May 1, 2009
ICC’s new online tool called ‘rousing success’
By BRIGID CURTIS AYER (Indiana Catholic Conference)
The Indiana Catholic Conference’s (ICC) new electronic legislative action center was a rousing success as thousands of Catholics statewide engaged and influenced state lawmakers during the 2009 session of the Indiana General Assembly using the online tool available on the ICC’s Web page.
As the 150 members of the Indiana General Assembly get ready to adjourn, the Indiana Catholic Conference ap-plauds the efforts of the 1,300-plus Cath-olics who on a regular basis became engaged in the political process. The ICC also wanted to report on the success the new online tool provided the Church’s efforts under the state’s capitol dome.
Roughly 1,300 persons were contacted about six times per month by the ICC over a four-month period. Over half who received communication from the ICC opened the communication. Nearly 2,000 Catholics contacted their state or federal lawmakers using the online tool since January of 2009 when the ICC launched the new software, but many more may have called or written letters using the available information.
“I couldn’t be more pleased with the response and involvement of our people this year,” said Glenn Tebbe, ICC executive director, who serves as the official spokesperson for the Indiana bishops on matters of public policy. “We had high hopes for the new online tool, but frankly, we really weren’t sure what kind of response we would get. The response exceeded our hopes and as the session moved along we had more and more people subscribing to our electronic Catholic network.”
The breakdown of the electronic communication is as follows. Roughly half of the nearly 30 emails sent were the I-CAN Update, the ICC’s legislative newsletter, the other half were action alerts. Of the 10 action alerts, five were state legislative alerts, five were federal alerts. On the federal alert to retain the conscience protection regulation over 1,300 persons were alerted, yet 1,866 persons opened the alert either via email or on the ICC Web page, and 420 people contacted their federal representatives on the issue using the online tool. On the scholarship tax credit state alert, of the 1,250-plus persons who were alerted, over 1,500 people opened the alert either via email or on the ICC Web page, and at least 511 contacted lawmakers using the online tool. Of the nearly 34,000 total messages sent by the ICC, nearly 20,000 were opened and nearly 2,000 responded by contacting lawmakers using the online software; however many more may have contacted lawmakers by phone or written a letter.
Nel Thompson, ICC administrative assistant who administers the electronic program, said, “What’s really great about this system is once I have the Update ready I can send it to 1,300-plus persons in under 30 seconds. Whereas before I would contact a handful of people by email and they in turn contacted others of course taking much more than 30 seconds.” Thompson added, “And, once a person follows the link, they are provided with an email message to their legislator, which they can edit, which from our report looks like many of them do this.” Thompson said that the system provides assurance that the message is received by the networker’s legislator since the system will match the constituent with their respective legislator. Thompson said that another benefit is that people don’t have to be part of the Catholic action network to be able to access a lot of valuable information. “All a person needs to do is go to the ICC Web page.”
“When Catholics contact their representatives in unison with the work of the Catholic Conference, it allows the Church to be more effective in shaping morally sound public policy,” said Tebbe. “The use of this software by Catholics this year made a significant impact in-fluencing lawmakers on two issues, the scholarship tax credit and the physicians admitting privileges requirement for abortion doctors. I don’t really think these two issues would have gotten the attention and action that they did this year without the involvement of so many Catholics.”
Tebbe said he wanted to encourage those who have become involved to “stay tuned.” Lawmakers and government officials will continue to conduct business and look at ways to improve the state and further investigate problems and policies through interim study panels. “The interim provides time for information gathering and analysis of complex issues leading up to the 2010 session, and the ICC will continue to send out periodic updates on important developments,” he said. “On the federal level, the Obama ad-ministration is moving quickly on numerous issues and there will be periodic federal action alerts. For these reasons, we encourage all to stay tuned and ready for action.
“For those who have not yet had a chance to visit our Web page, or who would like to become part of the Catholic action network, there’s no time like the present. Please do stop by our Web page. We are only a few clicks away.”
To explore the ICC’s new online public policy tool and join the ICC network, go to the ICC Web page at www.indianacc.org and click “Legislative Action Center.”
Since 1967, the ICC has worked to bring a consistent life ethic to Hoosier public policy making.
Related: Should Catholics be involved in politics, public policy making?