer or fax with broadcast capabilities to send to as many receivers as are known at only the push of a button. Obvious, yes? So lets max out on the technological assists. Inexpensive depends on who and how the faxing is done. With computers and the Internet, the actual faxing can be organized on a primarily local, rather than 100% national or central, basis. The local chapters need their own faxnet to motivate and organize their local events. By encouraging the creation of local faxnets, the central organization can reduce the costs of the national faxnet, as well as strengthen the local chapters. The chapters can also be informed by Internet and then fax the information on the local faxnet.

Faxnets are excellent motivational tools. By sending at least the local leadership and key players a weekly fax, the organization reminds that of the situation and of the activities that the organization is undertaking. This can make fundraising efforts easier since the members on the weekly fax list already understand the situation and the continuous efforts by the organization.

Most practitioner offices, healthfood stores and manufacturers have a fax machine. Many patients and customers of these businesses also own faxes. If the numbers are collected and inputted into a fax program like WinFax, or most others, the organizers of the local group can contact a large number of people about an issue with minimum cost and effort.

Not having a fax machine is no excuse. Find a friend who does and recruit them. Find a local business who is not currently involved, recruit the owners and gain access to their consumer base. Be creative. In order for a faxnet to reach its ultimate effectiveness, it needs to include appropriate media and the public. See below for details.

INTERNET
The Internet is the ultimate grassroots organizing tool.

It allows for anyone online to have input and to inform themselves regarding the organization's positions and supporting documentation. It allows for anyone to research an enormous and ever growing database of public information to aid in the evaluation and resolution of situations.

A Website with discussion groups allows the central organization to solicit input from the entire membership regarding organizational procedures, situational information, current local politics and other useful data. The Website informs the membership and the public regarding the position of the organization at the convenience of the individuals. With unlimited space, the organization can make position papers and all supporting documentation available. Documents can be solicited from the public and the membership and published, thus aiding the usually overworked national staff.

Four primary places exist for the best info in alternative medicine on the Web. Arlene Brecher's www.arxc.com has the honor of being the first. The Legal & Legislative Center of HealthWorld Online is the largest. Mike Ever's Natural HealthLine has the best political/legal newsletter.

We all are depending on the eyes and ears of activists all across the country. As understanding of the value of such a site grows, the numbers of contributors will increase and full coverage of the entire country on the local, state and federal level will be possible. The holistic health industry has at best only sporadic access to the national media. Therefore, we must create our own national, state and local coverage of health legal and legislative events. This is particularly necessary as a means of instantly responding to inaccurate pieces in the New York Times and other allopathic mouthpieces. They give us such a wonderful opportunity with their blatant inaccuracies and favoritism. We really need to take advantage of it by utilizing the advisory boards of the Coalition's member organizations to immediately analyze and respond to these unfounded and harmful attacks.

Certainly at the current time, most people are not on the Web. This will eventually change, but in the meanwhile, lack of personal access is no excuse for remaining idle. If you are on the Web, participate! Be a reporter for local information. Download and disseminate important health updates. If you are not on the Web, find someone who is. Virtually every practitioner has a patient who is online. Get them involved.

PUBLIC EDUCATION

How do we become our own media? By tying practitioner's offices and healthfood stores together with the Internet and faxnets as described above. And then making certain that each patient and customer receives a flyer with the relevant information. When they check in, the patient should be given a flyer and the opportunity to sign a petition, a letter or make a telephone call. Store customers can receive information stuffed into their sacks. Will they commit to telling one, or five, or ten people every day? Will they enlist others in our cause? And, of course, will they give money? By the way, Citizen's For Health has a fantastic store info stand that can be used to place Coalition literature.

GRASS ROOTS ACTIVISM

The DSHEA was a prime example of the grassroots strength of the holistic health industry and its consumers. However, the DSHEA is only part of an ongoing struggle. That battle may be over but the war is far from finished. The status quo organizations understand this and expect to simply outspend and outlast the grass roots. This must not happen.

After DSHEA, many people quit, thinking that all was over. Well, we all certainly needed a break and a chance to recuperate. However, things are starting up again and we need everyone's support. The public, the consumers and patients, the practitioners and healthfood stores all put out an amazing effort in support of the supplement industry. This effort must continue. The FDA is again lying to the public about its powers and failing in its duties and blaming it all on the DSHEA. Additionally, given the amount of support that the industry received from practitioners and their patients, it is important that the supplement industry to support the practitioners just as the pharmaceutical industry supports the allopaths. For health food stores to see practitioners as competition, which has been occurring, is both unfortunate and a very big mistake. The business is not just big enough for all, but mutually compatible like the allopathic/pharmaceutical/pharmacist model. Most importantly neither group is yet large enough to create serious political clout without the other's support.

