<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> EDUCATIONAL LOBBYING - MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Why do we do this? AWARENESS and FUNDING to requestincreased research and education dollars. Our message is 2-fold - first werepresent the coalitions - Digestive Disease National Coalition (DDNC) andNational Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS).Second - we have the opportunity to explain why the increased funding isimportant to our cause - celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis. How do things work that day? DDNC and NIAMS coordinate allsupport groups attending the assault on the hill. They do a briefing in themorning to explain what we are asking for as a coalition and have packets wetake to the congress people we visit. They have pre-arranged meetings withcongress people from our areas, but if there are several people from one area,they will spread them out to represent many areas of the country. Visits to the hill start beforelunch; we often will break for lunch and then finish after lunch with thevisits, and end the day with a debriefing session. Visits are brief - 10 to 15minutes each, so key points have to be stressed early. What information do we give them? The rule here is: 'key information'.The people readying this information will ready it quickly. So we will have afact sheet that has important facts and contact information. We are asked tolimit our information to 1-2 pages. Who can do this? Anyone! Kids make a lastingimpression, especially if they do some of the talking. Adults of all ages,especially if you have the disease or have a family member with the disease. Do I have to be a professional orhave expertise? No!You simply have to be impassioned about the cause you are speaking about. What are the days we are lobbying? March 19th we will lobby with theDigestive Disease National Coalition (DDNC). March 27th we lobby with Coalitionof Patient Advocates for Skin Disease Research (CPASDR), as part of NIAMS If you want to help spread the word, contact Cynthia at theGluten Intolerance Group at <A HREF="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]</A>. Educational lobbying helps us all. Contact Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) in Seattle, WA for information. Gluten Intolerance Group 15110 10th Ave SW, Suite A Seattle, WA 98166-1820 Telephone: 206-246-6652 Fax: 206-246-6531 Website: www.gluten.net Email: [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask] Executive Director: Cynthia Kupper, C.R.D.(CertifiedRegistered Dietitian) (and she has Celiac Disease) is very willing to work withanyone that calls. Cynthia also has credentials as a former C.D.E. (CertifiedDiabetes Educator). Nancy Seattle, WA USA