Following up with what I posted last night about the e-mail response from US Senator Bill Nelson, I wanted to get feedback from the DOC about your success and failures of reaching out to your local reps. I have some meetings coming up with local reps, and I don’t know exactly what I am going to do. I told them before setting meetings, that I don’t have all the answers or all of the best ideas for, but just getting an opportunity to bring diabetes to somebody with some power is what is most important.
On a local level there is not much that can be done. I am meeting with the local city reps, so I can’t ask for their help in getting funding for the FDA to proceed with research on the artificial pancreas. But I will be asking them to be more involved in local JDRF and ADA events. If need be, I will speak to large groups of locals about diabetes and get some truth to these people instead of the false “facts” that they are hearing on Oprah and Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz.
I am asking for your help DOC…what items have you had success with on a local level.
I look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions.
I was involved in a Promise meeting for the JDRF with my state representative. It was a very positive experience. The group was myself and two other families. We took turns telling our stories. I am an islet cell transplant recipient and could say the the JDRF funded the research that has turned my life around and made me into a “healthy person”. I think the Rep learned a lot from our stories. He did cosign the bill. I would do it again.
Good luck to you and thanks for spreading the message. Every step in the right direction helps.
Kathy White
Hey Chris: Great blog topic, my friend. It can be frustrating on the local, state, and national levels organizing these types of meetings with our elected leaders. I’ve done the JDRF Advocacy and had to diligently press for meetings that never came to be, but also some that did happen both inside my state and in D.C. Some were just by going to a general town hall meeting locally on breaks when they are home from D.C. But I’ve also written some letters and talked to my state reps to help push the issue at the national level. All part of a bigger plan! Good luck setting up on your end, and sorry about the form responses.