networking and lobbying

Gilles Verschoore – coordinator esdongilles@esdon.org - +32 485/376.434

www.esdon.org

open your mouth, make some noise and kick some ass…

what can we do to reach our goals?

networking

how?

• business cards

• attend

• speak

• contact list

• electronic

lobbying

get to know your “enemy”

• what and who?

• who advises and who decides?

• agendas, frequency, political weight

• how to get on the agenda? => weight

demands

• clear and argumented• write it down• check it with your constituency• problem => arguments for change => solutions• don’t get emotional• compare• use them against their selves• use numbers, research…

• this way: agenda and lobbying

preparation

• knowledge is power

• you’re up against experience and experts

• better two than one

• know legislation and situation

• cooperate with student unions

strength in unity

• broad front

• don’t hunt the top dog immediately, search allies

• promise support if necessary and appropriate

• get people with influence

• at the meeting: too late!

negotiate in a constructive manner

• be accepted as an equal partner

• it’s all about give and take

• it’s not about scoring points, but about a constructive dialogue

• an impasse is not the end

• buy some time if necessary

tactics

• be realistic

• have some space to negotiate

• determine your break point and your minimum

• empathize

• adapt

• non-verbal signs

• petition?

put on or release the pressure

• the atmosphere shouldn’t say business• humour

• threaten with action => can lead to indulgence

• negotiating and action are not contradictory

• stay polite

time for action

but first something completely…

theoretical!

rest assured, there will be no test at the end

3 models of social action

• cooperation model

• confrontation model

• force model

reasons for action

• awareness raising

• displeasure

• change your environment

to consider before

• timing

• how

• who

to consider during

• remove tresholds

• materials

• animation

to consider after

• make a report

• press release

• smaller follow up-actions

• up-to-date website

petition

• 1 clear problem

• shows you’re working

• good for contacts

• good for reaction

flyer/leaflet

• raising awareness or call for action

• cheap

• not to full

• not too much on front

• illustrated

• contact person

press release

• communication between organisation and society

• pressure

• reversed pyramid

playful action

• press friendly

• visual

• press release

strike

• must be collective

• pickets

• internal security

demonstration/manifestation

• talk with the authorities

• internal security

• cameras

• 3 to 6 months

illegal action

• think about the consequences

• well informed participants

• no pressure to participate

• scout

• occupation

• press release => embargo

resignation

• if you’re in an adequate position!

thank you for your attention!