Albany “It’s Not Healthy To Fail First” Advocacy Day Schedule

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Location: New York State Assembly, Capitol Building, Albany, NY

Welcome. We are glad you are able to attend this important event. You are the spokespeople for millions of New Yorkers who live with chronic disease and pain. Advocacy Day is being held to show support for the Fail First/Step Therapy Reform Bill currently in the New York State Assembly and Senate.

8:30 AM: REGISTRATION & BREAKFAST

Registration is in the Legislative Office Building (LOB) in the 3rd Floor Terrace area. There you will sign in (having a count helps us promote the cause and shows the need). You will receive a “Support the Fail First Legislation” binder prepared by the Global Healthy Living Foundation which contains: memos of support, a Fail First fact sheet, a copy of the advocacy day agenda, and a bright name tag saying “STOP FAIL FIRST.” This helps identify you and our cause.

If you are new to advocacy day and have questions, please look for a GHLF staff member who will be wearing a GHLF STAFF badge.

There will be a healthy snack/light breakfast.

9:15 am-9:45 am: BRIEFING

You will receive information about the structure of the day and will be assigned to groups. Each group will select a group leader. The leader will receive an individual schedule listing the members of the Assembly and the Senate the group will meet. The leader will also receive “STOP FAIL FIRST” folders to leave at legislators’ offices. The leader will be responsible for getting the group to the meetings on time, introducing the group to the legislators or their staff members, opening and closing the meeting and making sure a photograph is taken, keeping the meeting focused, and sharing feedback with everyone during the break.

9.45 am-10.00 am: WELCOME ADDRESS FROM ASSEMBLYMEMBER BING

10:00 am-12:00 am: VISIT YOUR ASSEMBLYMEMBER AND SENATOR

After Assemblymember Bing speaks, your group will visit assigned legislators until noon when you come back to the 3rd Floor Terrace for lunch. Please respect the schedule and be on time for each meeting. If the legislator is not able to meet with you at that time, meet with a staff member or schedule another time that day. To get the most out of these meetings follow these simple steps:

	Be on time for your meeting.
	Always be polite and professional.
	Let the group leader start the meeting and present the case.
	Briefly introduce yourself and explain why the Fail First Bill is important to you and your group. If you are from the legislator’s district make sure you mention this.
	Take a group picture with the legislator or staff.
	Leave the “STOP FAIL FIRST” folder in exchange for business cards of the legislator and staff members.
	Either thank the legislator for supporting the bill or ask them to please consider supporting it. These should be the last words you say to the legislator.
	Thank the staff and receptionist before you leave.
	Move on to your next meeting.

If no one in your group has visited with elected officials before and your group would like to have an experienced advocacy group person go with you, let us know so we can arrange this.

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm: LUNCH

We will regroup on the 3rd Floor Terrace for lunch and debriefing. At this time we would like the leaders to talk about their experience of meeting with the legislators. Please have your report organized. Members of the group are welcome to participate in the presentation.

We are very fortunate this year to have US Pain Foundation’s INvisible Project – photographs of pain survivors – on the 3rd Floor Terrace. This will draw additional attention to our cause and give you an additional topic to discuss with legislators.

We will take a group photograph which will be distributed to everyone so it can be posted on websites and Facebook pages.

1:00 pm: INVISIBLE PROJECT, LOCATED IN THE WELL IN THE LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING

We are very fortunate this year to have US Pain Foundation’s INvisible Project -- photographs of pain survivors -- on display in the Well. This will draw additional attention to our cause and give you an additional topic to discuss with legislators.

We will all gather here for group photographs and to draw additional attention to the display.

1:30 pm-2:30 pm: VISIT YOUR ASSEMBLYMEMBER AND SENATOR (IF NECESSARY)

2:30 pm-3:00 pm: WRAP UP

We’ll meet back at the LOB 3rd Floor Terrace area for our wrap-up, and to pick up some snacks for the trip home.

Have a safe trip home!

DRESS: We encourage business casual if possible.

The Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF) has joined forces with the US Pain Foundation and other advocacy groups across the state to organization this event.

For more information about the “It’s Not Healthy To Fail First” Advocacy Day Schedule, please contact us here.