Promise to Remember Me

Government Day Afternoon Session,  March 13, 2011

One of the important campaigns that the JDRF has, that everyone can  participate in is the “Promise To Remember Me”.   How exciting it is for a young child to get to meet someone in their Government that can help them find a cure!!!

Once a year we  schedule appointments with each one of our representatives in all 50 states.   We meet personally with the member of  Congress from our District, invite as many  families as would like to come, tell them our personal diabetes stories and ask them to please remember “US” when voting on important issues affecting diabetes and diabetes research.

Getting that appointment can be a bit of a challenge!  Most members require that a constituent make and attend the appointment.  That is where the help from advocates though out the US is so important, and another instance of  how one person can make a huge difference.  Since the meetings are held in each members district, it has to be done when they are “in town”.   They are on recess the entire month of August, so that is a perfect time to try to secure a Promise meeting.   We start with emailing or faxing our request for a meeting, and then follow-up with phone calls.  We make sure the scheduler knows that his constituents will be attending the meeting and we let the scheduler know that we will be checking in periodically to see if that appointment has been made.  Even though we are their boss, many of them take a lot of  urging to secure those appointments!!  And if phone calls and emails aren’t getting that appointment with your Congressman, here are a few more ideas.

• Enlist the help of more people in your district
• Hands deliver a request and/or a drawing from a child
• Contact the legislator’s DC office and enlist their help
• Do google searches for meetings they might be having, have “your group” attend his meeting and ask for a photo with him.  He/She might even give you some time!!

If an advocate is  lucky enough to secure an appointment, no matter when it is or where it is, TAKE IT!  The Grassroots Staff and Leaders will make sure that someone is if you can’t be.

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez

Promised to Remember Us!

If you would like to participate in this campaign, please click on this link   http://promise.jdrf.org/.  Last year we held over 430 Promise Meetings and I’m sure that is a big part of why the Special Diabetes Program which funded an additional $150,000,000.00 a year,  for the next 2 years, for diabetes research, was approved.   We would love to have your help and secure even more this year!