http://showaltergroup.com/blog Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:00:02 +0000 en hourly 1 http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2012/01/27/can-companies-go-too-far-when-it-comes-to-their-pac/ http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2012/01/27/can-companies-go-too-far-when-it-comes-to-their-pac/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:00:02 +0000 Amy Showalter http://showaltergroup.com/blog/?p=1097 www.arentfox.com advises his clients to create PAC bylaws that suit the political needs and culture of the company.  However, Brett says a company can go too far in trying to ensure that the PAC is run consistently with the corporate culture. Here's what he says about Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert's PAC "argument": http://arentfoxnews.com/cv/b725299375d575713993da6aaa4205606c8948a7]]> http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2012/01/27/can-companies-go-too-far-when-it-comes-to-their-pac/feed/ 0 http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/07/25/from-concern-to-cooperation-how-to-use-grassroots-and-lobbying-to-build-your-pac/ http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/07/25/from-concern-to-cooperation-how-to-use-grassroots-and-lobbying-to-build-your-pac/#comments Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:00:10 +0000 Amy Showalter http://showaltergroup.com/blog/?p=1053 http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/07/25/from-concern-to-cooperation-how-to-use-grassroots-and-lobbying-to-build-your-pac/feed/ 0 http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/07/11/does-fear-influence-or-immobilize/ http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/07/11/does-fear-influence-or-immobilize/#comments Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:00:42 +0000 Amy Showalter http://showaltergroup.com/blog/?p=1055 http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/07/11/does-fear-influence-or-immobilize/feed/ 0 http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/07/04/11-strategy-questions-you-have-to-answer-before-you-build-your-grassroots-and-pac-capacity/ http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/07/04/11-strategy-questions-you-have-to-answer-before-you-build-your-grassroots-and-pac-capacity/#comments Mon, 04 Jul 2011 15:00:50 +0000 Amy Showalter http://showaltergroup.com/blog/?p=1051 http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/07/04/11-strategy-questions-you-have-to-answer-before-you-build-your-grassroots-and-pac-capacity/feed/ 0 http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/06/27/why-things-fail/ http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/06/27/why-things-fail/#comments Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:00:24 +0000 Amy Showalter http://showaltergroup.com/blog/?p=1047 I’m very proud of our track record with our long-term consulting clients. We find that 85% of them get more financial and human resources and internal organizational stature as a result of our collaborations. In addition, they experience increases in their grassroots volunteer influence and PAC receipts. They know how to execute. But join me on the dark side for a moment. Lots of organizations that attempt change are unsuccessful. They don’t execute well. Here are the reasons, in no particular order. I started out with about seven and could not stop myself: 1. Following the fad du jour 2. No success metrics 3. No agreement on success metrics 4. No...]]> http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/06/27/why-things-fail/feed/ 0 http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/06/20/is-your-organization%e2%80%99s-diversity-program-hurting-your-pac-recruitment/ http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/06/20/is-your-organization%e2%80%99s-diversity-program-hurting-your-pac-recruitment/#comments Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:00:47 +0000 Amy Showalter http://showaltergroup.com/blog/?p=1045 http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/06/20/is-your-organization%e2%80%99s-diversity-program-hurting-your-pac-recruitment/feed/ 0 http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/05/30/failure-to-customize-pac-messages/ http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/05/30/failure-to-customize-pac-messages/#comments Mon, 30 May 2011 15:00:16 +0000 Amy Showalter http://showaltergroup.com/blog/?p=133 http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/05/30/failure-to-customize-pac-messages/feed/ 0 http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/03/07/quick-tips-for-pac-and-grassroots-goal-setting/ http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/03/07/quick-tips-for-pac-and-grassroots-goal-setting/#comments Mon, 07 Mar 2011 20:30:00 +0000 Amy Showalter http://showaltergroup.com/blog/?p=121 1. Be firm on your results, rather than the activities to get the results. I find that very successful people are firm about their intended results, and flexible on the process to achieve the results. Less successful people are firm about the process and flexible on the results. 2. Work backwards from your envisioned goal. Planning is taking what you have and generating activities. Strategy is working backwards from your envisioned goal. 3. Create implementation metrics and accountabilities. 4. Determine the level of organizational change needed to meet the goal and secure appropriate sponsors in key departments, as well as key grassroots and PAC volunteers. En route to your goal:

• Communicate like crazy. Make the grapevine is the “truthvine.”
• Demonstrate early successes.
• Share credit and...]]> http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/03/07/quick-tips-for-pac-and-grassroots-goal-setting/feed/ 0 http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/02/28/change-management/ http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/02/28/change-management/#comments Mon, 28 Feb 2011 20:30:35 +0000 Amy Showalter http://showaltergroup.com/blog/?p=129 http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/02/28/change-management/feed/ 0 http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/02/02/how-to-gain-internal-support-status-and-money-for-your-grassroots-and-pac-programs-part-two/ http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/02/02/how-to-gain-internal-support-status-and-money-for-your-grassroots-and-pac-programs-part-two/#comments Wed, 02 Feb 2011 16:30:37 +0000 Amy Showalter http://showaltergroup.com/blog/?p=137
• Intrepid accountability
• “The first sale is to yourself”
• An internal marketing strategy
• Attention to the launch

I wish I could gleefully report that we could push the proverbial “easy button” to secure permanent increases in resources and staff support. Alas, there isn’t one. In addition to the above factors, we found even more success indicators among our “85% Club” members. Securing Internal Champions Most of us are aware of the cardinal rule of grassroots and PAC (and any government relations initiative, for that matter) existence: senior management support is critical for program success. The mistake is being content with that, rather than cultivating an “insurance plan” via more internal champions. We need support...]]> http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2011/02/02/how-to-gain-internal-support-status-and-money-for-your-grassroots-and-pac-programs-part-two/feed/ 0