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STUDY GROUP LED BY IOP FELLOW GINA GLANTZ

Day: Thursdays
Time: 4:00-5:30PM
Location: L166

Watch Gina Glantz's study group introduction

Organizing has a long history (think Noah).  Last fall, the Obama campaign set a new standard for organizing.  Its incorporation of technology into “managed organizing” has been written about and ruminated upon by pundits, academics and participants. The President reinvigorated and elevated “organizer” as an occupation.  There are many places to learn how to be an organizer – working in an actual campaign being the best training of all.  Rather than focus on the individual as an organizer, this study group will focus on issue-oriented groups’ organizing efforts in the context of Obama campaign-driven heightened expectations.

The Obama campaign operated in the rarified air of presidential politics with almost a billion dollar budget, a 24-hour news cycle focused on the campaign, and an extraordinary “spokesperson”.  Other organizations have neither the resources nor the likelihood of a galvanizing figure.  Attention to their issue will be largely subject to the day’s headlines and journalists’ whims.
 What can be done to raise the consciousness of supporters and the press?  What tactics are being tried to influence the health care debate or other current issues?  How does organizational work differ among groups trying to affect a Democratic administration and majority Democratic Congress?  How have individual group strategies and tactics changed from those employed during the Bush years?  How has the emergence of new media and technological advances affected organizing strategies?

These questions and more will be addressed as part of a review of real time efforts of organizations to have an impact on elections and policy at all levels.  Speakers will be asked to combine a bit of history with descriptions of current activities and analysis of what they think is working and what should be tried.  
The first study group meeting (September 24) will set the context for the exploration of these themes and be a discussion of the students’ interests and ideas that should be integrated over the course of the study group.  The penultimate meeting (November 5) will be an opportunity to review and discuss the information, analysis and attitudes of the guests in order to identify common themes.  The final meeting will be a chance to share the emerging themes, strategies and tactics with Patrick Gaspard, White House Political Director, and to get his reaction to the (almost) first full year of effort on the part of issue organizations to gain the attention and support of those in charge in Washington.  



Gina Glantz Study Group Confirmed Guests

October 1:  Nancy LeaMond -- AARP Executive Vice President for Social Impact.  Ms. LeaMond oversees AARP’s Government Affairs, Advocacy and Outreach, and Services units.  She created and drives Divided We Fail, the health care campaign formed by AARP, SEIU, The Business Roundtable and NFIB.  She will discuss organizing in the era of gigantic coalitions.  How do “odd bedfellows” manage their agenda when their broadly accepted principles are tested by legislative details?  How do they integrate or should they integrate their field operations at the state and local level? How do they share the limelight?

October 8: Cecile Richards -- President, Planned Parenthood Federation of America. 
Prior to becoming President of Planned Parenthood, Ms. Richards founded and led America Votes and served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Nancy Pelosi.  Ms. Richards began her career as a labor organizer.  She will focus on building support for a broad agenda that includes controversy.  How does organizing help meet the challenge and give comfort to elected officials in the face of seemingly “tough” votes?   

October 15:  Ed Goeas -- President, The Tarrance Group. 
The Tarrance Group is a premier Republican polling company.  Mr. Goeas was Program Director of the 2008 Republican National Convention.  Mr. Goeas works in partnership with Democratic pollster Celinda Lake on the national “Battleground” poll and on an array of bipartisan issue work.  Mr. Goeas will discuss how Republican-oriented groups and conservative issue organizations are shaping efforts to reach the new Democratic leadership.  

October 22:  Wes Metheny -- Senior Vice President for Alliances, Access and Affordability, PhRMA. 
PhRMA is the advocacy arm of the pharmaceutical industry.   Mr. Metheny leads its government affairs, policy and external strategies.  He will address specifically and generally the business perspective on gaining access to the new leadership in Washington, including what changes have been made to adapt from the Bush administration to the style of the new administration and Congress.  

October 29:  Richard Wolffe -- former Newsweek White House Correspondent, TV commentator and author of “Renegade, The Making of a President.” 
Mr. Wolffe will give a reporter’s perspective on the impact of organizing from small, local actions to massive Internet efforts, to viral responses.  He will address how these activities impact the perception of organizational strength and subsequent media coverage.

November 12: Patrick Gaspard – White House Political Director.  \
Prior to becoming White House Political Director, Mr. Gaspard served as the Obama campaign political director.  He went to the Obama campaign from SEIU 1199, the largest health care union in New York, where he was a Board Member and Political Director.  Mr. Gaspard will bring the perspective of the “receiving end” of issue-based organizing in 2009.