Encouraging Advocacy at Your Chapter 2011 Regional Meetings LGN Structure Chair of the LGN Vice chair Regional legislative coordinators (3) Executive committee member
Download ReportTranscript Encouraging Advocacy at Your Chapter 2011 Regional Meetings LGN Structure Chair of the LGN Vice chair Regional legislative coordinators (3) Executive committee member
Encouraging Advocacy at Your Chapter 2011 Regional Meetings LGN Structure Chair of the LGN Vice chair Regional legislative coordinators (3) Executive committee member Board of trustees liaison ASDA staff liaison Legislative liaisons serve each chapter Chair of the Legislative Grassroots Network Monitor and report on national legislation and identify its importance to dental students Direct organizational and educational activities of the LGN Serve as Liaison to ADA’s Council on Government Affairs Vice Chair (ADPAC Student Director) Serves on the ADPAC board of directors Promotes ADPAC drives at chapters and coordinates drives at national meetings Responsible for compiling ADPAC membership statistics for ASDA Regional Legislative Coordinators (RLCs) Communicate regularly with LLs Provides legislative information and updates to chapters as well as ASDA legislative policies Ensure all chapter activities are reported to chair and vice chair Two additional RLCs starting 2012 Board of Trustees Liaison Trustee assigned to serve as liaison from LGN to board of trustees Represents board of trustees perspective at LGN meetings One member of the executive committee serves on the LGN (new for 2011-2012) ASDA Staff Liaison Coordinates activities of LGN Works with LGN and ADEA staff to develop content and plan National Dental Student Lobby Day ASDA Central Office contact for anything related to the LGN, National Lobby Day or legislative activities Legislative Liaisons Read the LGN Handbook Keep your chapter leaders, members and other dental students informed about advocacy efforts and legislation Organize legislative activities at your school Report your chapter’s legislative activities to your RLC Legislative Liaisons Attend regional meeting, National Lobby Day, and Annual Session Coordinate your chapter’s attendance at Lobby Day Monitor state legislative issues and ask the LGN for help when action is needed How do we affect change? State and national lobby days Educate and inform ASDA members and dental students about issues affecting dentistry Membership in ADPAC and State PACs Communication with legislators about what issues are important to their constituents Who helps the LGN? ADA Division of Government Affairs ADA Department of State Government Affairs ADPAC American Dental Education Association (ADEA) State and local dental societies What is ADPAC? ADPAC is the American Dental Political Action Committee It is the bipartisan legislative arm of the ADA Creates and cultivates relationships on Capitol Hill that benefit the ADA and the interests of dentists nationwide In a nutshell: It is a way of Protecting the profession Provides “Preventative Care” for the profession And a Powerful force for the profession Consider it “cheap insurance” for Dentistry as a whole! Issues that are affecting YOU. Yes, you. Dental Workforce Kansas…ahem…Missouri Dental Therapist Greater Springfield Dental Society has drafted a legislative proposal for a dental therapist Additionally, the MDHA wrote a proposal for an Advanced Practice Dental Hygienist The Missouri Dental Board has currently accepted both proposals – pending review Sound familiar??? This is one of the biggest issues affecting dentistry today Some other issues… Use of amalgam as a dental restorative Water fluoridation Student Loan Interest Deduction (SLID) Loan repayment programs Reimbursement rates for dentists Small business laws Scope of practice OK…what does my $5 membership do? Legislators don’t want to make laws for all dentists if they think ADPAC’s opinions only represent a minority of the profession A greater percentage of member representation gives dentistry political leverage Strength in numbers ADPAC does not “buy votes” – these monies go toward candidates’ campaigns who support oral health initiatives Legislative Lunch and Learn ADPAC Drive ADPAC oversees Legislative Lunch and Learn program Hold a Lunch and Learn with ADPAC membership drive Student membership is only $5 per year ($50 for Capitol Club) Contact Aruna Rao for instructions and to report on your chapter’s events ([email protected]) Resources E-newsletter www.ASDAnet.org Leadership – Legislative Grassroots Network The Issues – Advocating the Issues How do I remember this stuff? It’s all in the LGN Handbook! Online at www.ASDAnet.org 2011-2012 Handbook New! LGN State Lobby Day Scholarship State level advocacy efforts are key to advancing dentistry Max of $500 awarded to a chapter- up to 3 chapters Scholarships awarded based on those who apply and demonstrate a need for financial support to organize a state lobby day LGN State Lobby Day Scholarship The LGN will judge applications based on information provided about the event’s execution, funding sources and budgetary requirements. To apply: Go to ASDA’s website – Member Resources – ASDA Scholarships Email completed application to Meghan Keelean ([email protected]) at ASDA central office by Nov. 30, 2011 Stay up to Date Go to www.ADA.org – Advocacy Under Speak Out click on Legislative Action Center Sign up for Action E-list to get alerts when action is needed In an action alert email you will get a link that has a form letter for you to send to your legislator April 16-17, 2012 Largest LGN event of the year Collaborative event with ASDA and ADEA Held in Washington, DC Students will meet with their members of Congress (Senate and House of Representatives) You will lobby specific dental-related issues that have been introduced as Bills awaiting legislative outcome Over 340 dental students attended in March 2011! National Lobby Day Appointments LLs at each school are in charge of making appointments with the legislators in the dental school’s state If you are from a state without a dental school, we encourage you to visit those offices too After a Successful Year… Apply for the Ideal LGN Award Applications judged by the LGN Presented at Lobby Day Not the same as Ideal ASDA Awards Separate application Different judges Get the application under Member Resources – Awards on www.ASDAnet.org Contact Info Namrata Gupte: [email protected] Meghan Keelean: [email protected] Aruna Rao: [email protected] or [email protected]