Guest guest Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 Do we have a How to Guide on how to meet with representatives, etc. for us novices > > Hey guys, > Lets make this as successful as possible. How about we try to meet > with as many reps from the 50 states as we can. When the > representatives from congress see many parents coming to meet with > them about mercury and autism, their eyebrows get raised, their heart > gets pumping a little faster, and their listening skills suddenly > emerge from nowhere. WE need to coordinate with each other before > rally day. How about we set up something in the database with names of > the people coming, along with the state they represent. the more , the > better. Then , we can make appointments with our reps in congress and > vent, intelligently. Any feedback on this would be appreciated. > thanks guys, we all rock!! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 From one Holly to another... The thing about meeting with your reps is this. A. it's NOT likely that you will get to meet with your actual rep, generally it will be his/her health aide B. They want to know this: " what is your problem and what can I do to fix it? " . If your problem is mercury in vaccines, then you need to tell them about the mercury and what THEY can do about it in YOUR state - there are currently NO federal bills dealing with mercury on the table in DC so it has to be state specific. If your state has already passed a Hg-free bill, then you are done. If not, if there is pending legislation in your state, ask them to sign on. If there is no pending legislation, ask them to sponsor such legislation - (you'd need to get this info from others who've already gotten their states to intro/pass such bills). C. Please do not go into the office just to gripe. It doesn't solve anything, it just makes ASD parents look like whiners. If there isn't anything they can do specifically, don't talk to them about it. If they have signed on to support ASD-supportive legislation, you can certainly thank them for standing with your family/community, etc. Re: RAlly in DC Do we have a How to Guide on how to meet with representatives, etc. for us novices > > Hey guys, > Lets make this as successful as possible. How about we try to meet > with as many reps from the 50 states as we can. When the > representatives from congress see many parents coming to meet with > them about mercury and autism, their eyebrows get raised, their heart > gets pumping a little faster, and their listening skills suddenly > emerge from nowhere. WE need to coordinate with each other before > rally day. How about we set up something in the database with names of > the people coming, along with the state they represent. the more , the > better. Then , we can make appointments with our reps in congress and > vent, intelligently. Any feedback on this would be appreciated. > thanks guys, we all rock!! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 We will be providing talking points and suggestions as we get a bit closer to the rally. We will have them available to download from the website. What is most important at this point is to schedule those appointments. Ask to meet directly with your representative or a senior policy advisor. You are giving them plenty of notice. If this is the second or third time in you can mention that you have traveled to DC several times, at great personal expense, and would like to talk to your representative. Be respectful but let them know that you would really like to meet with your senator/rep. More details will start to be available soon. Re: RAlly in DC > Do we have a How to Guide on how to meet with representatives, etc. > for us novices > > >> >> Hey guys, >> Lets make this as successful as possible. How about we try to meet >> with as many reps from the 50 states as we can. When the >> representatives from congress see many parents coming to meet with >> them about mercury and autism, their eyebrows get raised, their heart >> gets pumping a little faster, and their listening skills suddenly >> emerge from nowhere. WE need to coordinate with each other before >> rally day. How about we set up something in the database with names > of >> the people coming, along with the state they represent. the more , > the >> better. Then , we can make appointments with our reps in congress and >> vent, intelligently. Any feedback on this would be appreciated. >> thanks guys, we all rock!! >> > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 on 2/21/06 4:35 PM, Holly Bortfeld at maximom@... wrote: >From one Holly to another... The thing about meeting with your reps is this. A. it's NOT likely that you will get to meet with your actual rep, generally it will be his/her health aide Great points Holly. Also- bring a 5 by 7 photo of your child with their name and dx on the back. Give it to the person you are talking to. Also bring copies of IEP's, metals testing, anything that makes it real and personal. Remember it also helps to get to know these people BEFORE you need them. Meet with their local office, volunteer, get to know the staff, etc. I know some of my local politicians appreciated it when I dropped Autism brochures off at their offices. They like to have that information onhand. The first time I met with my congressman's office, I gave them a typed list of demands (thanks to jeff sell