Custom Data Systems’ Association Manager (AM) system contains a Lobbying module that allows each association to track legislators at both the state and federal level. This module also tracks association members who are key contacts for these legislators. See the documents for the Names Legislator tab and Contacts tab for the normal functions of the Lobbying module.
A subscription is available for an optional software/data package that is used in conjunction with the Lobbying module, but that is not part of the standard module.
This optional software/data is provided by Aristotle, Inc., one of the leading companies that provide grassroots consulting and information services. Further information about Aristotle can be found on their web site: www.aristotle.com.
Aristotle provides two separate products to associations through the Association Manager system: PTK and District Matching Dataset (DMDS). The basic products that are provided by Aristotle are customized by CDS for use in the AM system. Both are available on an annual subscription basis through Custom Data Systems, Inc.
The end purpose of using the Aristotle PTK and DMDS products is to enable the association to send Lobbying mailings and alerts to members who live in specific legislative districts.
These mailings and alerts are generated through the normal AM functions for mailing, e-mail, fax, and roster in the Names module, using Selection Criteria to specify the desired legislative districts. However, before this can be done, the legislative district fields on the Data tab in Names file maintenance must be populated, and this is the function of PTK and DMDS.
PTK
Address changes are being made constantly in the AM system, as new members are added or current members change residence. Since most people don’t know the zip+4 for their own home address, most of the new addresses added manually in the AM system will not have the full nine-digit zip. Without the full nine-digit zip code, the DMDS package cannot match these members to their correct legislative districts. Without the proper district data, members cannot receive Lobbying alerts.
The PTK package contains every known address in each state, and the associated nine-digit zip code. This data is used to update all the zip code and address fields for individuals in Names file maintenance and firms in Firms file maintenance. The address field updates are done to bring the data into compliance with USPS standards which includes abbreviating text such as ‘street’ and ‘suite’.
Having the full nine-digit zip code in every Names record is an essential prerequisite to successfully running the DMDS package.
In theory, the PTK package is optional if an association has other third-party address certification software capable of adding the zip+4 to the Names and Firms file maintenance records. In practice, however, almost every association that subscribes to the DMDS package also subscribes to the PTK package.
District Matching Dataset (DMDS)
The DMDS data set includes two separate data sub-sets which are updated independently: (1) all nine-digit zip codes in your state and the corresponding state and federal legislative districts; and (2) name/address information for all state and federal legislators.
See the Aristotle Legislative Updates including PTK and DMDS document for the processes involved for subscribers.