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Parkinson's Advocacy at Home _
Take Action!_ (http://capwiz.com/pan/utr/1/CWSQGJJLTS/FNBIGJJLWD/907690711)
Attend town halls or meetings with your legislator in October
Parkinson’s Advocacy at Home
During the month of October, your senators and representatives are home in
the districts campaigning and while PAN does not endorse candidates or
participate in election activities, this is still a valuable time to get to know
your Members of Congress and Congressional candidates’ stance on PAN issues and
educate them about issues important to you and the Parkinson’s community.
PAN’s current requests for members are to cosponsor the _Udall Act
Amendments_ (http://capwiz.com/pan/utr/1/CWSQGJJLTS/CKLQGJJLWE/907690711) and to
support the _Parkinson’s Disease Research Education and Clinical Centers
(PADRECCs)_ (http://capwiz.com/pan/utr/1/CWSQGJJLTS/JFAHGJJLWF/907690711) through the
Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
What can you do?
Many members will be using October to hold town hall meetings. Town hall
meetings are a venue where the senator or representative holds a public meeting
with a question and answer period. To find out if your senator or
representative has any town hall meetings scheduled, check his/her website or the local
events section of your local newspaper for the announcement. Be sure to ask
a question at the meeting and leave your contact information.
Secondly, personal visits are the most effective contact you can have with a
member of Congress or staff. Face time is a great way of educating public
officials your personal concerns and issues. Following are some easy tips to
help you plan a meeting with your elected officials.
1) Identify your Members of Congress. To identify your Members of Congress
and find their contact information, go to
_http://capwiz.com/pan/dbq/officials/_ (http://capwiz.com/pan/utr/1/CWSQGJJLTS/LHYCGJJLWG/907690711) . You can
find telephone and fax numbers for district offices at these sites.
2) Identify yourself as a constituent. When calling, don’t forget to mention
you live in the Member’s district/state and that you are aware the Member
will be working in the district during October. Some offices may ask for your
street address or zip code.
3) Do your homework. Once you have the Member’s commitment to help, you must
make it as easy as possible for him/her to take action. This means you
should know the important issues and bill numbers. You can find this info on the
PAN website on the _legislative impact page_
(http://capwiz.com/pan/utr/1/CWSQGJJLTS/MGXXGJJLWH/907690711) . Before your meeting find out how your Member of
Congress has voted on _stem cell legislation_
(http://capwiz.com/pan/utr/1/CWSQGJJLTS/BBQDGJJLWI/907690711) and if he or she supported _Department of
Defense Parkinson’s research funding (NETRP)_
(http://capwiz.com/pan/utr/1/CWSQGJJLTS/OMDQGJJLWJ/907690711) . Also, visit the PAN website to print out leave
behind materials on our issues so that staff can follow-up on your meeting
and take action on your behalf.
4) Ask a friend or family member to attend the meeting with you. A
caregiver, co-worker, or loved one can offer a unique perspective on how Parkinson’s
affects everyone, not just patients.
When you meet with your Member of Congress, PAN recommends the following
discussion points:
* What is Parkinson’s disease and what is your connection to it?
* Tell your personal story. Remember, there is nothing more compelling
than telling your legislator how Parkinson’s affects your daily life.
This is a great time to connect with your elected officials and make sure he
or she is aware of the issues that face the Parkinson’s community.
Remember: You can always encourage your Member of Congress to contact PAN
directly for additional information at 800-850-4726.
If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click _here_
(http://capwiz.com/pan/lmx/u/?jobid=75567172&queueid=907690711) .
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