A 'MoveOn' for the UK
FairSay is advising an initiative to launch an organisation similar to MoveOn.org or GetUp.org.au.
Background
For the past decade, MoveOn in the US has been a powerful new voice in US politics with some describing it as the US's third political party. It has shaped legislation, helped determine the fate of progressive (and non-progressive) politicians and shaped the outcome of elections. They describe their approach as a "new model of people-powered organizing that brings ordinary progressives rushing back into politics".
In 2004, GetUp started in Australia with similar results. Now a similar initiative is coming to the UK.
Both acheive their results through responding to member interests and using that to mobilise mass popular support. The Internet is the primary tool to mobilise people quickly but this requires savvy communications and good timing.
Current Status
Update: 23 July 08
I was invited to an initial meeting to discuss the state of the UK in terms of campaigning and e-campaigning. This meeting also established who was behind this initiative, including the funding which is critical.
Update: 1 Sept 08
Following the July meeting, I was asked to help draft the Request for Proposals (RFP) so that the tools and website could be developed for the project launch. This RFP went out on 12 Sep. and responses are required by 21 Sep.
At the moment, the strategy and plans still don't exist and thus it feels a bit strange asking for tools to be developed when the plans don't exist yet. However this is the normal state of things with eCampaigning since the technology development can take longer than the campaigning planning.
Update: 18 Sept 08
Thejob description for the Executive Director role has come out (see end of page). One comment I received was that finally this is a role that is quite attractive and does not throw the successful candidate into a political minefield of internal politics.
Update: 22 Sept 08
12 responses to the RFP were received from the 30+ that were distributed. Proposals can be roughly grouped into:
- Application Service Providers (ASP)
- Development led: those that focus on the functionality and design comes second
- Design led: those that focus on
Over the week short listing will occur and the plan is that on the 29th of Sept they will be responded to.