and bob krakow). They LOVED that. Like Holly said- they do not want to hear you bitch the whole time. Give them something to do- a bill to sign- anything. EMPOWER! Another time we met with our congressman, we brought a present- a painted flowerpot with fortune cookies- each cookie said things like " autism 1 in 166 " , " no mercury in vaccines " , etc. The staff never forgot that. (it also helps that the congressman's nephew is an aspie). and don't forget to bring some copies of Evidence of Harm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 I love the fortune cookie idea!! > > >From one Holly to another... > > The thing about meeting with your reps is this. > > A. it's NOT likely that you will get to meet with your actual rep, generally > it will be his/her health aide > > > > Great points Holly. > > Also- bring a 5 by 7 photo of your child with their name and dx on the back. > Give it to the person you are talking to. Also bring copies of IEP's, > metals testing, anything that makes it real and personal. > > Remember it also helps to get to know these people BEFORE you need them. > Meet with their local office, volunteer, get to know the staff, etc. > I know some of my local politicians appreciated it when I dropped Autism > brochures off at their offices. They like to have that information onhand. > > The first time I met with my congressman's office, I gave them a typed list > of demands (thanks to jeff sell and bob krakow). They LOVED that. > > Like Holly said- they do not want to hear you bitch the whole time. Give > them something to do- a bill to sign- anything. EMPOWER! > > Another time we met with our congressman, we brought a present- a painted > flowerpot with fortune cookies- each cookie said things like " autism 1 in > 166 " , " no mercury in vaccines " , etc. The staff never forgot that. (it also > helps that the congressman's nephew is an aspie). > > and don't forget to bring some copies of Evidence of Harm > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 I would also like to add: Remember members of Congress are there to serve you and work for you. A good way to let them know you are serious (and a way you might put a little pressure on them) is to simple say, " I am his/her constituent and want a face to face meeting. When will he/she be back in district? " ....Then meet with your member in your own town. Meeting with your Congressman in DC and a following up meeting in your own town will have a huge impact. Then he gets to know you and your issue. This 2 meeting deal will open the door for on-going dialogue (emails, phone calls, more meetings). You might also want to bring in other parents who you are comfortable with to your in district meeting (JUST MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THEM WELL AND YOU ARE ON THE SAME SHEET OF MUSIC WITH THIS ISSUE AND YOUR REQUEST). Close your meeting with VERY specific request(s). Ask him for a specific date of when he can accomplish your request(s) and ask how he/she will following up with you/communicate with you that he has accomplished your request. " Close the sale " with a commitment on his behalf with a date/or week. Feel free to email me privately if I can be of further help. My 2 cents and lessons learned after too many years of dealing with this issue- Medlin Moms Against Mercury P.S. U.S. Congress will not really be able to help you with state bills....only federal legislation. Speak to your state rep. to push state legislation. Re: RAlly in DC Do we have a How to Guide on how to meet with representatives, etc. for us novices > > Hey guys, > Lets make this as successful as possible. How about we try to meet > with as many reps from the 50 states as we can. When the > representatives from congress see many parents coming to meet with > them about mercury and autism, their eyebrows get raised, their heart > gets pumping a little faster, and their listening skills suddenly > emerge from nowhere. WE need to coordinate with each other before > rally day. How about we set up something in the database with names of > the people coming, along with the state they represent. the more , the > better. Then , we can make appointments with our reps in congress and > vent, intelligently. Any feedback on this would be appreciated. > thanks guys, we all rock!! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 And remember- many of them are always looking for a good photo-op. Not many people visit the DC offices compared to the local office. ps- great tips everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 All good points....the toxic mercury charts and EOH books are important. The books reinforce the media is watching. If you have local stories that have been written in your news papers you should bring those as well. is right about follow up meetings. We need to make sure that after the meetings and everyone goes home, parents stay in touch with the offices. We want to start having these meetings in your states. We will have a few 'asks' to recommend. One request might be to ask your senator to write a letter of inquiring about the status of thimerosal hearings to Senator Enzi. Following up on Cong. Burton's hearing. A lot has happened since those hearings ended. Lots of science and a lot more questions. We were told hearings were going to happen. (we will have a quote you can use) Parents have a right to know. If