HOW TO DEVELOP AN INTERNET ACTION ALERT

As email competes with telephones for a way of communicating, we have seen many effective, as well as some not so effective, uses of technology. The purpose of this mode of communication is to provide enough information so that an individual may take action on the issue.

1) Single alerts are one time e-mails sent out to gather the greatest number of sympathetic responders. Structured alerts are networks and list serves developed for a narrower audience attracting people interested in a particular issue or source of response. Your Internet Action Alert should always be structured and part of a larger issue campaign strategy.

2) All information on the Internet travels at the same speed. Make sure yours is authentic so that you don’t give alerts a bad name. Provide ways of the recipient to get back to you (name, phone, email, URL, etc.) and make sure you have all of your facts straight.

3) Beginnings and endings are important. Have you ever received the 3 year old request to send email to some school? Make sure your information include all pertinent timing dates as to when a response is helpful and when it is no longer necessary.

4) Confidentiality is an issue for all of us in this information world. What you put in this alert may literally go round the world. Be careful of using names. Be aware of who receives your alert and be specific around recipients intentions to forward the material.

5) Now what am I to do? Present a simply, clearly defined step with rationale for recipient to take. Chain letter petitions are not helpful. Calls and letters to legislators are. Ask your people to let you know what action they took so that you can take time to review what happened after your alert was distributed.

6) Look before pressing send. It can help to print your alert before sending it. Is it clear, with a simple layout, and easy to understand. Is spelling correct? Use short sentences with simple grammar. Are there any words with double meanings? Have someone review your work.

The Internet is an exciting new tool to use in our advocacy work. Remember, this alone is not organizing an action. You need to have this as part of an overall strategy for responding to a need for advocacy.

Center Priorities (.pdf)

Bulletin Inserts
Child Support (.pdf)
Environment (.pdf)
Housing Trust (.pdf)
Indigent Defense (.pdf)
Payday Lending (.pdf)
Minimum Wage (.pdf)

Advocacy Resources
Advocacy Guide (.doc)
Advocacy Portal (link)
Lending Info. (.ppt)
Richmond Map (.pdf)

For Small Groups
Eco-Stewardship (link)
Prayers for Creation (link)
Poverty Diet (link)

Policy Briefs
EITC (.doc)
TANF Child Support (.doc)
Payday Loans (.doc)
Healing Creation (.doc)
Child Ombudsman (.doc)
Affordable Housing (.doc)
Indigent Defense (.doc)
Minimum Wage (.doc)
Wage & EITC (.doc)
VA Tribes (.link)

Actions
Lending Petition (link)
Title Petition (link)
Wage Petition (link)

Reports
Budget Analysis (.pdf)
Food Stamps (.doc)
Lottery Study (link)

FAQ's (link)

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