They not only see you in Washington, D.C., during the Advocates for Arthritis conference, but they see you at their local district office from time to time. They might see you at town hall meetings occasionally and at local fundraising events, sometimes on behalf of RheumPAC. Ideally, when your relationship is fully developed, when facing a decision about a healthcare issue or whether to support a particular bill, they will think, “What does my rheumatologist friend think of this?” When you position yourself as a local resource on healthcare issues, they will call you for advice.
It Starts with You
How can we begin to develop a personal relationship with our lawmakers? You have a perfect opportunity to meet with your congressional representative this month, when lawmakers are at home for the August recess. It is easy to schedule a meeting in their district office—and very effective because many fewer constituents do this than you would think.
Another possibility could be to invite your lawmakers to visit your practice. This is a remarkably effective way to demonstrate the important care you provide. It’s also an opportunity to show them how the decisions they make in Washington or in your state’s capital affect you and your patients.
Another opportunity for you would be attending a local fundraising event for your lawmaker’s campaign. Members of Congress are constantly campaigning, and your presence at a local fundraiser is a great way to show your support and get a few minutes of face time. RheumPAC would like to help you build relationships with key members of Congress and can help with support for attending a local event. Just ask our advocacy staff how to get involved, or submit your recommendation for support at [email protected].
The picture above is from Ohio’s Advocacy Day. I went beyond my scheduled visits that rainy morning and joined this group meeting with the Senate Majority Floor Leader. Although he expressed concerns about some of our priority issues, our dialogue led to the delightful realization that we shared common childhood pathways and contacts (including our mutually beloved St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland). We ended the conversation with his valuable insight on proactive efforts we should consider moving forward. I know our efforts that day and the relationships we established will be of great assistance as we continue to Advance Rheumatology!
Please join me and our colleagues in seeking out opportunities to be involved locally with your advocacy. It will make a difference for rheumatology and for our patients. Feel free to seek assistance from our staff team, and send word of your advocacy to Starla Tanner on our government affairs team at [email protected].
