Date: 5 Aug 1994 11:06:15 -0700 From: "Johann Opitz" Subject: Team Spirit To: "California Liberty" The following is from the Libertarian Party. ============================================================================== What's missing from the LP: A "team spirit" By Stuart Reges What is the Libertarian Party's single greatest obstacle? The media who won't cover us? The politicians who use ballot access and every other trick in the book to slow us down? The voters who won't take the time to study the issues? These are formidable challenges, but I believe we suffer more from a problem inside rather than outside the party. The very same personality traits that make us rugged individuals who are attracted to libertarianism also prevent us from pulling together as an effective team. I'm a libertarian because I don't accept the argument that "the law is the law" and must be obeyed. But even though I refuse to go along with the crowd when it comes to deciding my personal morality and political beliefs, I recognize the strategic advantage of the team approach. Consider how the same behavior affects a team organization. While one can abstractly seek ideal justice, one cannot expect ideal leadership on a team. All teams make mistakes. Utopia is not an option. But a team that sticks together despite such mistakes will be more competitive than one in which individual members circumvent the chain of command. I claim that the following team attributes would help make the LP more effective: * Trusting other team players * Surrendering personal pride to team pride * Showing deference to team leaders * Pulling together after defeats The first two of these define the essence of the team concept. A good example of this came in the movie Hoosiers where a basketball coach suspends his star players for refusing to pass the ball to the inferior players. From the point of view of a star player, hogging the ball seems only natural because he knows that he has a better chance of scoring and he feels he deserves the glory if his talent made the score possible. But this behavior destroys team unity and denies inferior players the opportunity to improve. In other words, the star player is putting his own good ahead of the team good. A player has to trust his teammates enough to pass the ball to them even when he thinks they will blow it. And he has to find satisfaction in the progress and success of the team, even if his superior ability is less emphasized as a result. My own natural inclination is to act like the temperamental star player. I have a strong ego and prefer to perform a task by myself rather than have someone else do it if they aren't going to do it exactly my way. I have observed the same temperament in many LP members as well. We have to learn to check our egos at the door when we perform party business and to trust other Libertarians enough to share some of the work with them, even if the result doesn't meet our personal ideal of perfection. Libertarians are probably most challenged by the third attribute, showing deference to team leaders. We wouldn't be libertarians if we blindly obeyed authority, but that tendency can also limit our effectiveness. I have often observed LP members wasting incredible amounts of time debating the fine points of a project. At the end of the argument we end up with a slightly better plan, but usually the debate consumes more time and energy than the flawed plan would have. I have also witnessed party members wrangling over "six of one, half dozen of another" issues that have no right answer. There are many ways to crack an egg. Yet people often vigorously defend their approach and try to bully others into agreement. Unfortunately we have more than our share of such bullies, and when they get together they waste everyone's time arguing questions that are irrelevant to our success. In most cases a team that follows its game plan efficiently and without question will beat a team that debates the game plan, even if that debate produces a better plan. Unless you have a complete idiot in a leadership position, the plan will have some merit and will produce positive results. The fact that it might not be the best possible game plan is irrelevant if the time and energy necessary to improve the plan eats into the time and energy necessary to implement the plan. Finally, an effective team pulls together after a defeat. One can always find things to criticize about a team's performance, especially when it loses. But good team players don't allow their frustration and disappointment to turn into criticism and blame. Last year the Army/Navy football rivalry came down to a missed field goal attempt in the last seconds of the game, but the Navy kicker was patted on the back by his teammates afterwards. The team lost, not any single player or group of players. Losing needs to be a frustration that brings team members together rather than tearing them apart. This is not to say that team players are never criticized after a defeat. Coaches wouldn't be good leaders if they didn't use such opportunities to point out areas of improvement for specific players. But such criticism should come from the coaches, not from individual players, and should be given in the context of how a player can overcome a deficiency and make the team stronger. Winning teams look forward, not backward. I am beginning to wonder whether