RESULTS Champion Scale
I believe that while a good politician accomplishes what is possible, a great one expands the realm of possibility. He doesn’t simply accept the lines of argument as they’re drawn and hew to the side with the most soldiers, he tries to redraw those lines to benefit his ideals.
— Ta-Nehisi Coates
Use this to guide you in moving your members of Congress toward becoming champions for the end of poverty. Download the RESULTS Champion Scale Tool and check out the From Zero to Hero: Using the Champion Scale webinar.
Members of Congress (MoCs) don’t often come into office as champions on poverty issues. The Champion Scale is a tool to help us move MoCs, step by step, toward becoming champions on poverty issues. Use this tool to assess decision makers, develop strategies, track learning and progress, and celebrate progress.
MoC Name: _____________ Point Person: ______________ RESULTS Group: ____________ Issue: _________ Date: ________
Tips for Getting Started with this Tool:
| ❏ Research the MoC’s background and voting history on the issues at www.results.org
❏ Evaluate the MoC and determine where they are on the champion scale for each issue ❏ Always make requests just above the MoC’s current champion level to encourage them to move up ❏ Use stories that personalize the issue and move the MoC emotionally |
❏ When meeting, always begin by acknowledging them
❏ Listen carefully to everything they say for clues about where they are on the champion scale |
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Level Name, Objectives |
Determining Their Level They Might Say: |
Moving Them to the Next Level: |
| Level: 4 Champion
Objectives at This Level: ❏ Inquire on creating new legislative initiatives. ❏ Help MoC see that his/her efforts as a Champion are worth while. |
❏ “I will build the support and visibility needed to make sure this passes.”
❏ “I will walk this around the floor and make sure it happens.” ❏ “Can I count on the full support of your organization on this?” ❏ “What do we need to do to make this happen?” |
❏ Ask MoC to author and shepherd legislation through.
❏ Enlist RESULTS staff and grassroots in achieving what MoC has set out to achieve. ❏ Ask MoC to talk and/or write to leadership and report back. ❏ Let MoC know they have support of entire organization (staff and network) when leading. ❏ Encourage member to join key committees. ❏ Hold regular meetings with key DC aide(s) every 1–2 months. ❏ Be persistent about getting in front of MoC in meetings and public gatherings. ❏ Provide regular positive feedback on MoC’s action via letters, events, and media. ❏ Look for opportunities to put MoC in contact with people affected by the issues. ❏ Demonstrate community support for his/her actions. ❏ Offer to sit on their community advisory panels and to provide other input. ❏ Offer to organize public events with the MoC (forums, radio, TV, etc). ❏ Get member to draft or sign on to 4 or more op-eds per year. ❏ Ask member to speak on National Webinar, at RESULTS International Conference. ❏ Ask MoC to initiate a sign-on letter on an issue. ❏ Ask MoC to hold a briefing or hearing on an issue working with our DC staff. |
| Level: 3 Leader
Objectives at This Level: ❏ Inspire MoC to become more by providing a vision of what it means to be a champion: using examples inside and outside of Congress. ❏ Help MoC stake out their champion terrain on our issues. |
❏ “I will get the support to help this pass.”
❏ “I will introduce this bill or be a co-leader on this letter.” ❏ “I will speak to leadership and let you know.” ❏ “I will speak on the floor about this.” ❏ “Yes, I will write an op-ed on this.” ❏ “Yes, I will offer the amendment.” ❏ “Yes, organizing a hearing would be a good idea.” |
❏ Ask MoC to talk and/or write to leadership and report back.
❏ Let MoC know they have support of entire organization (staff and network) when leading. ❏ Encourage member to join key committees. ❏ Hold regular phone meetings with key DC aide(s) every 1–2 months. ❏ Be persistent about getting in front of MoC in meetings and public gatherings. ❏ Offer to organize public events with the MoC (townhalls, forums, radio, TV, etc). ❏ Provide regular positive feedback on MoC’s action via letters, events, and media. ❏ Look for opportunities to put MoC in contact with people affected by the issues including encouraging MoC to visit projects on the ground that address our issues. ❏ Demonstrate community support for their actions. ❏ Ask a colleague in MoC’s state, caucus, interest group to join them in taking an action. ❏ Offer to sit on their community advisory panels and to provide other input. ❏ Get member to draft or sign on to 3 or more op-eds per year. ❏ Ask MoC to hold a briefing or hearing on an issue working with our DC staff. ❏ Ask MoC to initiate a sign-on letter on an issue. |
| Level: 2 Advocate
Objectives at This Level: ❏ Encourage MoC to consider taking individualized actions that go beyond the basics and demonstrate leadership. ❏ Help MoC find and deliver on their passion around one or more issues. |
❏ “I will talk to my colleagues and leadership and urge them to support this.”
