Screaming into the wind, doom-scrolling through social media, and showing up at a protest once in a while, is not enough.

If you truly want to make a difference, here are 14 essential rules and actions. These are the minimum starting point basics to being an effective policy advocate. Please, Please, Please – take the time to read and put into practice – these basic but critically important points.

Know who represents you at the Federal, State, and County levels. KNOW THEM BY NAME. Put their contact information in your phone and on your refrigerator. When you contact them, LET THEM KNOW YOU LIVE IN THEIR DISTRICT!

Reach out to them regularly via telephone AND email. Yes, your email and phone call matter. Every call and email adds to the volume; each one is important. ALWAYS REQUEST A RESPONSE, AND ALWAYS REMIND THEM YOU LIVE IN THE DISTRICT. Keep messages brief, and on point.

MEET THEM IN PERSON. At the State and County level, your elected officials should be willing to meet with you, especially when the legislature is not in session, between May 5 and January 1. Organize a small group of friends and neighbors, and request such a meeting.

SHOW UP AT PUBLIC HEARINGS. Even if you don’t testify at the microphone, it’s important to be there. The number of people in the room, by itself, sends a message.

SHOW UP AT PROTEST GATHERINGS happening regularly and everywhere – march, hold signs, speak out.

SHOW UP ONLINE. “Like and share” social media posts that reflect your values. This will impact algorithms and cause those posts to show up more frequently.

JOIN WITH OTHERS, virtually and physically.

SIGN UP FOR EMAIL ALERTS from the ACLU Hawaii, H.A.P.A., Indivisible Hawaii, Common Cause, Maui Tomorrow, HULI PAC, Our Hawaii, the Hawaii Sierra Club, 50501, and others.

SUBSCRIBE PLEASE to my “info/action email” Policy and Politics

LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS IMPORTANT. Focus first on local issues, and ask your local leaders to stand up and be counted on national challenges, too. As the old saying goes: “Think globally; act locally.”

HELP AND SUPPORT THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO DO THE RIGHT THING. Broadcast your support and their good work on social media. HELP THEM GET ELECTED AND STAY ELECTED.

If the elected official who represents you does not share your values, FIND AND SUPPORT SOMEONE TO RUN AGAINST THEM.

Give what you can to candidates you support. Shop at farmers’ markets and locally-owned small businesses. BOYCOTT those businesses who support the authoritarian federal administration now in control.

GET TO KNOW THE BASIC STATE AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TOOLS, Sign up for hearing notices and submit testimony at www.capitol.hawaii.gov for the state legislature. For County info go to; Kauai County Council, Honolulu City Council, Maui County Council, Hawaii Island County Council

HELP YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. We’re all in this together; walk the talk, wear your values on your sleeve, and go out there and change the world.

Positive change happens when regular people pay attention, get involved, hold their elected leaders accountable, and take ownership of their own government.

Gary Hooser