encouraging advocacy at your chapter 2011 regional meetings
TRANSCRIPT
Encouraging Advocacy at Your Chapter
2011 Regional Meetings
LGN Structure Chair of the LGN Vice chair Regional legislative coordinators (3) Executive committee member Board of trustees liaison ASDA staff liaison
Legislative liaisons serve each chapter
Chair of the Legislative Grassroots Network
Monitor and report on national legislation and identify its importance to dental students
Direct organizational and educational activities of the LGN
Serve as Liaison to ADA’s Council on Government Affairs
Vice Chair (ADPAC Student Director)
Serves on the ADPAC board of directors
Promotes ADPAC drives at chapters and coordinates drives at national meetings
Responsible for compiling ADPAC membership statistics for ASDA
Regional Legislative Coordinators (RLCs)
Communicate regularly with LLs
Provides legislative information and updates to chapters as well as ASDA legislative policies
Ensure all chapter activities are reported to chair and vice chair
Two additional RLCs starting 2012
Board of Trustees Liaison
Trustee assigned to serve as liaison from LGN to board of trustees
Represents board of trustees perspective at LGN meetings
One member of the executive committee serves on the LGN (new for 2011-2012)
ASDA Staff Liaison
Coordinates activities of LGN
Works with LGN and ADEA staff to develop content and plan National Dental Student Lobby Day
ASDA Central Office contact for anything related to the LGN, National Lobby Day or legislative activities
Legislative Liaisons
Read the LGN Handbook
Keep your chapter leaders, members and other dental students informed about advocacy efforts and legislation
Organize legislative activities at your school
Report your chapter’s legislative activities to your RLC
Legislative Liaisons
Attend regional meeting, National Lobby Day, and Annual Session
Coordinate your chapter’s attendance at Lobby Day
Monitor state legislative issues and ask the LGN for help when action is needed
How do we affect change? State and national lobby days
Educate and inform ASDA members and dental students about issues affecting dentistry
Membership in ADPAC and State PACs
Communication with legislators about what issues are important to their constituents
Who helps the LGN?
ADA Division of Government Affairs
ADA Department of State Government Affairs
ADPAC
American Dental Education Association (ADEA)
State and local dental societies
What is ADPAC? ADPAC is the American Dental Political Action
Committee It is the bipartisan legislative arm of the ADA Creates and cultivates relationships on Capitol Hill
that benefit the ADA and the interests of dentists nationwide
In a nutshell: It is a way of Protecting the profession
Provides “Preventative Care” for the profession
And a Powerful force for the profession
Consider it “cheap insurance” for Dentistry as a whole!
Issues that are affecting YOU. Yes, you.
Some other issues… Use of amalgam as a dental restorative Water fluoridation Student Loan Interest Deduction (SLID) Loan repayment programs Reimbursement rates for dentists Small business laws Scope of practice
OK…what does my $5 membership do? Legislators don’t want to make laws for all
dentists if they think ADPAC’s opinions only represent a minority of the profession
A greater percentage of member representation gives dentistry political leverage Strength in numbers
ADPAC does not “buy votes” – these monies go toward candidates’ campaigns who support oral health initiatives
Legislative Lunch and Learn ADPAC Drive ADPAC oversees Legislative Lunch and
Learn program Hold a Lunch and Learn with ADPAC
membership drive Student membership is only $5 per year
($50 for Capitol Club) Contact Aruna Rao for instructions and to
report on your chapter’s events ([email protected])
Resources E-newsletter
www.ASDAnet.org Leadership – Legislative Grassroots Network The Issues – Advocating the Issues
How do I remember this stuff?
It’s all in the LGN Handbook! Online at www.ASDAnet.org
2011-2012 Handbook
New! LGN State Lobby Day Scholarship State level advocacy efforts are key to
advancing dentistry
Max of $500 awarded to a chapter- up to 3 chapters
Scholarships awarded based on those who apply and demonstrate a need for financial support to organize a state lobby day
LGN State Lobby Day Scholarship The LGN will judge applications based on
information provided about the event’s execution, funding sources and budgetary requirements.
To apply: Go to ASDA’s website – Member Resources – ASDA
Scholarships
Email completed application to Meghan Keelean ([email protected]) at ASDA central office by Nov. 30, 2011
Stay up to Date
Go to www.ADA.org – AdvocacyUnder Speak Out click on Legislative Action Center
Sign up for Action E-list to get alerts when action is needed
In an action alert email you will get a link that has a form letter for you to send to your legislator
April 16-17, 2012
Largest LGN event of the year Collaborative event with ASDA and ADEA Held in Washington, DC Students will meet with their members of
Congress (Senate and House of Representatives) You will lobby specific dental-related issues that
have been introduced as Bills awaiting legislative outcome
Over 340 dental students attended in March 2011!
National Lobby Day Appointments
LLs at each school are in charge of making appointments with the legislators in the dental school’s state
If you are from a state without a dental school, we encourage you to visit those offices too
After a Successful Year… Apply for the Ideal LGN Award
Applications judged by the LGN Presented at Lobby Day Not the same as Ideal ASDA Awards
Separate application Different judges
Get the application under Member Resources – Awards on www.ASDAnet.org
Contact Info
Namrata Gupte: [email protected]
Meghan Keelean: [email protected]
Aruna Rao: [email protected] or [email protected]