As for being on boards, going to meetings, etc. - that is, becoming part of the big government establishment yourself - here's a better idea: Change the incentives of the political actors in that establishment.

For more, see the Mackinac Center's "Tea Party Activist Tool Box."

At the local level, when your city council or school board are talking tax hikes, or expanded bennies for govt employees, don't go to the meeting. Instead, get a dozen tea party buddies and picket outside of it! Tell the local tv and newspaper before you go. Then, make up a flyer describing the positions of the worst tax-raising violators on these bodies and deliver it door-to-door in their neighborhoods.

Can you see the difference here? These actions start to change incentives, which currently are very strong for policymakers to do the wrong things. When their incentives are right, the policy takes care of itself with no further effort.