You don’t need to have experience to fight effectively. You just need to put forth the effort and be deliberate in your approach.
Many citizens without any prior experience in the civic arena have become very effective leaders through their work opposing predatory gambling in their community.
4 methods for getting good information:
Visit Stop Predatory Gambling’s Get the Word Out page.
Go to Stop Predatory Gambling’s Start a Local Group page
7 steps to get a petition off the ground
1. Write specific language for the petition that addresses the proposal.
2. Hold regular (weekly) petition organizing meetings open to all.
3. Continually gather community-based support. Faith-based organizations, businesses schools, nonprofits, community organizations, authors, artists, etc.
4. Hold a rally (or many). Invite politicians and other effective speakers. Ask all who attend to take four specific actions: sign the petition; come to the next demonstration; organize their friends; and come to the next community organizing meeting.
5. Once you have media attention, invite people to specific places to sign the petition (online or on the ground).
6. March, sit in and demonstrate. Find creative ways to exercise First Amendment rights to assembly.
7. Ask for a public hearing. Ensure the purpose, venue, time, and process are clear and that there is an experienced facilitator
5 steps to winning a politician champion:
Some words of caution on winning a politician champion:
These suggestions were compiled with the help of “Becoming a Citizen Activist” by Nick Lacata.
