Freedom Writer - October 1995 _How_the_Christian_Coalitionuses the Internet_ Like many org

Freedom Writer - October 1995

_How_the_Christian_Coalitionuses the Internet_

Like many organizations, the Christian Coalition is still a novice 
on the Internet. Nevertheless, key people in the organization understand 
the potential of the information highway.

"Unfortunately," said Dr. Max Karrer, head of the Florida Christian 
Coalition, "the leaders at national are still in the fax stage of 
communication." He said their priority is establishing a national 
electronic linkup between all Christian Coalition state and county 
chapters.

Karrer defined _cyberdemocracy_ as the use of computers to access 
and distribute information that will facilitate the political process."

On the national level, the Christian Coalition operates an Internet 
site at [ref001]http://www.cc.org. The unsophisticated page includes 
articles from _The_Christian_American_ and speeches of Ralph Reed.

The group is currently looking into establishing a special account 
with America Online (AOL) as a way of linking all the state and county 
chapters. Karrer said the Christian Coalition currently reaches a 
lot of members by searching the profiles of AOL subscribers. They 
look for "Christian Coalition" in the user profile. Those AOL members 
then receive material from the Coalition by email. 

The Florida Christian Coalition uses the Internet as an email network 
for state chairmen, state executive directors, and key contacts. They 
also use it to upload and download database files between state and 
national.

Karrer recognizes the efficiency of email. "I can distribute 50 letters 
in 12 seconds," Karrer said.

The Florida Christian Coalition home page is linked to the national 
home page. It also facilitates an email network of county coordinators, 
where they can upload and download database files between state and 
county chapters.

The Florida Christian Coalition home page also includes state legislative 
committee information, county coordinators, state legislative scorecards, 
voter guides, the Florida Christian Coalition newsletter, articles 
and research from the state coalition, and other information. 

Florida Christian Coalition county home pages offer similar information, 
but in many cases may be even more useful for browsers. Available 
information includes local chapter newsletters, meeting times and 
program, the local school board agenda, home schooler information, 
agenda of the  county commissioners, local voter guides, directory 
of local churches involved with the Christian Coalition, directory 
of church liaison members, chapter phone and fax numbers, and the 
chapter coordinator and directors.

An audience member volunteered, "Browsing the Internet is a tactical 
gold mine. The liberals broadcast everything they're doing. We have 
to be careful not to do that."

"Don't put anything on your home page that you don't want accessed 
by the public," Karrer reminded the audience. Noting the _Freedom_
Writer_ camcorder, he added, "This is not the place to discuss tactics."

[ref002][ref003] Return to table of contents

Copyright 1995 IFAS
The Freedom Writer / ifas@crocker.com

[ref001] http://www.cc.org
[ref002] index.html
[ref003] ../../uparrow.gif

        This file is copywritten by the Institute for First
        Amendment Studies.

        Subscribe to The Freedom Writer and Walk Away news
        letters by writing to or telephoneing the Institute
        for First Amendment Studies:

        Post Office Box 589
        Great Barrington, Massachusetts.  01230
        Telephone: (413) 528-3800
        E-Mail: ifas@crocker.com
        Web page: http://www.crocker.com/~ifas