TELEPHONE CALLS

As key issues approach critical votes, stores and offices can place a telephone at the consumers' disposal. The patient/consumer is informed of the issues and the need for a call. A telephone will autodial/redial capacity is available with the number of the local office of the relevant politician(s) already inputted. All the patient/consumer need do, is push one button and be connected with the receptionist, state "I am a voter in this district (specify) and I want (insert name of politician) to vote yes/no on (insert issue)." More need not be said.

The politician's receptionist only makes a tally of the calls anyway, so short and sweet is best. If these are all local calls, they are inexpensive or already included in the monthly charges. A steady stream of calls on an issue will definitely get a politician's attention and help the primary local activists in their dealings with that office.

MEDIA

Since the regular media and newswires do not carry most information regarding the struggle for real health care reform and health freedom, we need to create our own networks. The paragraphs above discuss various means of information collection and dissemination. Once a local group has the information, they need to include the local media. Many local radio, TV, cable and print outlets would be very responsive to these stories, if they had access to the information. The local groups should establish both a local media faxnet and a relationship with as many of the people in the local media as possible. Keep them informed. Treat them right. And our stories will get the attention they deserve.

FOCUS OF THE ORGANIZATION

The focus of the organization is access to every type of medical treatment/health care that the each and every citizen desires. It is an unconstitutional violation of individual privacy for the state to dictate the form of health care a citizen chooses. Freedom of choice in health care is a Constitutional penumbra right.

Additionally, it is inappropriate to judge how others choose, whether allopathic or otherwise. Education is important so that the individual can make an informed decision.

TALKING POINTS

Develop talking points on local issues. The local chapter is best able to do this. Send the draft to national for review. Ask your local politicians, media and public their views and solicit questions regarding your issue. Document those questions and develop answers.

COOPERATE WITH LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS

Share your information with every health and environmental group you can locate. Include them on your local faxnets and keep them informed about issues and activities. Even if the organization will not officially support your activities, often times the volunteers at the local office will help as much as their time and resources permit. Of course, you should also share information about cooperative organizations and their activities with your own members.

HealthWorld Online has an excellent listing of health oriented organizations. Contact your local hospital or other resources such as environmental groups, vegetarian clubs, patient support groups, new age bookstores and health clubs, and ask if they are interested in a speaker, or attending your events, or want to be on an e-mail or fax net.

OUTREACH

Public speaking is an excellent way to reach your audience. Contact the Rotary Club, PTA, Lions, Elks, American Legion, AARP, and other such organization.

DIRECTORY OF GOVERNMENT AND MEDIA

Make a local directory of government available for your members. HealthWorld Online, the Internet generally, or look in the front of the phone book or call information. The American Preventive Medical Association offers a federal Directory that is inexpensive and easy to use. Once the local group collects this information, it is critical that a log be kept of contacts with the government. The local should share this information with the national to aid in the effort.

STRUCTURE OF EVENTS

Two key principles for successful events are organization and scheduling. This is doubtless no revelation. However, all too often these principles are ignored by beginning, and sometimes even experienced, activists, and events are rushed and pulled off half baked. While this is not always disaster, and often is the only way it could be done, one should always attempt to allow for as much time as possible for thoroughly planning of major events. Make lists. Form committees for different parts of the list. Delegation is critical, as is sufficient supervision. Set your goals sufficiently in advance to allow for Murphy and his minions.

NETWORKING

An effective activist works with as many existing resources as possible. Get to know your local green and health activists. Coordinate event calendars to avoid conflicts and consider sharing resources such as media and activist faxlists. Even more important is outreach to the local community outside the activist fold. Local businessmen can prove invaluable resources when shown the economic and human value of complementary health care. They need their employees healthy and productive, not sick and expensive.

BANNERS, LITERATURE, FLYERS

Microsoft Publisher and various other desktop publishing programs have the capacity to create posters from your flyers. Use it. Kinko's and other copy places offer enlarging services. Work a deal with your local copy places for at cost or below copying. When you develop a good flyer, share it with your colleagues by e-mail or posting it on the Web.

LUNCHEONS, CONFERENCES, EXPOS, OTHER GROUPS EVENTS

Conferences are a great outreach and networking opportunity. Call your local chamber of commerce for schedules. Call practitioners and other activists. Most conferences will have booth space available for non profits for little or no cost. Whole Life Expos, New Life Expos, state medical associations, insurance companies, … Luncheons are a great tool for educating legislators. By offering food and information, you can feed the minds and bodies of their staffers, who in turn provide the speeches and position papers.