the one constant in the LP is petty criticism. I have felt the impulse myself to distance my ideas from those of other members, particularly party leaders, when I think their policies are flawed. I think we experience this because we take great pride in the quality of our ideas and because our egos are so often self- centered rather than group-centered. But this endless bickering takes a great toll on the party. It destroys unity, delays projects, makes us vulnerable to attack, and leaves us all with a negative attitude about the party. This situation is particularly dangerous for newcomers whose enthusiasm is often dampened when they discover the latest round of contentious debate. This lack of harmony is most destructive after a painful defeat like the disappointingly low Marrou/Lord vote total in 1992. Instead of going to Andre and Nancy and all the others who worked so diligently for their success and patting them on the back and talking about how much better we'll do next time, we degenerated into a group of bitter individuals desperately trying to assign blame to anyone but ourselves. We looked backwards in depression rather than turning our attention forwards with renewed resolve. I recommend a simple procedure for recognizing and correcting this problem. Every time you are about to challenge someone in the party, stop and think whether the action you are about to take will directly benefit the LP. If you can't immediately name the tangible benefit that will accrue, then your action is furthering personal rather than group goals. When I was teaching computer science at Stanford, I had great success helping my Teaching Assistants understand how their personal habits were preventing them from being effective teachers by asking them to spend a week helping students without ever touching a student's keyboard. They found it difficult to do so, and learned a great deal in the process. I have a similar experiment to suggest to LP members who want to explore the team concept: volunteer time for a project and force yourself to behave as a low-level team player. That means you must do everything you are told without question. Avoid discussing the team strategy even if asked about it in a friendly manner. And find a way to compliment at least one other volunteer and at least one of the project leaders without expecting any compliments in return. Afterwards, say something positive about the project to a fellow libertarian who didn't participate. You might be surprised to find how difficult this can be, but I believe you will find the experience worthwhile. About the author: Stuart Reges is a former National Director of the Libertarian Party, and a former professor of computer science at Stanford University. He currently lives in Washington, DC. -- The Libertarian Party America's third largest political party 1528 Pennsylvania Avenue SE (202) 543-1988 Washington DC 20003 Internet: LPHQ@digex.net ***Send email or call 1-800-682-1776 for free information package by mail*** == Johann Opitz e-mail: johann_opitz@smtp.esl.com == == All Disclaimers Apply (so as to protect my employer) == __ Date: 5 Aug 1994 11:00:33 -0700 From: "Johann Opitz" Subject: Talk Radio To: "California Liberty" The following is from the Libertarian Party. ============================================================================== Taking advantage of talk radio Talk radio is "the last neighborhood in America" and is an excellent method of reaching the general public -- if Libertarians do it right. That was the message of Jim Walsh, a libertarian-leaning radio talk show host from WILM radio in Delaware, who spoke at that state's annual convention in April. "Talk radio is a great opportunity to get on and get ideas across with a minimum of effort," he said. Some tips to maximize your talk radio effectiveness: * Be prepared: "Listen to the show beforehand. Understand the format of the show you're calling. Understand the type of listener. Understand the temperament of the host." For example, "You wouldn't call Howard Stern to discuss Bosnia." * "Always adapt your message to the medium. On radio, by its nature, time will be limited. My producers tell me that if I give callers more than 90 seconds, they better have something damned interesting to say. Prepare -- and edit -- your remarks. Say what you have to say in as few words as possible." * Be interesting: "Remember talk radio is primarily an entertainment medium. This doesn't mean you can't discuss serious issues -- but it does mean you have to be entertaining. For example, the worst thing you can do is call up and read from a newspaper article. That is deadly." * "Talk about stuff you're passionate about. Talk about something that lights a fire under you." * Understand the difference between small and large radio markets. "In small markets, you'll get more time to talk. The good small market talk show is a dynamite opportunity to talk to your neighbors." * "Don't restrict yourself to talk show hosts who agree with you. It makes things a little more interesting if there's a little disagreement -- as long as you can do it without being disagreeable." -- The Libertarian Party America's third largest political party 1528 Pennsylvania Avenue SE (202) 543-1988 Washington DC 20003 Internet: LPHQ@digex.net ***Send email or call 1-800-682-1776 for free information package by mail*** == Johann Opitz e-mail: