Run Down & Details for Lobby Day & MOM March

Dear EDC Advocate/M.O.M. Marcher,

We are so excited to see you in Washington, D.C. next week!   Thank you so very much for making time to join us --YOU are making the difference in our work on Capitol Hill.  Without your voice, our work would be incomplete and not as effective.  Thank you so very much for all the sacrifices you are making in order to join us and be part of the change.  We truly believe: #TheTimeIsNow to pass the #AnnaWestinAct!

To help you prepare for #EDCNationalLobbyDay and/or the M.O.M. March, we have a bunch of information below that we encourage you to take time to read through prior to arriving in DC (it's a bit of a long-read, but we think you'll find it's worth it :-))

The M.O.M. March – October 27th:

The mission of the M.O.M. March (Mothers & Others March) Against Eating Disorders is to bring us all together from around the country so that we have a visible presence in Washington, D.C., where we will gather to represent the at least 30 million Americans who suffer from an eating disorders.  The March will include empowering and heartfelt speeches, support, connection, "ShakeIt for Self-Acceptance" and camaraderie as we make a public stand against these insidious disorders.

What We Encourage You to Bring to the #MarchAgainstED:

• A poster size photo of the "face" (shoulders and up) of the person you are marching for.  If you are a sufferer, please bring a photo of yourself.  If you don't have a photo, that's just fine. [poster-making materials will be provided at the march.] For examples of posters, please browse through our FB pix: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152806772183885.1073741833.186592083884&type=1&l=4664da09fe
• Lawn chairs, cushions, blankets and whatever will help you celebrate and fully participate in the day’s events.
• A sign or banner to designate your group. The U.S. Capitol Police has regulatory guidelines for signs/banners: a) easels or stands are not allowed on the West Lawn and b) you must hold or lay your signs on the lawn. Please make sure your sign(s) meet the Capitol Hill Police guidelines.

EDC National Lobby Day – October 28th:

The Eating Disorders Coalition's (EDC) mission is to advance the recognition of eating disorders as a public health priority throughout the United States.  EDC National Lobby Day helps us fulfill that mission. On #EDCNationalLobbyDay, you will speak with your Members of Congress at meetings which the EDC has set up for you.  You will share the impact that an eating disorder has had on your life, as well as talk about the #AnnaWestinAct and how it will help those impacted by eating disorders.
 
What You Can Expect/How You Can Prepare:

We expect our time together on "the Hill" to be action-packed, emotionally engaging, hopeful, fast-moving and empowering.  We also expect, because of the excitement from coming together as a group to raise awareness of an issue so dear to our hearts, as well as because of the emotional aspects of being on Capitol Hill and meeting with Members of Congress to talk about eating disorders, that Lobby Day will require a great deal of your emotional and physical energy.  To that end, we encourage you to prepare for your trip to Capitol Hill by taking extra good care of yourself in the time leading up to the #MarchAgainstED and #EDCNationalLobby Day.  Additionally:

• If you are someone who is working on your recovery process/in treatment, please make sure to discuss this trip with your treatment team prior to coming and make sure you are healthy enough to participate.
• If you or your loved one must meet specific meal-plan requirements, please make sure to plan in advance for meeting those requirements.
•  We also highly encourage you, no matter if you are in recovery or not: prepare yourself for an awesome time in DC by getting good sleep and nourishing well.  
• We also cannot emphasize enough this point: WEAR---> COMFORTABLE SHOES(!!)

You also might want to bring a photo-taking capable device, a jacket, a couple bandaids (blisters happen when you least expect them to), a water bottle and an umbrella.  In essence, prepare and bring all the things that will help ensure you have a positive, healthy and truly memorable experience at #EDCNationalLobbyDay.

