Post OVAC Lobby Day thoughts

Posted by Dusty Weaver on April 30th, 2006

This year was the fourth One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC) Lobby Day in which I participated. This was the best one and I’ve had some good ones.

There were 18 C3 advocates attending and along with the C3 staff and program facilitators in attendance there 22 people present. This is the largest number of people with a connection to colorectal cancer of any previous OVAC Lobby Day I attended and C3 had the second largest group in attendance.

More than the numbers is the quality of the people present. This year C3 provided pre-event training in the form of a conference call as well as a listserv and various items on the web site. There was even homework for C3 advocates to help them prepare facts and figures with a local slant.

This year OVAC conducted its training on a Tuesday afternoon and scheduled the Congressional office visits the following Wednesday which is different from the past (Monday training and Tuesday office visits). C3 took advantage of this change to conduct specialized training for its advocates.

Things started Monday evening with a mixer which allowed time for everyone to get to know each other. The social aspect is important when it comes to forming and building relationships. Besides as much trouble as I have remembering people’s names getting more one-on-one time with people helped me.

Nancy Roach arrainged to have Jane Reese-Coulbourne, National Breast Cancer Coalition, to speak on where NBCC started and where it is today. When people think of cancer advocacy they usually think of breast cancer and the color pink. It seems like they are everywhere.

Jane pointed out it was not always like that. What looks like such a together organization today started out as six or so women around a table talking about what they could do to impact breast cancer. Quite an interesting story and one we at C3 should remember as we look at where we are now and where we want to be.

Tuesday morning started early with training which focused on what C3 and colorectal cancer advocates can do for each other. Jim Wetekam lead this and did an excelent job. His exprience with other advocacy groups along with his familarity with how Washington works were an asset. We tried to get people to see the big picture while at the same time helping them decide what they could do in their communities.

An interesting part of the session was the small group discussion which demonstrated how to take the passions of several individuals and form them into an organization with a message.

After the end of the morning session we headed to the OVAC part of the day. Here we linked up with other cancer advocacy organizations and received training specific to the OVAC funding recomendations and how to have a good Congressional meeting.

This year Christorpher Kush with Soapbox Consulting made another apperance. I really like the way he gets people ready for the meeting especially since he does it in such a short time.

Senator Tom Harkin and Representative Mike Castle opened the session. The each did a good job describing a Congressional meeting from the view point of the elected official. They reminded it is important for constituents to tell their elected officials what they want.

I spent some time with several of the C3 advocates helping them get ready. I have to admit they did not need much of this from what I saw and heard the next day.

Wednesday were the office visits. I am proud of how they represented the cancer community as a whole and the colorectal cancer community and C3 in particular. They knew there stuff and presented it well to their elected officials.

I made my office visits with Jessica McSpadden who is from Arkansas and works with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. It was good to have someone else at the meetings to make sure all points were covered.

One think I discovered this year is the importance of building a relationship not only with the Senator or Representative but with the office staff. As I said this was my fourth OVAC Lobby Day and it helped. The staffers knew me and I knew them. This will help future contacts with the office.

Judi Sohn, C3 Operations Director, did an excellent job with the logistics. Her advance work making the arraingments let the rest of us focus on the task at hand. Lydia Prentiss, C3 Office Administrator, did fine work doing things like getting the packets together. Nancy Roach, C3 President, was unable to attend but she did fine work getting and keeping this going in the right direction. A tip of the hat to you all.

Now the follow-up starts. We must keep after our officials as the cancer funding bills make their way through the political process. In addition to this C3 must continue to build upon the foundation laid last week.

It was a great week and I hope those who were there this year make it next year along with some more firstimers.