johann_opitz@smtp.esl.com == == All Disclaimers Apply (so as to protect my employer) == __ Date: 5 Aug 1994 10:58:30 -0700 From: "Johann Opitz" Subject: Media Breakthrough To: "California Liberty" The following is from the Libertarian Party. ============================================================================== Break through to media coverage By Michael McCarthy Editor's note: The Orange County (California) LP recently arranged for two local news media professionals to speak at a meeting. Here are some of their tips. Peter Murphy, an anchor at the Orange County 24-hour cable news channel spoke about the television medium and its workings. He said that opportunities for access are improved if: * You call the assignment editor/news director a day in advance if you want coverage. * You call at 6:00 am weekdays or at 10:00 am Monday (before the big stories of the day or week are planned). * You hold press conferences on interesting current topics in visually interesting places (no generic conference rooms). This goes for requests for interviews, too; it's more effective to ask for an interview outside the IRS building or in a scenic local spot. * You "hammer" on people who are reticent to give LP candidates coverage. Murphy said that people in the news industry have a pretty thick skin, and the most effective way to get coverage is to be forceful (not rude!). * You hand-write letters to the assignment editor regarding news events or candidates; this goes for press releases, surprisingly enough. A typed press release delivered in a handwritten envelope gets more attention more quickly than a fax. * You avoid faxes. Faxes come in at a fast clip, and tend to sit in the fax bin for a while. If you must send a fax, follow up with a letter or phone call. Jean Pasco from the Orange County Register discussed the workings of the print media: * Establish a good personal relationship with the political reporter and/or editor at the paper. * Find out when deadlines are (generally 4 to 6 pm) and don't call then. * When calling, always ask if there's a better time to call. Reporters appreciate courtesy. Ms. Pasco told us the most useful thing we did was mailing out media guides: a 3-ring binder of laser-printed candidate bios and 8 x 10 b&w glossies of the candidates. The photos -- head and shoulders shots -- were very important, since getting a photographer is one of the hardest tasks a reporter faces. Reprinted from the July 1993 issue of the Libertarian Lifeline, LP of California, East Bay region. -- The Libertarian Party America's third largest political party 1528 Pennsylvania Avenue SE (202) 543-1988 Washington DC 20003 Internet: LPHQ@digex.net ***Send email or call 1-800-682-1776 for free information package by mail*** == Johann Opitz e-mail: johann_opitz@smtp.esl.com == == All Disclaimers Apply (so as to protect my employer) == __ Date: 5 Aug 1994 10:53:03 -0700 From: "Johann Opitz" Subject: Fundraising Tips To: "California Liberty" The following is from the Libertarian Party but, IMHO, is very applicable to our RKBA efforts. ============================================================================== How to raise a lot more money for the LP By Sam Edelston A 20% increase in your results will barely be noticed. A 50% increase isn't enough. If you quadruple your fundraising, the Democrats and Republicans will still generally be able to swallow your organization without chewing. Can we aim for a tenfold increase? See if you can find enough ideas in here to make a real difference. A. Have a product that people will want to invest their money in. Fundraising doesn't exist in a vacuum. Your first job in successful fundraising is to create a growing, energetic organization that people want to give to. Remember, everybody loves a winner, and nothing succeeds like success. 1. Run your organization professionally. That's what your competitors do, and it will energize your members and delight your "customers" if you do. a) Have professional-looking literature. b) If you have a newsletter, make sure it's professional-looking, informative, unembarrassing, and timely. c) Conduct activities that produce describable results. d) Follow up on leads promptly and professionally. 2. Get your people known as credible, responsible, constructive members of the community. 3. Get people elected or appointed into office. 4. Ask people for quotes or testimonials. If you can get a city councilman or prominent local figure to say that one of your proposals is interesting, provocative, or worthy of support, use it in fundraisers and other literature. 5. Cultivate, cherish, and abundantly thank your volunteers and activists. B. Fundraise more aggressively. 1. Fundraise more often. If you currently do one or two mailings a year, try three or four. 2. Easy way to add a mailing: Two or three weeks after you do a mailing, send the same letter again, with a Post-it or overprint saying something like, "In case you missed this important letter...." This follow-up should draw 50%-70% as much response as the original. 3. Focus especially hard on the people who are most likely to send money. You'll get the most from past donors. Second priority: Members. Lower priority: Prospects and sympathizers. (Many people believe that their brilliant words will open up the prospects' wallets. Great fantasy.) 