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OK, so you've called your Congressman and expressed your support for the Udall bill. You've talked to the healthcare aide and explained how important Parkinson's research funding is to you. You've answered their arguments against 'earmarking' for specific diseases and assured them that research is cost effective healthcare, but he/she is still not a co-sponsor. What next? Write to your local paper and send a printed copy of the letter to your representative's office. Try to get some local media attention now for next week's Advocacy Forum. Representatives respond to their local newspapers and media more than they do to Washington media. If you are going to Washington - so far it looks like more than 60 of us will be in attendance, the best turn-out yet - let your local newspapers know that you are going to the most significant grassroots advocacy event for PD ever. Tell them that prospects are good for passage of a bill that we have been working on for the last four years. Your note might go something like this: Dear Media Guy, My name is ( ) and I am a resident of our community. I will be in Washington, D.C. for the Parkinson's Advocacy Forum during the week of July 13th. The Forum serves to educate those of us in the Parkinson's community who believe that fighting a neurodegenerative disease entails more than just taking pills; it requires ordinarily quiet individuals to speak up for their rights and bring attention to a life-threatening illness. Our current goal is to pass the Morris K. Udall Bill for Parkinson's research and education. This bill will appropriate $100 million to educate the public about, and increase research funding to cure Parkinson's disease. So far a majority of Senators have lent their support by co-sponsoring the Udall bill. We are just a few representatives shy of a majority in the House. We plan to have a majorities in both houses of Congress by the end of next week so that the bill will pass this year. Unfortunately, Representative ( ) has yet to co-sponsor the Udall bill. This week we will make every effort to convince him / her that our plight is dire and that the Mo Udall bill will provide a humane, fair and cost-effective way to deal with a disease that subjects millions of Americans to needless suffering. Regards, ME Public relations will help us get the Udall bill passed this year. But it is public relations on a local level that convinces Congressmen that their constituents (voters) support specific legislation. Lets turn up the pressure a bit. Regards, Ken Aidekman Fund the Research. Find the Cure.