2nd Quarter Assignment
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April 4 Ambassador Briefing:
Presentation File
February 1 New Ambassador Orientation: Presentation File
Audio File (There are two recordings for the April Ambassador Briefing. Recording #1 starts at 16:10 and ends at 31:15. Recording #2 starts at 1:22 and ends at 25:23.)
April/May Ambassador Assignment
There are two parts to the current Ambassador Assignment-both involve educating Member's of Congress about arthritis and bringing more awareness on arthritis issues.
1. Contact Your 2 Senate Military Appropriations Legislative Assistants
A. Introduce yourself via phone or in person to your Senators Military Legislative Assistant
B. Ask them to support including Osteoarthritis AND Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) for the peer reviewed medical research program for FY 2013
This assignment is a continuation of building relationships with your Members of Congress and their staff, and educating Members about arthritis. You can find out who your 2 Senate Military Appropriations Legislative Assistants are by calling the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. This assignment must be completed by Friday, April 20, 2012. The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) supports a wide range of science and medicine with goal of enhancing health and well-being of uniformed service personnel, their families and veteran population. The CDMRP provides disease-specific research funds, to the Department of Defense, as appropriated by Congress. Emerging evidence suggests a link between combat service to increased rates of arthritis. Stress placed on joints during military training activities accounts for 50% greater prevalence of osteoarthritis compared to the non-military population. In 2012, both osteoarthritis and arthritis were included in the list of diseases eligible for research funding and the amount of money for osteoarthritis research funding doubled to $3.5 million! Thank you to the Ambassadors that made this a success by reaching out to their House Military Health Legislative Assistants for the December 2011 Ambassador Assignment.
2. Attend the Advocacy Summit or Participate in the Virtual Summit and Spread the Word Through Social Media
A. Take Action on the Advocacy Priorities on the same day as the Advocacy Summit (You will receive a reminder email.)
B. Forward the Virtual Summit email to 5 people asking them to take action because arthritis is important to you
C. Share the Virtual Summit through social media (Facebook, Twitter, flickr)
During the 2012 Advocacy Summit, from April 16-18, over 350 advocates will take to Capitol Hill to share their stories and ask their Members of Congress to support arthritis. While we are taking to the halls of Capitol Hill we need you to take to your computer and fill your Member's inboxes with arthritis advocacy messages! Ambassadors that cannot be in Washington, D.C., can participate in the Advocacy Summit by watching the Summit live on April 17, from 8:30AM to 12PM EST and sharing their Virtual Summit experience in real-time via social media.
Be sure to...
Report your activity online.
Mark your calendars for the next Ambassador Briefing: April 4, 2012 at 3PM Eastern.