4. Keep track of who has given money in the past. a) Ask past donors for more money than they gave you last time. This is especially easy nowadays, with easy-to-use databases and laser personalization. b) If someone gave $50 last time, give him a laser-printed choice of $100, $75, or $50 next time. 5. Build as big a mailing list as possible. That includes supporters and sympathizers who aren't necessarily Libertarians. a) At all events, actively encourage people to give you their names and addresses. b) If you hear someone complain about the government, get his address. (And note what his hot issue is.) c) Note: This is "so you can find out about upcoming events." It is not so the person can "get on our mailing list." People want to know about events; they don't want to be on mailing lists. 6. Send thank-you notes (promptly) to contributors. ("Oh, and while you're thinking of it, if you could somehow squeeze another $30 out of your next paycheck, it would be greatly appreciated.") C. Step "Outside the Box" 1. Cultivate a monthly pledge program. National LP has developed this into a major revenue source. 2. Here's a clever one: On your yearly membership renewal forms, add a line for "Voluntary Dues Supplement........$10." (Carnegie Hall asks for $100.) 3. If you're raising money for a political campaign, don't just approach Libertarians. Approach your friends, neighbors, and relatives -- and those of the candidate. Approach all the merchants downtown. Approach anyone who has an axe to grind against the status quo. (Did they just pass a historic preservation law? Get a list of the affected properties!) 4. Urge your members to include your organization in their wills. 5. Identify potential major donors and other heavyweights (such as business owners who have just been given a major government runaround). Approach them separately, in a very customized way. 6. This is very important: If you don't have a lot of free time for fundraising, find someone who does. Recruit a retiree or stay-at-home mom to do your organization's fundraising. (Someone reliable, and preferably someone who has direct mail experience.) 7. Find an experienced direct mail writer (doesn't necessarily have to be a libertarian) to write your letters, or at least critique them before you mail. a) If this proves impossible, then try your letters out on a non-libertarian spouse or friend who you can trust to speak candidly. D. Better Mailing Pieces. 1. Put a headline at the beginning of your letter. a) The job of the headline is to get the person to read the first sentence. So make it a real grabber, not just something cute. 2. After you've written and edited your letter, cover up the first paragraph or two and see if it reads better. (Most writers take too long to get to the point.) 3. Don't be subtle or ashamed about asking for money. These are your fans and supporters. And they do enjoy supporting your cause. 4. Make your reply card simple, uncluttered, and reader-friendly. (In fact, with people who have never given before, consider asking for just a single amount of, say, $25 -- instead of the traditional five or six choices.) 5. Collect and read literature from other organizations. a) One easy way: Send $5 a year to the Democrats and Republicans. They'll send you all sorts of interesting material. 6. Telephone follow-up will lift response if you have enough bodies to do it. If you have only a limited number of volunteers, focus on your best donors. 7. If your mailings are large enough, get your materials printed professionally, hire a real lettershop to insert it, and save a fortune in postage by mailing third-class. E. What to say in letters 1. Talk about real accomplishments and attainable, realistic goals. Convince me that you can do what you're talking about. Use those selling points from the beginning of this article. 2. Making overambitious, unattainable promises will bring in more money in the short run, until people get wise to you. In the long run, it disillusions your readers. 3. Remember that people (including us!) make decisions on an emotional -- not logical -- level. Don't try to convince them with syllogisms. Appeal to their gut. Get under their skin. a) If you can find a person who has a really to-the-point personal story to tell, build it into your letter. 4. Whenever possible, tie your mailings to something specific. 5. Keep a clip file of horror stories and useful statistics that you can use as ammunition. 6. Find a formula that will allow you to write letters quickly. You can't afford to spend twenty hours tweaking a letter if it will only go out once to 500 people. a) Look for ways to recycle parts of your letters from mailing to mailing. For example, try to re-use the "asking for money" section of your last letter. b) Think through what your letter will say before you begin jotting down notes and writing it. c) Writing is always easier when you feel inspired. If you're having trouble getting inspired, see if you can set yourself up to have a frustrating experience with some regulatory bureaucrat. 7. If you have a really clever, pithy line that you simply can't resist using in a letter -- but you have to stretch to make it fit -- edit it out. a) Don't resort to name-calling. For example, talking about "Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dumber" or the "Demopublicrats" may feel good, but it sounds childish. 8. "Premiums" (gifts you give to people who respond) can be good . .