❏ “I might be willing to write an op-ed on this.” ❏ “I would sign on to a letter supporting this and engage others.” ❏ “People in our community should know about this.” |
❏ Ask MoC to talk and/or write to leadership and report back.
❏ Let MoC know they have support of entire organization (staff and network) when leading. ❏ Encourage member to join key committees. ❏ Hold regular phone meetings with key DC aide(s) every 1–2 months. ❏ Be persistent about getting in front of MoC in meetings and public gatherings. ❏ Provide regular positive feedback on MoC’s action via letters, events, and media. ❏ Look for opportunities to put MoC in contact with people affected by the issues including encouraging MoC to visit projects on the ground that address our issues. ❏ Demonstrate community support for their actions. ❏ Offer to organize public events with the MoC (forums, radio, TV, etc). ❏ Get member to sign on to or write 2 or more op-eds per year. ❏ Ask member to speak on National Webinar or at RESULTS International Conference. ❏ Ask a colleague in MoC’s state, caucus, interest group to join them in taking an action. ❏ Ask member to initiate a sign-on letter on an issue |
| Level: 1 Supporter
Objectives at This Level: ❏ Move MoC beyond taking basic action toward being vocal (in media, public, and hearings) and enrolling colleagues.
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❏ “If it gets to the floor I will vote for it. You should talk to the MoCs who don’t support this.”
❏ “I might co-sign an op-ed.” ❏ “Who else are you talking to?” ❏ “I believe in this. We are on the same page.” ❏ “I will co-sponsor the legislation.” |
❏ Request regular meetings with key DC aide(s) every 1–2 months.
❏ Be persistent about getting in front of MoC in meetings and public gatherings. ❏ Provide regular positive feedback on MoC’s action via letters and media. ❏ Look for opportunities to put MoC in contact with people affected by the issues including encouraging MoC to visit projects that address our issues. ❏ Always ask that MoC do more than take the basic action (sign the letter and get committee colleagues to sign). ❏ Demonstrate community support for their actions ❏ Ask a colleague in MoC’s state, caucus, interest group to join them in taking an action. ❏ Ask the MoC to initiate their own “Dear Colleague” letter. |
| Level: 0 Neutral — Uninformed
Objectives at This Level: ❏ Educate on issue or cause. ❏ Determine and start to build areas of support. ❏ Reach aides and decision-maker at emotional level ❏ Get them to take an action. |
❏ “Why should I support this?
❏ “Tell me more about this.” ❏ “Which other MoCs of Congress are supporting this?” ❏ “Do you have more information?” ❏ “What are you asking me to do?” |
❏ Ask for action on their hot button topics.
❏ Tell them stories that leave them moved by our issues. ❏ Research MoC’s interests and background to find ways to show how RESULTS aligns w/their interests. ❏ Be persistent about getting in front of MoC in meetings and public gatherings. |
| Level: −1 Opponent
Objectives at This Level: ❏ Weaken their opposition; move them toward neutral. ❏ Find common ground between your point of view and theirs. ❏ Educate MoC on issues in way he/she can relate to. |
❏ “I can’t meet with your group.”
❏ “I won’t/can’t support this.” ❏ “It’s not a problem” ❏ “Your solution will not fix this.” ❏ “My constituents will not support this.” ❏ “We don’t have money for that, it’s not a priority.” |
❏ Get the ear of the key aide first.
❏ Share stories (video, spoken word) with MoCs and aides that leave them moved on the issues. ❏ Research MoC’s interests and background to find ways to show how RESULTS aligns w/their interests. Use their website and other sources. ❏ Find foothold with one issue, or one aspect of one issue. ❏ Be persistent about getting in front of MoC in meetings and public gatherings. ❏ Engage other groups or community members in meetings with staff and member to demonstrate broad constituent support. ❏ Ask the member to take the most simple action that would indicate they don’t totally oppose us on an issue. |