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Some Thoughts on the Upcoming Senate Hearing 1. Have as broad a cross section of People with Parkinson's present throughout the hearing. There is a real risk of creating a bad impression if its packed on day one and then just a handful on subsequent days. Someone should be assigned the task of providing a duty roster 2. To minimize the out-of-pocket expense of individuals, the possibility of billeting those attending with Washington area supporters should be looked into. 3. The rich and famous do not necessarily make the best witnesses, so too heavy a reliance should not be placed on them 4. Select your witnesses carefully, and have each one speak on a particular area of expertise, e.g. job-related, social cost, medication cost ... the list could go on. 5. Don't rehearse your testimony beyond making sure you're comfortable with it. Untutored eloquence is far more impressive than a pat speech 6. Photos or videos showing dyskinesia or freezing would be useful. 7. You must be totally unself-conscious. Self-exploitation is an art-form, but only you can do it. 8. Have Press Kits available. They must be well done, but not appear too slick 9. Have a spokesman available for radio and TV 10. Make sure, to the extent you can, that the data you use are consistent throughot the hearing