Civic engagement can mean a lot of different things though – from the casual forwarding of a friend’s email to deep involvement on a board of directors. Some engagement is lightweight some is deep, and that’s OK – we can’t expect everyone to have the same degree of interest in our mission. The most effective social change organizations understand how to wield their portfolio of engagement tactics in Zen-like fashion; knowing just what kind of touch is called for to push to influence the outcomes of a particular decision.

Climate, Haiti, health care, filibuster, Afghanistan -- just keeping up on everything while taking care of your own day-to-day routine (oh yeah, that) can seem like two full-time jobs. Add on toxic chemicals in baby bottles and sippy cups (like, really?) and that sustainable fortress in the woods is sounding better and better. Luckily, in Washington state, we have many groups looking out for our best interests -- organizing and mobilizing and pressuring the powers that be to get all Spike Lee and do the right thing.

What's cooking at Groundwire Labs including a new auction tool, a new tool for bringing Google Analytics right to where you are managing content on your website, and a letter-writing tool to target decision-makers.