take on special interests that will be threatened by any change.
Usually the special interest groups have a great deal of
influence, often by default, because they possess an abundance of
a few types of power:  money, knowledge and personal
relationships with the policymakers.
Special interest groups are not necessarily sinister in their use
of power.  They use money to contribute to policymaker's
campaigns, to hire lobbyists, to wine-and-dine and to develop
detailed materials to document their particular need(s).  Special
interests can and do play an important role in policymaking.
Community groups can learn a great deal from observing how they
utilize power to affect public policy.
Community groups do not have the money to compete with special
interests; therefore, they must seek to use other kinds of power.
A core group of organizers must learn to mobilize other types of
power.
(1) Numbers Are Power:  Policymakers (city council people,
legislators) are very concerned about large numbers of voters,
especially if they are upset.  It is important that you identify
other groups that agree with your goals who will show up to a
meeting to demonstrate your large numbers.  Numbers give you
additional legitimacy and credibility.
Policymakers have radar which continually assesses the impact of
what they are doing or plan to do.  They are extremely sensitive
to organized groups.  The larger and more diverse your group, the
more likely that it will be taken seriously.  Seek ways to expand
your group.  The group, however, must have well-established goals
and strategies or it will become divided and ineffective.
(2) Coalitions Are Power:  Although your group might be small,
you probably can find others who share your concerns.  Expanding
the numbers of a group involves building coalitions; coalitions
involve bringing together diverse groups to work toward a common
goal.  It's important to identify the goals because there will be
areas where the various coalition members disagree.  The group
must learn to agree on the goals and agree to disagree on the
areas of difference.
(3) Unity Is Power:  A large, diverse group presenting a unified
position before a city council or a legislative committee has
power.  Be careful.  Choose wisely the person who speaks for your
coalition in public meetings.  If the spokesperson gets excited,
exaggerates a point or gives misinformation, a smart policymaker
will seize upon the occasion to destroy the credibility of all of
the information and may discredit the entire group as well.
Should the group seek to defend the misstatement, it risks its
own credibility.  However, if the group disassociates itself from
the spokesperson or information presented, the group may become
divided and ineffective.  Do not let this happen!  Unity is
essential to maintain your legitimacy and credibility.
(4) Positions Are Power:  It is important to bring to your group
people who hold important, credible positions in your community.
Bankers, educators, business people, community leaders and clergy
give your group legitimacy.  Try to involve them in your group.
(5) Knowledge Is Power:  Two kinds of knowledge are essential to
effect public policy.
First, you must be knowledgeable about the process of decision-
making.  Each public body has rules and policies which describe
how decisions are made.  Get the rules.  Learn them.  Remember
there are also informal rules.  Get to know those, too.  Then
monitor the meetings and impact the decisions at the appropriate
time.
Second, you must be knowledgeable of the issue you represent.
Study and know the issue.  Do not exaggerate or misrepresent the
facts.  Develop good information.  Policymakers will learn to
trust you and eventually will depend on you for facts.
(6) Relationships Are Power:  It is always helpful to know the
city councilperson or county commissioner personally.  Don't be
afraid to help on a campaign or volunteer to work in a
policymaker's office.  You will develop a personal relationship
with the policymaker which will give you access and credibility.
You should get to know key policymakers to such a degree that you
feel comfortable calling them or visiting their offices.  You
will know that you have power and influence with policymakers
when they return your phone calls.
It is helpful to know that each policymaker has a hidden advisor
- -- some trusted friend or associate who meets regularly with the
policymaker who has an inordinate amount of influence on the
policymaker's thinking and judgment.  You can save yourself and
your group a lot of trouble if you get to know that hidden
advisor, working to gain this person's trust.  This person can do
more for your group over a cup of coffee than you and your group
can do in months of organizing.  The hidden advisor must feel
comfortable with you and perceive your group as a broadly based
coalition of knowledgeable people who can impact the process if
necessary.  Hidden advisors can become important allies and key
parts of your strategy.  Get to know them.
(7) Voting Is Power:  Elected policymakers listen to voters. Be
sure you are registered and vote.  Be sure that all of your
coalition members are voters and willing to vote as a block.
(8) Use Of The Media Is Power:  Policymakers dislike bad
publicity.  You must learn how to develop literature, talk to the
press, go on radio, and speak before cameras so you can get your
message across. Policymakers will go out of their way to avoid
bad press if they can, so don't be afraid to use the media.
(9) Money Is Power:  Although most citizens' groups are at a
monetary disadvantage, they must have some funds to develop
materials, pay for mailings and keep other members of the
coalition informed.  You will not be able to compete financially
with special interests, but if you have the other elements of
power, you can overcome the power of money.  No group, however,
can function without some funds!
These nine elements of power, if used in combination, will more
than offset the special interest groups.  No smart public
officials will disregard the wishes of a large, unified coalition
of knowledgeable voters who have expressed a specific interest to
them.  The power of money usually will dwindle as the organized
community group becomes more knowledgeable, assertive and
effective.
The Four Key Ingredients
Once your group is formed -- a process that might take weeks or
months -- four elements must be present before the group can take
any action.  If any one of the four is missing, the group will
exhibit the classic defense mechanisms (rationalizing,
backstabbing, scapegoating, forming more committees) to avoid
taking action.  The four essential ingredients are:
(1) Hope:  The group must believe that all the effort, time and
toil will result in some change.
(2) Courage:  The group must be willing to "risk" the
confrontation.
(3) Goals:  The group must clearly understand what it is that is
being changed.
(4) Strategy:  The group must clearly understand how the goal is
to be achieved.
As a group leader, one must be constantly aware of the dynamics
of the group.  If and when the group begins to backstab,
rationalize, scapegoat or turn on itself, it is the leader's task
to assess which of the four ingredients is missing and to "plug
in" the missing one.
Making It Happen
Once the group has become a group, has identified its goals and
has decided to take an action, there are six simple rules to
follow to achieve maximum results:
(1) Be There:  "Being there" means finding out when and where the
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