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^^^^^^GREETINGS FROM^^^^^^^^^^ Ivan Suzman 47/10 [log in to unmask] Portland, Maine land of lighthouses 55 deg. F *********************************************************** <<< On the Road to $100,000,000.00--Some Suggestions From A PWP Whose Entire State Delegation is co-sponsoring the Udall Bill >>>> 1. In my state (Maine) Senator Susan Collins was new to our delegation in Washington. I took the time to learn who her legislative aides, and more specifically, aides responsible for health issues were. I noted their names and asked for them in follow-up calls a week apart. 2. I made a point of opening EVERY phone call to Washington with, "I HAVE PARKINSON's DISEASE." This statement is HEARD. 3. I asked sympathetic staffers in Senator Olympia Snowe's office (she was a co-sponsor last year as well) to CROSS-TALK with Senator Collin's staff. 4. I encouraged my friends, and PWP's especially, to call the 1-800-962-3524 Capitol Switchboard TOLL-FREE number. PWP calls are VERY INFLUENTIAL. 5. I always showed patience and EMPATHY with overworked, stressed staffers. Younger staffers seemed thrilled to hear from someone who LISTENED to them. They have energy and enthusiasm. 6. I don't know, maybe Maine is unique, but we are just tickled to have ALL OF OUR DELEGATION now co-sponsoring the Udall Bill. I tried to make the conversations EDUCATIONAL. I DESCRIBED MY WORST SYMPTOMS. This helped to evoke a really heartfelt response from these young staffers. 7. I would recommend that if holding a phone is difficult, either get access to a SPEAKER TELEPHONE, or ask someone TO HOLD THE PHONE TO YOUR EAR. It is VERY dramatic when a PWP actually talks on the phone to a Senator's or Congressperson's office. 8. Follow up with THANK YOU CALLS and with contact with your local newspapers and media, once co-sponsorhip occurs, and as Sonia of Denmark says, NEVER GIVE UP. And, SAVE THIS NUMBER: 1-800-962-3524. Hope this helps, On Mon, 12 May 1997 22:25:58 -0400 [log in to unmask] writes: >I am posting this for Mike Claeys, PAN >----------------------------------- >Word has come today that Senator John Warner (R-VA) has agreed to >become >a cosponsor of the Udall bill. Hats off to the APDA's Paul Smedberg >and >all those active folks in Virginia (and elsewhere) for keeping the >pressure on Warner. > >While Warner was a cosponsor last year, it was probably tougher to get >him this year as he now sits on the Senate Labor and Human Resources >Committee -- the panel with direct jurisdiction over the Udall bill. >Warner is the fourth of ten Republicans on the Committee to cosponsor >-- >he joins Mike DeWine (OH), Susan Collins (ME), and Mitch McConnell >(KY).