Tools for electeds, appointeds, and staff

As is the case with the tools for advocates, connecting with people, hearing their stories, and engaging them in solutions is important to elected and appointed officials and staff.

One important note: What's most important are the three buckets. The details are simply examples.

Hearing from people, understanding what is important to them

Finding ways to hear from people, to connect with them is essential. Some ways to do that include:
  • Attending meetings and listening
  • Reading local newspapers
  • Reading electronic discussion lists (Yahoo, Google groups)
  • Reading blogs and discussion boards
  • Following group activity on Facebook
  • Following journalists, other electeds, bloggers, policy wonks, advocates, community leaders on Twitter
  • Paying attention to specific topics or people using, for example, Talkwalker Alerts and Google Alerts

Making government accessible and understandable

If you make the most fundamental information easily accessible and available on your website and/or a central telephone number, you immediately reduce constituent frustration. This makes it easier for all parties to have meaningful interactions.
  • Publish government org chart (website)
  • Provide useful descriptions of office/agency responsibilities (website)
  • Make contact information easy to find – NO forms! (website)
  • Publish calendar of events or present individual public meetings in a prominent place on website (website) and notice in public places such as grocery stores, libraries, and gas stations
  • Publish reports and policy documents including the budget (website) and make at least the budget available in hard copy at the library
  • Proactively share information (website), at meetings or community gatherings, and perhaps via electronic discussion list (for example, Yahoo, Google)

Keep learning (and sharing!)