your representative won't do that for you, you will want to know why he/she won't. This can be done in a respectful way but they also need to know we are serious and aren't coming down to see them because we had a free weekend. We want to make sure our representative know that we are their constituents, and we have some expectations about oversight and accountability. Re: Re: RAlly in DC on 2/21/06 4:35 PM, Holly Bortfeld at maximom@... wrote: >From one Holly to another...The thing about meeting with your reps is this. A. it's NOT likely that you will get to meet with your actual rep, generallyit will be his/her health aideGreat points Holly.Also- bring a 5 by 7 photo of your child with their name and dx on the back. Give it to the person you are talking to. Also bring copies of IEP's, metals testing, anything that makes it real and personal.Remember it also helps to get to know these people BEFORE you need them. Meet with their local office, volunteer, get to know the staff, etc.I know some of my local politicians appreciated it when I dropped Autism brochures off at their offices. They like to have that information onhand.The first time I met with my congressman's office, I gave them a typed list of demands (thanks to jeff sell and bob krakow). They LOVED that.Like Holly said- they do not want to hear you bitch the whole time. Give them something to do- a bill to sign- anything. EMPOWER!Another time we met with our congressman, we brought a present- a painted flowerpot with fortune cookies- each cookie said things like "autism 1 in 166", "no mercury in vaccines", etc. The staff never forgot that. (it also helps that the congressman's nephew is an aspie).and don't forget to bring some copies of Evidence of Harm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 > > > >From one Holly to another... > > The thing about meeting with your reps is this. > > A. it's NOT likely that you will get to meet with your actual rep, generally > it will be his/her health aide > > > > Great points Holly. > > Also- bring a 5 by 7 photo of your child with their name and dx on the back. Give it to the person you are talking to. Also bring copies of IEP's, metals testing, anything that makes it real and personal. > > Remember it also helps to get to know these people BEFORE you need them. Meet with their local office, volunteer, get to know the staff, etc. > I know some of my local politicians appreciated it when I dropped Autism brochures off at their offices. They like to have that information onhand. > > The first time I met with my congressman's office, I gave them a typed list of demands (thanks to jeff sell and bob krakow). They LOVED that. > > Like Holly said- they do not want to hear you bitch the whole time. Give them something to do- a bill to sign- anything. EMPOWER! > > Another time we met with our congressman, we brought a present- a painted flowerpot with fortune cookies- each cookie said things like " autism 1 in 166 " , " no mercury in vaccines " , etc. The staff never forgot that. (it also helps that the congressman's nephew is an aspie). > > and don't forget to bring some copies of Evidence of Harm > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 What about the Weldon bill? Barb Re: RAlly in DC > > Do we have a How to Guide on how to meet with representatives, etc. > for us novices > > >> >> Hey guys, >> Lets make this as successful as possible. How about we try to meet >> with as many reps from the 50 states as we can. When the >> representatives from congress see many parents coming to meet with >> them about mercury and autism, their eyebrows get raised, their heart >> gets pumping a little faster, and their listening skills suddenly >> emerge from nowhere. WE need to coordinate with each other before >> rally day. How about we set up something in the database with names > of >> the people coming, along with the state they represent. the more , > the >> better. Then , we can make appointments with our reps in congress and >> vent, intelligently. Any feedback on this would be appreciated. >> thanks guys, we all rock!! >> > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 http://www.talkaboutcuringautism.org/jenny/dc-rally/index.htm 's Call to All Families! CDC Rally was changed to DC Rally because of circumstances outside our control. Permits were not available due to the potential size of the rally. Safety of the participants is a key concern so opted to move it to DC. DC Permits are secured. June 4, 2008 Rally in DC June 5, 2007 Visit Your Representatives in DC Formal announcements and call to participation will be available on April 2nd – WORLD AUTISM DAY We will be sharing hotel, travel and other important Rally information as it is available. We know that everyone would like complete information about the goals of the event and many other details -- please know that we are working on it and hope you will stay tuned for updates. Please be sure to sign up to get that information!! This is the day that needs YOUR help. Bring your family members – your dad, your mom, everyone! Come with your children's pictures! We will finally be heard! This is the time, this is the moment, this is the day to let YOUR voice be heard. Please join to let your voice be heard in DC. Sign up on the web site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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