Florida Consumer Action Network Inc

THE FLORIDA CONSUMER ACTION NETWORK IS A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION WHICH EMPOWERS CITIZENS TO INFLUENCE PUBLIC POLICY BY ORGANIZING AND EDUCATING IN AREAS WHERE CONSUMER VOICES ARE UNDERREPRESENTED. COMMUNITY ORGANIZING: OUTREACH TO GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS AND ACTIVISTS; COALITION AND MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, AND RESEARCH TO SUPPORT THE BOARD'S PROJECTS; MAINTENANCE OF RELATIONSHIPS WITH STATEWIDE MEDIA; CONTACT WITH GOVERNMENT BODIES ON FCAN ISSUES. FCAN MAINTAINS ONGOING COMMUNICATIONS WITH MANY ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS. PUBLIC OUTREACH: FCAN COMMUNICATES WITH MEMBERS IN MANY WAYS INCLUDING EMAIL ALERTS, WEB SITE, BLOG, FACEBOOK PAGE, AND TWITTER FEED. FCAN MAILS UPDATES TO DONORS. FCAN DOES EXTENSIVE MEDIA WORK TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON CONSUMER AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES INCLUDING PRESS RELEASES, MEDIA BRIEFINGS, EDITORIAL BOARD MEETINGS, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, AND OP EDS.

CONSUMER EMPOWERMENT: FCAN CREATED A DONOR ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM TO INCREASE INVOLVEMENT AND COMMITMENT OF EXISTING DONORS AND ACTIVISTS THROUGH CULTIVATION AND THE CREATION OF NEW ORGANIZATIONAL MATERIALS. FCAN BUILT A "SMALL BUT MIGHTY" BASE OF MID-LEVEL DONORS WHO ARE ALSO ENGAGED IN CONSUMER ISSUES. WE ALSO INCREASED VISIBILITY AND EDUCATED THE PUBLIC ABOUT CRITICAL ISSUES THROUGH DIGITAL OUTREACH AND A DOOR-TO-DOOR CANVASS. ISSUES INCLUDED GETTING THE LEAD OUT OF SCHOOL DRINKING WATER AND SAVING THE BEES FROM PESTICIDES.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROJECT - FCAN ENGAGED THE PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY LOWER-INCOME AND MINORITY RESIDENTS AROUND CRITICAL CONSUMER ISSUES AFFECTING THE TAMPA BAY REGION. WE ENCOURAGE CIVIC PARTICIPATION INCLUDING ATTENDING CIVIC EVENTS SUCH AS ATTENDING MEETINGS, RALLIES, FORUMS, AND VOTING. WE USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO BUILD OUR EMAIL AND MEMBER LISTS. WE ALSO USE TRADITIONAL MEDIA OUTREACH INCLUDING PRESS CONFERENCES AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. FCAN TRAINS ACTIVISTS IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND PROVIDES REAL EXPERIENCE. ALL WORK IS NON-PARTISAN.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: OUTREACH TO GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS; COALITION MEETINGS, TOWN HALLS, AND AN ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING; LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, AND RESEARCH TO SUPPORT FCAN PROJECTS; MAINTENANCE OF RELATIONSHIPS WITH STATEWIDE MEDIA; CONTACT WITH GOVERNMENT BODIES ON FCAN ISSUES. FCAN MAINTAINS ONGOING COMMUNICATIONS WITH MANY ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS. ISSUE WORK INCLUDES SOLAR POWER, EXPANSION OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE, TAX REFORMS, AND TRANSPORTATION ISSUES. OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZING INCLUDES MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS WHICH INCLUDE CANVASSING, MAIL, AND PHONE CONTACTS WITH CURRENT AND PAST MEMBERS, AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC.