Setting a Political Course a simple guide “All politics is local” -Thomas P. O’Neill

1. Setting a Political Course a simple guide “All politics is local” -Thomas P. O’Neill Team 839 : Rosie Robotics Agawam High School (Agawam, MA)

2. Town • Work on campaigns • Get to know the players in each camp • Attend meetings • Listen, Learn then Speak • Citizen speak • Offer up solutions not just problems

3. Town and city boards • Work on campaigns • Learn the ins and outs of the process • Attend meetings • The deals are made here • Speak at Public Hearings • Put your smiling face on TV and on the record

4. Clubs • Join or get involved with Shriners, Lions, Rotary, etc • The movers and shakers of the community • Engineering opportunities will present themselves • Participate (you and the team) • Volunteer at the Shrine circus, Leos Club (Lions for teenagers), Eye Mobile project through EPICS project, MIT/Lemelson Road Iron

5. Schools

6. School Administration • Know them by name-Mary, Bill, John, etc • Parents need to know who the are • Help when you can- setup for events, participate in activities • Freshman Night, bake sales • Invite them to events • Most important!

7. School Committee • Work on campaigns • Rosemary, Juzba, Young, Cavallo, Me • Attend meetings • Get on camera, citizen speak, workshops • Get them to talk about you • Wow’em • Invite them to events • Most Important

8. Parent Groups • This is supply line for Mentors • Welders, NEMs, machinists, writers, accountants • PTO, PTSO, School Improvement Councils • Join and participate- info tables • No one wants student to succeed more than mom and dad

9. Party Affiliations • Town Committees • Join, buy ads in books • Support them, they will support you • Convention Delegates, become a delegate • Run with the Big Dogs • State level

10. State • Team 842 Falcon Robotics is working on a directory for all state level Reps and Senators. Watch CD for more information

11. Party Committees • Know who is in office • And their assistants • Run for position • Even if you don’t win, they will remember your name

12. State Representative • Know your representative’s name • Work on the campaign • Hold a sign, answer a phone • Know the name of local staff • Write letters • Visit the office • Invite them to events

13. Senate Senator • Know your senator’s name • Work on the campaign • Hold a sign, answer a phone • Know the name of local staff • Write letters • Visit the office • Invite them to events

14. Executive Branch • Work on the campaign • Hold a sign, answer a phone • Know the name of local staff • Write letters • Visit the office • Invite them to events

15. National

16. Congress • Know your Congressman’s name • Know the name of local staff • Write letters • Visit the office • Invite them to events

17. Senators Names • Know your Senators’ names • Know the name of local staff • Write letters • Visit the office • Invite them to events

18. Executive Branch • Know the name of local staff • Write letters • Visit the office • Invite them to events

19. Remember • It is not who you know but who you know that knows.