Advocacy: Lobby Day 2007

This year at Lobby Day training, we asked all the advocates to apply one star sticker to their name badge for each year they had participated in Lobby Day (see picture at left). For about half the group, that meant one star, being Lobby Day first-timers. Quite a few people had two or three stars. Others had four, five or six.

Lobby Day participants sported badges that reflected how many Lobby Days they’ve attended.

One, Rick Baldwin, had nine. We used this device to help folks recognize the experienced advocates in the group, both during training and on the Hill the next day when questions might arise about our message or navigating the huge, busy buildings. We also used the stars to acknowledge the individuals who have made Lobby Day a priority—for their energy, finances, vacation days from work, time away from family—year after year. It was a small token of appreciation for their dedication and the inspiration they give others.

This year’s group was the largest ever, 80 advocates strong. We also did the largest number of meetings with Congressional offices—94 in one day. We made one single “ask” in each of those offices, a different tactic from years past when we had as many as three different requests, depending on the Congressional committee assignments of the person with whom we were meeting. Advocates liked the streamlined request and pared down information packets designed to help “close the credibility gap”—this year’s theme.

We carried a letter written to NIH Director Elias Zerhouni and sponsored by the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, and two House members, Representative Jan Schakowsky of Illinois’ 9th district and Representative Sue Myrick of North Carolina’s 9th district (my Congresswoman). We asked the other members of Congress we met with to “sign on” to this letter which requests that Dr. Zerhouni use new authority granted by Congress in the 2006 NIH Reform Act to make CFS a higher research priority.

Lobby Day delegation prepares for their meetings on Capitol Hill. Left to right are Elly Brosius, Richard Melia, PhD, Yuliya Dobrydneva, PhD, Frances Peterson and Jennifer Phillips.

On Lobby Day and in follow-up calls made by advocates, we secured a total of 46 signatures — 12 on the Senate letter and 34 on the House letter. Messages sent by advocates participating in the Association's 4th annual Virtual Lobby Day also secured this support. 

We will keep you posted as to who signs the letter in support of making CFS a higher research priority at the National Institutes of Health and we’ll let you know how Dr. Zerhouni responds to this direction. Maybe we’ll have reason to give some lawmakers and public health officials gold stars, just like the advocates who’ve already earned theirs.

K. Kimberly McCleary
President & CEO