Overview:2013 Advocacy Summit

Your Questions Answered

Your Questions Answered• I’m registered for the Summit; my bags are packed, now

what?• We are coming early to visit the sites. Is that okay?• I’m in DC, how do I get to the hotel?• What should I expect at the Summit?• I have a child attending the Kids’ Summit. What do I need to

know?• Help! I don’t know what to tell my Member of Congress!• How should I share my Summit experience on social media?• Do you have any final tips for me?

Preparing for Your DC Trip

• Pre-Summit Emails late Jan-Feb• March in DC? Be prepared for any type of

weather. • Summit Dress is business casual—no jeans for

Hill meetings. (for kids “Sunday best”)

Getting Around DC

Washington, DC has three Airports:Washington Reagan (DCA)Washington Dulles (IAD)Baltimore-Washington International (BWI)

Metro/TaxisAMTRAK

Visit the Summit Website for details on the Transportation tab

www.arthritis.org/advocacy

Summit Hotel: Marriot Crystal Gateway• Check In/Out (4pm/noon)

Luggage storage is available• Indoor, heated pool • On site restaurants• Close to other

dining/shopping• Ten minutes from Airport (free shuttle to DCA)/close to

Downtown DC• Metro Accessible

There are many hotels in the area with similar names. Please make sure that you are reserving a room at the “Marriott Crystal Gateway”.

Things to Do In Washington, DC

Near hotel in Crystal City: www.crystalcity.orgIn Washington, DC: http://washington.org/

Summit Overview

Meeting Registration 1pm-6:00pm Monday and Tuesday morning for late arrivals

– Pick up your Summit schedule, agenda book, bag, and Summit t-shirts.

– Ambassadors & State Coordinators; don’t forget your badge ribbons!

Information desk available during the Summit.

Summit OverviewDay 1Discovery to Treatments Session (NIH/FDA)*Mandatory Advocacy Trainings (Three Levels)

Day 2Morning Welcome and Keynote Program*U.S. Senate AppointmentsCelebrating our Achievements Dinner

Day 3U.S. House Appointments

*Live Streamed event

Kids’ Summit OverviewParent Orientation is mandatory.– A program targeted for children from K-8th Grade– Creating projects to present to Senators and

Representatives– Training on how to speak with their Members/Senators– Talk with Pediatric Rheumatologists– Games and Activities

We’ve designed a fun program for your children; parents are strongly encouraged to send children K-8th to the Kids Summit not the adult program.

Congressional Meetings: Getting to the HillSummit Shuttle Buses

Shuttle Bus Schedule will be posted at the meeting and in your Program book

Shuttles will leave regularly from the hotel and Hill

Metro: www.wmata.org

Finish your meeting early? Feel free to Metro-- the hotel is located at Crystal City on the Yellow/Blue Lines.

Congressional MeetingsYou will meet your members

over 2 days

U.S. Senate Meetings (Tues. 2pm-5pm)U.S. House Meetings (Wed. 9am-4pm)

You will drop off materials to other members of your state delegation

Congressional MeetingsSTATE COORDINATORSState Coordinators are the lead for each state delegation.

•The main point of contact for all Hill Meeting schedule questions or changes.•Organize the group of attendees that will attend meetings together.•Look for the lime green ribbon!

What are we advocating for?Issue:

Insurance companies are placing certain “high costs” medications on a special tier and charging a percentage of the cost of the

medication.

Ask:Support legislation to end this practice and

require co-payment vs. percentage of the cost. (Patients’ Access to Treatments Act of 2013 H.R. 460)

What are we advocating for?Issue:

There are currently 11 states without a single board-certified, practicing pediatric

rheumatologist and 7 states with just one.

Ask:$5M to help support loan repayment for

pediatric rheumatologists

What are we advocating for?Issue:

More research is needed to reduce the arthritis burden on our nation’s warfighters, veterans

and civilians.

Ask:Include “post traumatic osteoarthritis” and

“rheumatoid arthritis” research at the Department of Defense (DoD)

Networking Café• Share with advocacy staff your notes from

your Congressional meetings.• Send thank you notes to your Members of

Congress.• Complete your Summit evaluations.

Awareness = AdvocacySocial Media @ Advocacy Summit 2013

POST. Share your story with others on the Arthritis Foundation’s Wall.

CHECK IN. Tell your friends you’re on Capitol Hill by checking in at your Congressional visits!

TWEET. Share your experience with @arthritis_org and don’t forget to mention your elected official, too!

‘GRAM. Take pictures around the Summit and with your elected officials. Mention @Arthritis_org and tag #FaceArthritis2013

#FaceArthritis2013

Housekeeping: Final Tips• Reimbursements for travel award winners• Other final tips

QUESTIONS?• Answers to many questions

are available at www.arthritis.org/advocacy (see 2013 Summit section)

• Feel free to contact your regional advocacy staff person or a member of the DC staff.

Contact Us—National Staff

Amy Melnick, Vice President, Advocacy Maria Spencer, Director, Federal AffairsKimberly Beer, Director, Government RelationsLaura Keivel, Advocacy Operations Coordinator Laurie Markle, Grassroots Advocacy Manager

Email: advocacy@arthritis.orgPhone: 202-887-2913

Contact Us—Regional Advocacy Staff

Regional Advocacy Staff Region

Pam Fields pfields@arthritis.org Great Lakes Region

Johanna Lindsay jlindsay@arthritis.org Great West Region

Michele Guadalupe mguadalupe@arthritis.org Heartland Region

Cecil Wallace cwallace@arthritis.org Mid-Atlantic Region

Sue Nesci snesci@arthritis.org New England Region

Michele Greco mgreco@arthritis.org Northeast Region

Krystin Herr kherr@arthritis.org Pacific Region

Serena Heins shines@arthritis.org South Central Region

Pam Snow psnow@arthritis.org Southeast Region

Lori Obluck lobluck@arthritis.org Upper Midwest Region

SEE YOU IN WASHINGTON, DC!