2019 PPC: What You Need to Know

February 4, 2019

Welcome!

• Laura Bennett, Senior Manager, Grassroots Advocacy

Webinar Logistics

• We are using GoToWebinar for this training

• You are currently on mute

• Q&A at the end • Use “raise hand” function or question chat box

• Webinar is being recorded and all information will be posted on www.nationalmssociety.org/ppc

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Webinar Logistics

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Purpose and Agenda

• Purpose: Prepare all attendees for the 2019 Public Policy Conference

• Agenda: • Travel• Conference Logistics• Accessibility• Capitol Hill Visits• MS Activist App and Social Media• MS Activist Experience

• We will be holding another training to cover our 2019 policy priorities on Feb. 20 at 12:00 p.m. EST.

Conference Agenda

Sunday March 3

4:00 p.m. Welcome

4:20 p.m. What You Need to Know About the New Congress

5:00 p.m. Issue Panel: MS Research Funding

6:00 p.m. Break

7:00 p.m. Welcome Reception (with food)

Conference AgendaMonday March 4

8:00 a.m. Networking Breakfast

9:00 a.m. President & CEO Address

9:30 a.m. Recognition of Elected Officials of the Year

10:00 a.m. Issue Panel: Affordable, Quality Health Coverage

11:15 a.m. Break

12:00 p.m. Lunch/Keynote

1:30 p.m. Break

2:15 p.m. Issue Panel: Access to MS Medications

3:15 p.m. Mock Hill Visit and Hill Visit Prep

3: 45 p.m. Hill Visit Prep in State Delegations

4:45 p.m. Break

6:30 p.m. MS Activist Celebration Dinner

Conference Agenda

Tuesday March 5

7:00 a.m. Breakfast Available in Ballroom

8:00 a.m. Bus Pick-up at Hotel

9 a.m. - MS Activists on Capitol Hill

5 p.m.

Buses loop between 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.;

Buses depart Peace Circle 3:30 – 5 p.m.

**You will have to return to the hotel to pick up your luggage prior to heading to the airport or train station.

What’s New This Year?

• Sunday:• Later start time (4:00 pm)

• Monday:• Networking Breakfast

• MS Activist Celebration Dinner

• Tuesday:• No formal session or program Tuesday morning

• Grab-and-go breakfast options in addition to breakfast seating in the ballroom

• Getting to Capitol Hill together!

Speaker

• Jessalyn Hampton, Senior Manager of Advocacy for Colorado, Wisconsin, and Wyoming

Hotel & Ground Transportation

• Prepare for longer wait times at airports

• Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel

• 2800 S. Potomac Ave., Arlington, VA

• phone: (703) 413-1300

Hotel & Ground Transportation

• Accessible transportation is provided between the hotel and Reagan National Airport (DCA) only.

• Between 5 a.m. and midnight, the hotel operates an accessible airport shuttle that runs every every 20 minutes.

• Shuttle Phone: 703 413-1300

Hotel and Ground Transportation • Metro Rail information: www.wmata.com

• Metro stop: Crystal City (Blue or Yellow line)

• Accessible Transportation:• Arlington Yellow Cab: Service for Reagan/DCA and

Dulles/IAD airports. 703-522-2222

• Red Top Cab of Arlington: Service for Reagan/DCA and Dulles/IAD airports. 703-522-3333

• Yellow Cab of D.C. Paratransit: Service for Reagan/DCA airport and Union Station; transport-only to Dulles/IAD airport. 202-544-1213

• BWI Airport Taxi: Service for Baltimore/BWI airport. 410-859-1100

Travel Reimbursement

• After the event but before April 8, 2019, email your expense form and receipts to NMSSPPC@nmss.org.

• Receipts needed for expenses over $25

• Reimbursable expenses include:• Travel (airfare, train tickets, etc.),• Travel meals (alcohol non-reimbursable, do not

exceed $65 per day per person), • Baggage fees, • Reasonable tips, etc.

Donate Your Expenses

• Please contact laura.bennett@nmss.org if you would like to edit your registration to include this donation.

What to Pack?

• All things ORANGE! • Scarf• Tie

• Water bottle

• Comfortable shoes

• Business attire

• Mardi Gras party Monday night!

• Camera/phone for photos

• Check the weather before your travels• Jacket, umbrella, etc.

What do you get at PPC?

• The PPC notebook• Background information on all 2019 policy priorities

• Speaker information

• Agenda

• Bag

• Activist pin

• Orange pashmina or tie

Speaker

• Abby Emanuelson, AVP for Advocacy and Activist Engagement

Buses

• Holds scooters under bus

• Has lift for wheelchairs/non-transfer

• Has lift for wheelchairs/non-transfer

Your Hill Meeting Must Haves

• “Leave behind” folder:• 1 pager for every issue

• Business cards (optional – available on the website)

• Letters of support

• Your talking points – keep these in front of you

• Congressional directory/MS Activist App

• Your smile and the confidence to share YOUR story

What a Hill Visit is Like

• Members of Congress, mostly staff • Chief of Staff, Legislative Director, Legislative

Assistant or Legislative Correspondent

• Level of knowledge about MS varies

• Busy day – time may limited • 15-30 minutes, this is why a concise Wow-How-Now

is important

• Offices are very small

• Causal conversation

Hill Visit Meeting Tips

• Keep talking points in front of you

• Don’t have to answer every question

• Take pictures

• Exchange contact information

• Leave folder with handouts

• Thank and follow-up

• Debrief away from the office

Hill Visits from 2018

Activist Experience

• Sheldon Metz, MS Activist, Texas

Story Telling: Wow-How-Now

Wow: My Impact

Statement

How: What’s Congress’ Role in the

Solution

Now: The Ask for Congress

Story Telling: Wow-How-Now

Pre-Conference: Hill Visit Prep

• Research your members of Congress • Download the MS Activist App

• Leadership and committees list on the Public Policy Conference website

• Congress.gov

• Social and local media

Social Media

• #MSPPC19

• #MSactivist

• Follow @MSactivist

• Start sharing your journey NOW!

• https://www.facebook.com/profilepicframes

• Search: National MS Society

Questions

Next Training

• 2019 Policy Priorities: Open to all District Activist Leaders, Government Relations Advisory Committee members, and key advocacy volunteers.

• Date: Friday February 20, 2019 @ 12:00 PM Eastern