As I suggested in an earlier blog post, when questioning your elected representatives, be informed, not wishy-washy—and practice what you’re going to say. Then say it clearly and forcefully. Never threaten. If you’re angry (and we all are furious about the treatment of animals), don’t vent your anger—it is counterproductive and can make an enemy instead of an ally. Instead, transform your anger into steadfastness, persuasiveness, and power.

Learn what works. Signing and sending e-mails is less productive than writing a personalized letter. You can quadruple your impact by showing up in person at a politician’s office. And you can multiply your effect even more by banding together with other like-minded people and going to a politician’s office or a town meeting.

According to a recent article in The Boston Globe, “We are living in America’s golden age of political activism”—one that “includes people from all political backgrounds pushing for their causes.” Not since 2009, when the Tea Party erupted, has there been such a gathering of dissenters.

Most of us in the animal rights movement are not “single-issue” voters—it’s simply that animal issues are more important to us than they are to most people. If you want to help bring about change, join a local grassroots movement. Organizing such groups, contacting members, and coordinating events requires leadership. More often than not, whoever does the hard work gets the most respect and has the most influence—and that could be you.

Grassroots groups form because of many issues: corporate personhood, public education, voting rights, violations of tribal lands, pollution, hunting in national parks, giveaways of public land, infrastructure, and job creation. The list is so long that there is no rational reason not to include one or two issues about the humane treatment of animals. You won’t get everyone on board with you right away—or ever—so you’ll need to select issues on which you and other community members can find common ground and about which you can speak knowledgeably and persuasively.

Here’s one example: Although conservative political strategist Mary Matalin and her Democratic husband, James Carville, are famously opposites on most issues, they both opposed an “ag-gag” amendment that would have criminalized eyewitness cruelty investigations in Kentucky. Mary even created a video for PETA on the issue. That bill bit the dust. Other issues that could win widespread support from people of all political persuasions include addressing the lack of inspections at factory farms and slaughterhouses, phasing out experiments on animals at state- or federally supported universities, banning the importation of trophy carcasses, requiring humane methods of euthanasia at local animal shelters, and strengthening animal-protection laws.

You probably won’t get your local grassroots group to take up all these causes after just a few meetings or demonstrations, but you may get one or two on the agenda—once your fellow members respect you and trust your judgment—because compassion should be at the heart of every movement. But remember: You owe it to the group members you win over to the cause to support their issues. Politics is a quid pro quo endeavor, and cooperation is the heartbeat of democracy.

Change begins at the grassroots level. So let’s get out there and start building teams and support.`

Written by Frank Cullen