November 2010
Congratulations to
Illinois Policy Institute
for winning the SPNovation Award for their
“Last Honest Man” Tip Line!
“You may have to go back to the Greek legend of Argus Panoptes--the watchdog giant with 100 eyes--to find an equal to the Illinois Policy Institute's ‘Last Honest Man’ tip line,” said John Kramer, SPNovation judge and Institute for Justice’s vice president for communications. The Illinois Policy Institute noticed that Illinois lacked an independent, anonymous mechanism for reporting waste, fraud, and abuse, while the Illinois government has a reputation of being among the most corrupt in the nation. Many Illinoisans -- whether public employees, service beneficiaries, or taxpayers -- have witnessed government wrongdoing yet kept quiet for fear of reprisal. To advance government accountability, they developed a new watchdog tool: The "Last Honest Man" Tip Line. The toll-free Tip Line is monitored 24 hours a day by their seasoned investigative reporter, who investigates tips and publishes findings online. All tips are anonymous and can remain confidential. As cards advertising the Tip Line note, "The 'Last Honest Man' refers to you. Do the right thing right away. Make the call: 1-888-666-8809.”
As a result of the Tip Line launch, Illinois Policy Institute received 50 calls that resulted in 15 solid tips leading to five stories, bringing to light explosive issues including Cook County probation malfeasance, First Amendment violations within government entities, and misappropriation of taxpayer funds. The Tip Line continues to ring, and Illinois Policy Institute is helping shine a light on – and stop – government corruption. To learn more, visit www.illinoispolicy.org/lasthonestman.
August 2010
Congratulations to
Texas Public Policy Foundation
for winning the SPNovation Award for their
Charter School Lottery Media Project
To increase school choice in Texas by raising awareness of the demand for charter schools, the Texas Public Policy Foundation secured extensive media coverage of a lottery selection process at Harmony School of Excellence in Austin. In the week of the lottery, TPPF released a media advisory to notify local media of the event. TPPF's Education Policy Analyst was featured in radio stories on the top-rated AM radio station in Austin. These stories explained how the demand for alternatives to traditional public schools and the limit on the number of charter schools in Texas forces charter schools to hold a lottery to randomly select their students. TPPF coordinated with NBC affiliate KXAN to show live coverage from the school during its 5pm, 6pm, and 10pm newscasts. ABC affiliate KVUE also aired a story on the lottery during it 10pm news, the most watched news show in Austin. For both news stations, TPPF arranged interviews with school staff and families of students. Through informed news coverage, TPPF was able to raise awareness of the demand for charter schools in Texas and effectively put a face on the need for choice in education.
"TPPF's project does an excellent job of humanizing the educational choice problem. Parents everywhere can relate to the helplessness, and anxiety, of a process that is out of their hands--for one of the most important aspects of their children's lives," said Jo Kwong, SPNovation judge and director of philanthropic services at Philanthropy Roundtable.
May 2010
Congratulations to
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy
for winning the SPNovation Award for their
Michigan School District Health Insurance Database
It's not often that an online database generates interest and stirs passion, but the January posting of Michigan school districts' school employee health insurance costs did just that. Through FOIA requests, the Mackinac Center assembled the health insurance plans for more than 95 percent of the state's school districts into their School District Health Insurance Database. Some of the findings were eye-popping. For instance, the average cost of a family plan premium for a teacher is $15,800, which is 29% higher than the state average for the same type of plan. The database received extensive media coverage, and Lansing officials took notice as well. Several legislative offices contacted the Mackinac Center after hearing about the database, including that of the Senate Majority Leader who two weeks later introduced legislation that would require government employees to pay a greater share of their health care premiums.
"The Mackinac Center's innovative program to counter the 'gimme gimme gimme‘ demands of public school employees is a model other think tanks can apply in their states. By conducting careful and thorough research, and combining that with skilled advocacy in the court of public opinion, Mackinac may achieve the seemingly impossible:create a requirement for public school employees to pay a greater shareof their health care premiums. Taxpayers across Michigan should stand up and cheer," said John Kramer, SPNovation Judge and Vice President for Communications at the Institute for Justice.
February 2010
Congratulations to
The Yankee Institute
for winning the SPNovation Award for their program
Care and Feeding of Connecticut's Congressmen
The Yankee Institute's program "The Care and Feeding of Connecticut's Congressmen" has taxpayers grumbling all across Connecticut as they learn about how their Members of Congress spend their hard-earned tax dollars. The project posted every line item of spending in the Connecticut delegation's personal congressional offices and has been a popular request from rank-and-file conservatives since Yankee unveiled it last summer. The project has incurred attacks from two of Connecticut's five members, which only served to bring additional attention to the project. It is a staple in Yankee's speeches to local taxpayer organizations and other supportive activists, and even highlights fun information like which Member spent the most on bottled water.
