WHAT QUALIFIES AS A POLITICAL OR MEDIA ACTIVITY?

Political and media activities are activities that inform/influence a Member of Congress or use the media to inform/influence the general public so that they are moved to take action to support Citizens for Global Solutions' agenda. General activism on international issues is not considered a political or media activity that qualifies your chapter for funding from Citizens for Global Solutions unless you use Citizens for Global Solutions' talking points, express Citizens for Global Solutions' point of view, and identify yourself as a representative of the local Citizens for Global Solutions group. For example, if you decide to visit a Member of Congress and discuss weapons on mass destruction, it would not count as a Citizens for Global Solutions activity unless you:

• Identified yourself as a representative of Citizens for Global Solutions*
•  Discussed a global institution/international treaty that Citizens for Global Solutions supported as an aspect of the solution to the problem

Media Activities

Submitting letters to the editor on Citizens for Global Solutions issues. Bear in mind that only printed letters to the editor will count toward your minimum action requirements.

Submitting an opinion piece on a Citizens for Global Solutions issue whether or not it is printed.

Convincing community leaders or Members of Congress to send/cosign a letter to the editor or op-ed piece about Citizens for Global Solutions issues whether or not it is printed.

Visiting an editorial board and asking them to write an editorial on a Citizens for Global Solutions issue whether or not they write an editorial.

Having an article written about your chapter's work in your community. Human-interest stories about members of your chapter that do not reference Citizens for Global Solutions' work and goals do not count.

 Having an article/photo in the newspaper about a Citizens for Global Solutions event that you held locally as long as Citizens for Global Solutions' name is mentioned in connection with the coverage. Community calendar announcements of upcoming Citizens for Global Solutions events do not count.

Being interviewed by a television or radio station as long as you are quoted or the show airs.

Asking a question about a Citizens for Global Solutions issue or expressing a Citizens for Global Solutions point of view on a radio talk show during the call in period.

Political Activities

Meet with a Member of Congress and discuss a Citizens for Global Solutions issue or Citizens for Global Solutions' approach to an international issue.

Cosponsor a candidate debate where questions about Citizens for Global Solutions issues are asked and a Citizens for Global Solutions representative has a table in the back of the room inviting people to become members of the organization.

Any monthly project from the Partners program. Collaborating with other groups to execute it is fine, but make sure that Citizens for Global Solutions' ideas are not lost in the collaboration, and that Citizens for Global Solutions is given equal publicity.

Speaking to a group of people who are not currently members of Citizens for Global Solutions about our work as long as you close your talk with an explanation of what the Partners Program is, how it works, and how people can become Partners/members of Citizens for Global Solutions, and what specific actions they can take in regards to the subject discussed.

Directly recruiting 20 or more members/supporters in a calendar year.  (This is a political activity because it builds our pool of potential activists.)

Tabling at a community event as long as you urge people to join Citizens for Global Solutions and/or write a letter, sign a petition, or take some type of action at your table.

*Occasionally it is not in the best interest of achieving our goals to identify yourself as a Citizens for Global Solutions member. For example, editors will be less likely to print a letter to the editor if you appear to be a representative of a special interest group rather than a concerned reader. Use your best judgment on a case by case basis, but do take advantage of every opportunity to get our key messages into the public discourse.