Friends & Allies

LSTA Project (FY 2005-2007)
Getting To Yes

Friends & Allies

Technique: Forming an Inside Group of Library Supporters

How this might work for libraries

Before a vote, identify 10 -15 "Friends & Allies" and ask them to help you support the library's initiative. Then email them talking points and the library's stand on certain issues being raised in the community. Ask this group to take natural opportunities to "talk up" the library's message at business events, cocktail parties, community gatherings, or among friends. Make them library message carriers.

Example: Another Win for
"Friends & Allies"

Chief Justice John G. Roberts can thank President Bush 's "Friends & Allies" program for its help in his confirmation as the 17th chief justice of the United States.
The project, started by the Republican National Committee in the 2004 re-election campaign, is simple and effective: Give opinion makers, media friends, and even cocktail party hosts insider info on the topic of the day. How? Through E-mailed
talking points, called D.C. Talkers, and conference calls. For Roberts, it
worked this way: A daily conference call to about 80 pundits, GOP-leaning
radio and TV hosts, and newsmakers was made around 9 a.m. On the other end
were the main Roberts gunslingers like Steve Schmidt at the White House and
Ken Mehlman and Brian Jones at the RNC. D.C. Talkers would then be
distributed to an even larger list filled with positive info about Roberts
and lines of attack on his critics. "The idea," said one of those involved,
"is to feed them information and have them invested in us. It has even
created addicts," he added. "Now they come to us before going on TV."

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