Here are five simple steps to maximize the impact of our Hill visits beyond June 17:
1. Write a thank you note to everyone you met
• Your mother was right: it's nice to be thanked. So make sure you send a thank you note to each staff member you met with, and to the members themselves if you were fortunate enough to meet them. Remind them about our issues -- providing specific details from the meeting will improve your note.
• Ask the person to whom you are writing to clarify, once again, the office’s position on a $50 million appropriation for SBHC operations:
• Either thank them for their stated support; or
• If they were noncommittal, ask again.
• Lastly, invite the member to visit a school-based health center in your community.
2. Send us your photos!
• Email them to Adrienne Ammerman, Director of Communications, at aammerman@nasbhc.org so we can include them in our files and on our website.
3. Fill our your meeting reports
• If a tree falls in the forest with no one around, does it make a sound? Honestly, I don't know. But I do know that if you don't tell us (in the national office) about your meetings, it's almost like it never happened.
• So: please email me at jrovner@nasbhc.org to let me know how it went. And please be specific about whether any follow-up is needed.
4. Media advocacy
• Write a letter to the editor about your meetings. Letters are generally limited to 200 words, though that can differ by newspaper.
• Mention your meeting with the member’s office and his or her position. Specifically, use the member’s name so that the letter to the editor appears in the office’s google news alerts.
• Do not make demands; this can backfire. If the member is negative toward our issues, express your disappointment – not anger.
• Express the hope that the member can help the children and adolescents of your community and the whole nation.
• You should also consider writing an op-ed piece. Use the ideas from above regarding a letter to the editor – they apply here, as well. Let us know about your successes!
5. Mailing lists
• Add the staff members you met with to your mailing list and stay in touch with them in the future.
The Legislative assistants some of our best advocates! If you met with them rather than your senator or congressman during the advocacy day, know that your concerns and comments will be shared. Don't forget to thank the LA's as well as your legislator for their time and support and remind them or our needs.
ReplyDelete