John Kramer, SPNovation judge, and Vice President for Communications at the Institute for Justice had the following to say about the program: "An innovative program doesn't need to be an expensive one. Thanks to the Yankee Institute's research and promotion, Connecticut lawmakers and their largess are being properly taken to account. In the end, these government fat cats are spending our money. The Yankee Institute's work reminds them that we're watching and that our tax dollars must be spent with care."
November 2009
Congratulations to
Washington Policy Center
for winning the SPNovation Award for their
Tele-townhall
In September, as Congress debated health care reform, Washington Policy Center utilized new, inexpensive technology to conduct a tele-townhall where 900 voters across Washington state participated in a telephone discussion with WPC's health care analyst Dr. Roger Stark and VP for research Paul Guppy. During this interactive discussion participants heard presentations and were able to ask questions. Before the event, tele-townhall called 20,000 voters (selected by region, voter id, etc) throughout Washington, leaving a voicemail from Stark with WPC's website, phone number, and info on health care reform. When the townhall began, the system called the list again and connected people with the event. WPC could monitor the number of participants, where they called from, and even received their contact information. This is a simple, cost-effective way to connect policy experts with new people and prospective supporters. WPC followed up with each participant with a target health care mailing this fall.
"This is a great way to personalize and involve people to key issues. I'm not familiar with other instances in which participants are prepped and tapped into prior to the event in a way that promotes both the institute, advances the message, and gives voters a way to participate," said Jo Kwong, SPNovation Judge and Vice President for Institute Relations at Atlas Economic Research Foundation.
September 2009
Congratulations to
Illinois Policy Institute
for winning the SPNovation Award for
TweetIllinois.org
In April 2009, the Illinois Policy Institute launched TweetIllinois.org, a website designed to encourage better communication between legislators and constituents using new media. With TweetIllinois, representatives "tweet" real-time updates to their constituents. TweetIllinois.org then gathers these messages from Illinois legislators and publishes them in a central location. Citizens go on to read the tweets and take part in a dialogue with their elected officials. With 28 Illinois representatives and senators--plus 3 legislative caucuses-- tweeting, TweetIllinois.org is steadily increasing civic participation and opening the lines of communication between citizens and their representatives.
"The Illinois Policy Institute demonstrated one of the most-powerful uses for Twitter. No, it isn't letting all your followers know how much you are enjoying your soy latte, it is giving citizens real-time insight into the work of the state legislature through their TweetIllinois.org site. This enables the public to better follow legislative matters and weigh in with their own two cents . . . hopefully pushing legislation closer to the ideals of freedom we all advance," said John Kramer, SPNovation judge and vice president for communications at the Institute for Justice.
June 2009
Congratulations to The Maine Heritage Policy Center for winning the SPNovation Award for their development program 21st Maine
The "21st Maine" is an innovative development effort designed to provide a practical answer for supporters when they ask "What else can I do to help?" "It's a brilliant way to get people's foot in the door and show them the many ways your organization is speaking out for them," said Jo Kwong, SPNovation judge and VP of the Atlas Economic Research Foundation. The 21st Maine is an homage to the famous "20th Maine" Civil War infantry regiment of the Battle of Gettysburg. In this program, 21st Century "recruits" volunteers to give a minimal $8.00 each month through an electronic fund transfer, based off of MHPC's eight key projects for 2009. When they register, 21st Maine members agree to become more involved with MHPC's work by participating in monthly action requests like writing a letter to their state legislators or bringing a guest to an MHPC event - each monthly action takes a maximum of eight minutes to complete. The $8.00 monthly amount is either an addition to regular donors' funding or a fairly low but regular donation opportunity for new donors that builds into a noticeable, reliable added cash flow for MHPC. The goal is to get 1,000 donors through this new method. When MHPC reaches their goal, it then has an additional $8,000 in a steady monthly income. Therefore, this plan works on multiple levels: it provides additional revenue for MHPC, builds grassroots activity, and gives donors a chance to be "hands on" and engaged in making a difference in their state.
May 2009
Congratulations to
Evergreen Freedom Foundation
for winning the first-ever SPNovation Award for their documentary
Flunked
Flunked is the story of schools-their founders, leaders, and students-who are breaking the mediocre mold by attaining great results. Discovering that one size truly does not fit all, they are finding different ways to make it work in their area, with their students.
"Every movement needs heroes...individuals who are in the trenches fighting today's fight for reform. EFF's movie Flunkedshowcases these heroes in the education reform movement" said John Kramer, SPNovation judge and Vice President for Communications at Institute for Justice.
"What a great job. Wonderful film, great website and blog. Great use of new media. Congrats also on getting a name-Joe Mantegna-to narrate the film," said Bridgett Wagner, SPNovation judge and Heritage Foundation's Director of Coalition Relations.
As winners of the SPNovation Award, the Evergreen Freedom Foundation will receive $500 and travel costs for a staff member to attend the SPN Annual Meeting in Asheville, North Carolina in November 2009 to present their award winning project on a panel on innovation.
Learn more about Flunked at http://www.flunkedthemovie.com/.