The "Day Of" -- What To Expect:

Overall Picture: #EDCNationaLobbyDay begins at 8:00am with a Message Training session at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation (212 East CapitolSt. NE) (there will be a very light snack served, so please make sure to have breakfast before you come) From there, we will break into Lobby Day teams and go meet with our Senators and Representatives. During the day, Lobby Day teams will take a break from their meetings to get lunch together. (please note that advocates are responsible for lunch ---there are several great options in the Congressional buildings and your team leader will accompany you all to a great location!) At 2:00pm, we will gather in the Dirksen Senate Office Building (room 106) to hear Senate leaders discuss the Anna Westin Act.  Your lobby visits will resume afterwards and continue through 4:30pm.  Shortly after you finish lobbying, we will gather back at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation and have a 'debriefing,' as well as participate in a closing session where you'll share about your experiences and we'll process the day's events.

A Bit of Nitty Gritty: At our Message Training session on the morning of Lobby Day, you will be provided with all of the tools and materials you will need to make your Lobby Day enjoyable and successful as an advocate.  We will go over, in detail, the EDC's policy focus and you will have the opportunity to ask questions and practice your lobby visits so that you are prepared for your meetings.  We promise you that you will be well-prepared to advocate!!  You also have a Lobby Day Team Leader who will be there with you throughout your entire day, so please rest assured that you are not lobbying alone and you will be prepared.

Very Important Nitty Gritty: THE MORNING OF LOBBY DAY IS REALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLY BUSY AND JAM-PACKED WITH TRAINING, MEETING NEW PEOPLE, PRACTICING LOBBY VISITS AND  YOU RECEIVING LOTS OF INFORMATION.  PLEASE, PLEASE: WHEN EDC STAFF ARE AT THE PODIUM AND ASK FOR YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE GIVE IT TO THEM.  OUR TIME AT TRAINING WILL PASS SO QUICKLY AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE TRAINING FEELING PREPARED TO TAKE ON CAPITOL HILL...FOR THAT WE'LL NEED YOUR CONSTANT ATTENTION.  WHEN YOU HEAR A "SHHHH" COME OVER THE MICROPHONE, THAT'S YOUR CUE TO GIVE YOUR ATTENTION TO WHOMEVER IS UP THERE TALKING :-) There will be plenty of time for chatting with your team while you are practicing visits, en route to meetings, during lunch and afterwards :-) 


A Bit More Nitty Gritty: We encourage you to read through the resources linked below:

• Advocate Information Packet
  Please find enclosed in this packet a schedule of events, directions, a map of the Hill and information about the EDC.

• What to Expect in Your Meetings 
  This document illustrates how to have successful meetings with Congressional staff. At the U.S. Capitol, we will meet in teams to brief elected officials and their staff on our legislative goals. Teams will arrive for each appointment, deliver a packet of materials, and talk about how Congress can help. No one will ever lobby alone.

• About the Anna Westin Act 
  We’re excited to build support for the Anna Westin Act of 2015 at Lobby Day.Please take a moment to read more about the Anna Westin Act through the link above and on our website.

• Who is Anna Westin?
  Read more about Anna Westin.

#EDCNationalVirtualLobbyDay:

For those of you unable to be on the Hill with us in person, we will host our traditional Virtual Lobby Day on October 28th, as well!  Details will be announced tomorrow and we'll remind you of those details often.

#Hashtags to Use:  Let's 'trend' #AnnaWestinAct!!  And...here are our other #Hashtags:

#MarchAgainstED - #EDCNationalLobbyDay - #ShakeIt - #TheTimeIsNow - #Not1MoreLife2ED


In Closing:

This is an exciting time for all involved --whether this will be your first Lobby Day or your 30th, enjoy every moment as we prepare to join together on Capitol Hill next week.  We can hardly wait to see you again or meet you for the first time.  Be well until then and please never hesitate to reach out with any questions. ~ The EDC

 

Questions about the M.O.M. March, please contact: MarchAgainstED@gmail.com

Questions about EDC National Lobby Day, please contact: manager@eatingdisorderscoalition.org