February 2008
LPR Elects the Class of 2008 President and Vice President
Matt Arnold, LPR Class of 2008 President
In a near-cliched example of the literary device of “foreshadowing”, Matthew Arnold was born in West Point, NY (home of the U.S. Military Academy). After a few short years stateside, of which he has little recollection, Matt spent his early formative years growing up at the foot of the Alps just outside the U.S. Air Force Base in Aviano, Italy. Returning to Denver at age 9, he confirmed his love of the mountains, skiing, hiking, and all things Colorado. After graduating from high school in Denver, Matt attended the University of Colorado (at Denver) for two years before again venturing overseas, this time to Regensburg, Germany for his junior year, before returning to complete his degree (double major in Political Science and German) at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Bit hard by the overseas bug, Matt returned to Bonn, Germany as a fellow in the Bundestag Internship Program where he witnessed (and participated in the history of) the Fall of the Berlin Wall firsthand. From there, Matt ventured to Bologna, Italy for graduate school (School of Advanced International Studies, SAIS) before returning to Washington, DC to complete his studies (concentrating in Strategic Studies/International Affairs).
After graduate school, Matt worked for 4 years at the Pentagon on Washington, DC (beginning to fulfill the aforementioned literary device) as a defense plans and policy analyst (he could tell you more, but then he’d have to kill you). After a short assignment in Colorado Springs, Matt decided that he’d had his fill of DC for the time being, and returned to Colorado. After a successful (and much more lucrative) career change to management consulting, the lure of military service proved too strong, and Matt enlisted in the Colorado Army National Guard; he is currently assigned to the 5th BN 19th SFG(A) and holds the rank of Captain. As an additional (volunteer) duty, he serves on the command team for Colorado’s NGCERFP (National Guard CBRNE Emergency Response Force Package – essentially, a team to assist civilian first responders in the event of a disaster or terrorist attack such as 9/11). Assignments in the COARNG have included a tour in Afghanistan (Sept 2002 – Apr 2003), New Orleans (Operation Katrina III, hurricane relief/disaster recovery) and currently (in an ironic twist) security and emergency response planning for the upcoming DNC.
As a result of his travels and studies, Matt speaks fluent German, proficient Italian, passable French, a few words/phrases of Russian and Polish, and is currently learning Indonesian. He also understands “Suthern.”
Christine Mastin, LPR Class of 2008 Vice President
Christine C. Mastin is a founding partner of Mastin Law Firm, P.C., attorneys dedicated to assisting clients with legal matters in the areas of immigration, tax, commercial litigation, estate planning and business transactions. In addition to private practice, Christine is an Adjunct Professor of Immigration Law at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Christine is a 1998 graduate of the University of Colorado School of Law and received the Outstanding Latina Law Student honor. She is also a graduate of the University of California at Davis, where she earned degrees in Spanish and Anthropology. During college, she studied abroad at the University of Barcelona, Spain and was a member of the UC Davis Cycling Team.
In her professional legal career, Christine has worked closely with organizations, such as SafeHouse Denver, Inc., and has used her abilities to provide pro bono legal services to battered women and children. Christine is a member of the Cherry Creek Republican Women and the Arapahoe Men’s Club. She is married to Chuck Mastin, who is a tax attorney and her law partner. They have two children and enjoy traveling, running and golf.
Communication Part 2
"It’s all about message"
By Lenina Close
Just as a fine piece of art is defined, accented and enhanced by a well chosen frame, so is a person’s message distinguished by the context or frame. This month, we will discuss the contents inside the frame; the message – the most significant and foundational aspects that you want to convey to others.
Mark Montini, CEO of Campaign Secrets, challenges his clients to comprise a message based upon four main points. First, consider the emotion you wish to invoke - how do you want the audience to feel? Second, create a contrast between yourself and your competition – what makes you different from the other person or product? Third, connect with your audience and convey why they should care about your message. Last, establish credibility by helping them understand that they can trust you. All four topics must be addressed thoroughly for the message to be fully absorbed by the intended audience.
Three other key reminders when constructing and delivering your message:
1. Don’t change your core message.
DO change the way you present your ideas based on the audience.
Analyze the language you use compared with the ideals of the audience– what is it that they deem important? For example, are you speaking to an environmental group that feels private industry is ruining the earth? Then choose words to acknowledge their point of view. Make your message reflect how to not ruin the earth (recognizing their concern) while still engaging in private industry instead of trying to convince them that private business is the key to a robust economy…they won’t care about the latter and you will lose credibility.
2. Don’t assume that because someone is affiliated with a certain party that they share (or don’t share) your views.
DO select facts and logic to support your message that will resonate with your intended audience.
According to National Media*, there are five categories of voters, clustered in a spectrum based upon the values of that particular group. On one side of the spectrum are those that care mostly about equality of outcome and vote accordingly. Next, you have the fair and care group that votes primarily on what they believe to be just and compassionate. The economic voters are next in line and are typically fiscally conservative and mostly concerned with the free market. After that, the order and rules group value patriotism and accountability. The last values cluster is comprised of faith voters that are social conservatives whose faith has a direct bearing on their voting record. Many times the Republican or Democrat (or Independent) affiliation doesn’t influence their choices as much as where they fall in the spectrum of values and what is ultimately most important to that particular group.
3. Don’t forget to define a problem/issue that needs your solution.
DO fashion a series of imbalances that help you to achieve your goal.
Many marketing gurus have been credited with the creation of a new “problem” which in turn their suggested product could solve. If people don’t know that they “need” something, then they won’t be motivated to buy it (vote for it). Several decades ago, Burger King flooded the market with a campaign that indicated you could have it “your way…” (For the baby boomers – I’m sure you can even sing the jingle!) But who knew that we didn’t have it “our way” before? And little did we know that we actually needed it “our way”. But BK’s brilliant marketing figured that we all really wanted it “our way” and launched a plan to point this out to an entire country…and suddenly we couldn’t live without the whopper “our way”.
Communication is foundational to the success of any agenda. The key to being understood and delivering a powerful message lies in a clearly defined core message that can be adapted and personalized to the intended audience. Once these factors are in place…then simply stay on message!
*For more information on the Values Spectrum, read A Field Guide for Effective Communication by Fred Smith and Alex Castellanos, available at the Competitive Enterprise Institute.
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