Hello Dear Database Enabled Grassroots Political Organizer(s),

Congratulations on all of your hard work around the 2006 election cycle. I support your goals of increased political participation. I’m pleased with the progress you’ve shown over previous elections. Good job.

Here are a list of thoughts that you can review at your leisure. Don’t review them during dinner time. Don’t interrupt your workday. Take a convenient moment, whenever it works for you, and give these thoughts a quick read. There’s no rush. No pressure. No partisan bias. Be calm. Take my thoughts in the spirit that they’re intended, as positive constructive feedback, composed with love, from me, your socially networked friend and compatriot of legally registered voting status in the fine State of California.

It’s time you gave my poor inbox a breather. Please. You’ve been pumping me with messages for a long time now, and I’d appreciate a break in the action. Don’t you ever slow down? Seriously. We’ve hit a climax. Let’s enjoy it together – if you’d shut up for a minute I’m sure we could both relax and maybe even feel good about the process. Peacefully. Stop acting so insecure about where we’ll be come next elections/petition/meet up/whatever. Be calm.

I’ve created a list of six database refinements that you can use to do better next time. Don’t read them at dinner time. In fact, don’t read them if you don’t want to. For real though. The list will be here when you’re ready for it.

Database tip #1: It’s crucial to optimize the subsets of your membership body. Find a way to respectfully connect with those members whom only want infrequent executive summaries. There are people, like myself, who resist and dislike repetitive messaging. Don’t take it personally. I like what you do. I don’t always like the way you do it. It shouldn’t be hard for you to tag my record so that I only receive the types of messages I appreciate. Do that, and I’ll reciprocate with respectful support.

It’s pretty hard to imagine that you don’t already have an elaborate subset of filters. If so, please keep refining them. I’ve recently received a large number of messages that actually made me feel alienated from what you’re trying to do. Some of those messages came from celebrities. One of them was a joke message that appeared to come from the opposition party. These types of monotonous and childish messages are not the way into my heart.

I want positive messages. Let the tv people obsess over the celebrities. Give me something with substance. Seek the high ground. Ignore what any analysts might say about reaching the broadest audience possible. Refine your filters and membership subsets. Your analysts are right that my preferences are different from the public at large. Fine. Allow for diverse subsets of member preferences. Give us all what we want. You know you want to. It doesn’t seem like it would be that complicated either. Databases are powerful tools and you have a powerful organization. Work your majik.

The phone calling campaign may appear to have been a success. Let’s not confuse general success with the success of a specific initiative. On my end the phone campaign was very much not a success.

I received three calls. Two on Monday, one late in the day on Tuesday. The two on Monday came at dinner time, within 5 minutes of each other.

Database tip #2: Only once in my life have I missed an opportunity to vote in local, state, and federal elections. If you don’t know that by now, it’s good that we’re talking. Why don’t you know? Haven’t I gone out of my way to participate in your petitions, and other non-election oriented activities? What makes you think I’m such a slacker that I need repeated coercion to get me to the polls? I am not a “high risk to forget about election day” member. Kindly mark that in my profile. Then remove my number from your heavy rotation call list.

All of the volunteer callers were friendly enough. They also gave me the impression of being slightly miffed when I told them:

“Hi, I’m on the other line, sorry to be short, I support what you’re doing, thank you, and yes I respect and appreciate you trying to talk over me, but I really must go, so thanks again, goodbye.”

It’s difficult to work phone banks. I volunteer as a caller sometimes for different organizations. The reality is that often there aren’t enough resources available to properly prepare the database. Large, well funded organizations need to distinguish themselves by giving proper attention to database administration. When databases haven’t been normalized, and when duplicates haven’t been removed, this makes things unnecessarily hard on volunteers and members.

It’s frustrating for a volunteer to make the effort to call, and to have the member on the line say “hey, yeah, I’m eating and I just talked to you guys 5 minutes ago, ok?, and I’m sorry to be short, I support what you’re doing, thank you, and yes I respect and appreciate you trying to talk over me, but I really must go, so thanks so much, again, and goodbye.”

Database tip #3: Use one database to manage all calls. If that’s too big, then break them into regional segments. The key is to offer volunteers real time access to the call list. It’s possible that you’re doing this already right? Right, so don’t ruin the effect by leaving duplicate records in your database.

Database tip #4: I only need one record in your database. Please remove the duplicates.

I know you can do better. You have a very smart and talented community of volunteers. I believe that your tools and management techniques can evolve to keep close pace with the sophistication of your community. Perhaps messages like this one will help you to identify gaps and weaknesses. Repetition is a valuable communication tool. Please consider personalizing the interests of your audience, earn their permission, don’t demand it, and avoid overusing repetition to the extent that you did during the 2006 cycle.

The issue of the calls forces me to bring up a larger issue; the do not call registry.

Database tip #5: My number is listed in the do not call registry. DO NOT CALL ME. I’ve written about that subject before, and although I have no reason to expect you to have been previously familiar with my personal opinion on the topic, here’s an opportunity for you to become familiar with my opinion. Do not call me. Please find a way to attach that piece of unstructured data to my record.

I’m not being arrogant. I’m sending you a special invitation to not call. It’s not special because you’re special (although you are!). It’s special because you know who you are, and I know who you are, and now we both know that I don’t want you to call again. I don’t do this for just anyone in particular either, no. I do it for everyone. That’s why my number is listed on the do not call registry. I believe in and advocate on behalf of the do not call registry; it’s an amazing American institution. If we’re going to collaborate, I’d like you to respect it.

I have confronted unsolicited callers with the fact that my number is on the registry. They consistently react with the same smug disgust and self-satisfaction; “yes sir, but the registry does not apply to non-commercial organizations” they whine. Right. So I’m rubber, you’re glue, very impressive. I mean, who cares that you’re within your legal right to call me? The bottom line is we can’t collaborate effectively if you take that stance. I’m asking you to not call. It’s my preference. If you want me to support your agenda, then don’t approach me with unsolicited phone calls. It’s super easy and super reasonable.

Database tip #6: Take the lead among political action groups and acknowledge the legitimacy of the do not call registry. You have access to the registry. Filter your calling lists against it. Create a special permission field for members that invite you to call.

Suck it up and do it. Sure it’ll hurt to see the size of your call list take a hit. Consider that your calls will be more effective. Your calling activity will be more efficient. Your volunteers will take pride in the fact that the dinner time calls are only to members whom have invited those calls.

I know this isn’t a popular concept with non-profits and political organizers. Sorry. The registry is sitting in the middle of the room. You’ll earn credibility and trust if you acknowledge it. Focus instead on improving the ways that you interract with your members. It doesn’t taste good now, and it’ll be good for you. Call recipients will be happier, volunteer callers will be happier. It could be a beautiful thing.

[tags]Grassroots organizers, do not call registry, database enabled political organizing, permission[/tags]