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Grassroots
What is at the heart of The
CFIDS Association of America's success advocating for persons with CFIDS (PWCs)?
It's people like you - people who are concerned about CFIDS, working from their
communities to support the Association's initiatives to expand CFIDS research
and gain access to programs and services for PWCs.
What is "Grassroots
Advocacy"?
Grassroots advocacy involves actions taken by concerned citizens to
demonstrate their support for an issue. In the case of CFIDS advocates, these
issues are usually related to research, social service programs (like obtaining
disability benefits) or CFIDS policies (such as
renaming "CFS"). CFIDS advocates
call, fax, write, e-mail or visit elected or appointed federal officials to
communicate their views on an issue.
Why is it Important?
Elected
officials are concerned about the issues that affect voters. Federal employees
are accountable to Congress, so they, too, must try to be responsive to
citizens' needs, or risk reprimand from Congress.
For these reasons, citizens
can have a lot of power in influencing Washington politics. If Congress or a
federal agency hears from enough citizens about a particular issue, their
concerns can counteract the opinions expressed by the most highly funded D.C.
lobbyist. Rules limiting gifts to elected officials further level the playing
field.
For CFIDS, grassroots
advocacy is critical. The CFIDS community has exceptional representation in
Washington by The Sheridan Group, a government relations firm that has worked on
behalf of the CFIDS community since 1991, and directly for The CFIDS Association
since 1992. The Sheridan Group works as the CFIDS community's guide and
strategist, bringing knowledge, experience and influence to our cause.
However, our efforts are
most effective when elected officials know that their constituents are concerned
about CFIDS. Letters, calls, faxes and e-mails from voting CFIDS advocates,
combined with the persistence of CFIDS Association and Sheridan Group staff,
give our issue the necessary clout to win battles in Washington.
What Does it Involve?
Grassroots
advocacy can be as much - or as little - work as you want to put into it. Most
CFIDS advocates are persons with CFIDS (PWCs), so their participation tends to
be fairly limited. This makes it even more important that a large number of
CFIDS advocates take part, so there's always someone healthy enough to
write a letter or make a
phone call about a particular issue. On average, CFIDS advocates make two or
three contacts per year on behalf of CFIDS issues. Some people do more, others
do less. But by sharing the responsibility among thousands of CFIDS advocates,
in the end officials hear from many people concerned about CFIDS throughout the
year.
How Can I Get Involved?
Getting involved
in CFIDS advocacy is very easy. The
easiest way to participate is through the Association's free
Grassroots Action Center Listserv (GAC)
program.
- If you're curious about
the issues GAC members have recently been involved in, please see our
Advocacy Alert Digest.
- Participate in CFIDS
Awareness Day May 12th efforts.
Click here for a downloadable
package or contact The CFIDS Association of America for a free May 12th
Information Packet.
- Come to the CFIDS
Association's Lobby Day on Capitol
Hill, meet with elected officials and give CFIDS a real, human dimension.
- Build relationships with
your three
representatives in
Congress (one House member and two Senators). You don't necessarily
have to make contributions to their campaigns, but you do need to take the
time to educate them about CFIDS and why it is such an important issue. You
can call or write them, attend their local "town hall" meetings, pay a visit
to their local or Washington offices or invite them to speak at your local
CFIDS support group meetings.
- If you feel your member
of Congress may be interested in championing CFIDS issues or if you have
questions about this subject, please contact the Association at
advocacy@cfids.org.
- Elected officials read
and respond to issues in their local newspapers. If you're interested in
getting your local paper or TV program to cover CFIDS, visit our
Media page for tips.
Additional Resources
There are a variety
of ways you can help support CFIDS advocacy efforts. Please get involved today!
Overview of the
Association's Public Policy Program -
includes links to Congressional and agency activities.
Related Information
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