DA Resists! Resistance Roundtables

Organize a Call Tree for Today and Future Actions

Call trees magnify our individual efforts into collective action that can make a big splash. By creating a structured network where each member of a tree reaches out to a few others with a call to action, we can start a chain reaction of engagement, help friends become activists, and massively increase our impact.

Call trees are straightforward to organize and a great action for your roundtable to take once your team has gotten comfortable with calling their reps and are ready to recommend calls to their friends and family. 

Before the meeting:

  • Email your roundtable team about the goal of the meeting and ask attendees to start thinking about people they could add to their call tree.
  • Prep a sample message or script for outreach (check out ideas in our Take Action).

During the meeting:

  • Explain how call trees work and the impact they can make.
  • Decide who on your team will be the main "trunk" reaching out to everyone else on the team.
  • Help your team brainstorm and organize their own trees.
    • Social media channels are great spots for brainstorming folk to add.
    • Start with a short list of good friends to reach out to for your initial test. 
  • Test the tree by sending a Take Action message out to your new trees!
    • Send an opening message that explains why you're getting in touch and asks your friend if they'd like to be involved
    • Customize your message with encouragement and help
      (Sometimes looking up a rep’s number makes the difference, or offering to practice with a friend) 
  • Remind your team to follow up, thank those who respond, and also save their names and contact info for future tree actions.

Follow-up:

  • If you didn’t send out a Take Action message to your trees during the event, do so afterward.
  • Check in with your team to see how their contacts responded.
  • Encourage members to expand their trees over time.
  • Consider sharing your success on social media and tagging @demsabroad for amplification!

Personal Information Sharing Tips

  • Save only your own contacts. Each person should store the numbers they call, avoiding shared lists that could expose private data.
  • Use secure messaging apps (e.g., Signal, WhatsApp) when discussing sensitive topics.
  • Encourage opt-in participation. Always ask before adding someone to your call tree.
  • Delete inactive contacts. If someone is unresponsive or no longer wants to participate, remove them from your list.

Tips for Organizing Outreach 

  • Start small. Begin with 3–5 trusted contacts who are likely to engage and pass the message along.
  • Make each ask personal & direct
    • Call or message each contact individually. Group messages are easier to ignore.
    • Keep it short. A simple request works best:
    • Offer support. If someone hesitates, help them look up their rep’s number or practice a script.
  • Track & Follow Up
    • Keep notes on who responded and who followed through.
    • Follow up within a few days. A quick check-in can double your impact
    • Celebrate wins. Share updates and successes to keep momentum going.
  • Make It a Habit
    • Expand your tree over time. Encourage your contacts to add their own 3–5 friends.
    • Schedule regular outreach. Sign up for Take Action emails for regular outreach ideas.
    • Rotate leadership. If you’re the “trunk,” recruit others to take turns organizing.