Editing Community Organizing (section)

=== Story Example: The Story of GetUp ===

GetUp is a prime example of new power in action. Founded in 2005 by Jeremy Heimans and David Madden, GetUp aimed to bring participation back into democracy in Australia. Here’s a recount of their journey and success:

# '''Founding and Early Days''': Jeremy and David, inspired by their experiences in the United States, launched GetUp with the goal of channeling the passion of Australians into sustained political action. They started with a TV ad declaring that Australians were “starting a movement.”
# '''Innovative Tools''': GetUp introduced an online tool that made it easy for Australians to email their representatives. This tool was a novelty at the time and significantly lowered the barriers to political participation.
# '''Rapid Growth''': The response was extraordinary. Within days, tens of thousands of Australians used the tool to write to their representatives. The Howard government’s backlash against GetUp only increased its credibility and attracted more members and donations.
# '''Impact''': By the 2007 federal election, GetUp had grown so large that it played a significant role in the election outcome. The movement continued to influence key elections, win landmark rulings, and pass important legislation.
# '''Sustained Success''': Over the years, GetUp has raised tens of millions of dollars in small donations and has been described as “probably [Australia’s] most important civil society actor.” Today, it is the largest political organization in Australia.

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