FG Goes to Washington DC
 

I am leaving on Monday for Washington DC and will return on Friday, May 9.

Here's what I am doing! I will be the Gov't Affairs Rep for Idaho...the All American Chapter, Idaho Office (we have 27,000 members!)

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/gov...nce/index.aspx

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/gov...nce/index.aspx


I will most likely not be online very much, but will check in as available. Greta will be joining me on Tuesday to help celebrate my birthday!! I have a Legislative Reception to take her to that night! Celebrating in style! Yeah!!!

Thursday I have meetings with 2 Senators and 2 Congressman...and a photo op on the steps of the Capitol Building! We were told to bring an orange shirt to wear (that's the new color for MS!) I jokingly commented that was was Boise State colors and I would bring BSU shirts for everyone!!!! I don't think anyone got it!!! So, it's off to the store for BSU Orange for the group!!!!

I have Thursday night free. I am staying in Crystal City. Anyone in the area want to meet FG?

Thank you Cheryl for being an advocate for so many! Hugs! Have fun and don't get a hangover!

Moi????

I am looking forward to the trip and seeing Greta. ;)

Have a great trip and a great Birthday!

Have a safe trip fg and a Very Happy Birthday:Birthday:

Ditto about the safe trip and the Happy Birthday from me too.:hug:

Cheryl

Travel safe, enjoy your visit, thanks for advocating for us MSers.

But most of all
Have a Most Excellent Birthday Day !!

We'll be waiting for the details. :D

:hug:

Thanks for everything that you do!! You are truly one of the people who makes a difference!!

Have a lot of fun with Greta, take pictures, have a cocktail for me at the reception, no pinching legislative bums :p ...


Oh Yeah...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOOO!!

(what are you wearing?)

Oh great....I hope you have a wonderful and funfilled trip..:cool::D

And yes, what the others said...Thanks to you, my Friend.:hug:

Cheryl,

Enjoy your time in DC, FG & HB 2U!

Be safe, and thanks for what you are doing.

Are you going to a Congressional hearing? If so, will it be on C-Span?

-Vic

I don't know Victor...I think the Public Policy Conference we are attending on May 7th is on C-Span ... if it is I will find out on Tuesday at the registration briefing and let everyone know.


I bought this cute black cocktail dress...

and of course, I have my RED Pendleton Blazer to wear...


Remember the let's dress FlyGirl thread from last year when I went to DC to be on the FDA Panel...LOL!

I think it still fits...not too big :eek:

I intend to have fun...but I also have business to do too...there are some very good issues that we as PwMS want our legislators to pay attention to. One very important issue is the $$ for research. The precedent has been set and we just want them to share the wealth.

The other issue is to Eliminate the 24-Month Medicare Waiting Period for People with Disabilities

OMG! :eek: And I thought we had it bad with a 12 month waiting period.

Enjoy the social bits FG, and thank you from MSers everywhere for what you're doing for Multiple Sclerosis.

You GO girl! I'm really proud of you for doing this. Won't the RED blazer clash w/the ORANGE shirt?? :D

You make us proud! Thank you for what you are doing? I think you should chain yourself to the Capitol steps. *60's flashback* :D

Enjoy your visit w/Greta and have a very Happy Birthday. You deserve a lil fun! :hug:

I am NOT a wardrobe dweeb!!! I have been taught by the best (AMN) how to dress for success!! Orange and RED..not....

I plan to have a good time...just hope my legs hold up for all that walking they have planned for me!!! :eek:

Holy Crap. I just realized that I'm going to have to go out and buy something nice to wear.

I have been meaning to buy those black birkenstocks with rhinestones on the buckles.....

Edited to add: seriously, how fancy are we talking. Little black cocktail dress, or do I need to borrow FFM's grape ape bridesmaid dress?

The dress is business casual...I just saw this dress and decided to buy it...remember I have lost about 25 pounds and have NOTHING that fits!!!

Slacks and a shirt are fine...whatever you would wear to a business meeting is just fine Greta-ta-ta....

NO NOT THE GRAPE APE dress....:p

Have a safe and fun trip. Enjoy your birthday. Happy day!!!!!

Happy Birthday :hug:

Have a safe trip. Thank you for all that you are doing.



Happy Birthday***** Behave yourself, Don't drink to much

Naaaaa HAVE FUN! :Birthday:



Jappy :hug:

Cheryl,

Two things to consider:
(1) Your airline (pick a good one):p
(2) Your clothing (red is not always best):eek:

LOL! I think I know who that is!!!!

I am flying Delta!
And I look good in Red!!! It is MY color!

:D

Greta is my chaperone! :eek:

Washington....hmmmmmmm.....:rolleyes::rolleyes:

FG for President :D:D:D


OK so you wants to be what in the FG's cabinet?

I will be work anywhere, but I will not be in charge of the cigar cabinet!

Good grief - I don't have any clothes that fit either. I seem to be in that no mans land when you lose weight and the only pants that fit are capris. Now that would look cute with my sparkly birks....

Are you worried yet?:p

You will be just fine!!! You always look nice!!

Just rememer the wine!

25 POUNDS FG??????


I'll bet if you stood sideways, you'd disappear!! Eat up my dear!!!
You can have THIS~~~~

http://dl.glitter-graphics.net/pub/5...e885u5l8q0.gif


OR THIS~~


http://dl5.glitter-graphics.net/pub/...r5bz78g89b.jpg

Uh Oh not peas :eek::eek::eek::eek:

*Running and hiding when FG gets back*

DM what have you done?

DM is in BIG TROUBLE NOW... SHE SAID THE "P" word....

http://dl6.glitter-graphics.net/pub/...lhpwxlnwlw.gif

Have a great birthday!!!!:hug:

Enjoy the trip!

You will look great in what ever you pick out!

I can't decide between the gray jumper with the white blouse or the peach blouse...

maybe I will just wear the black slacks with the white shirt and the RED blazer...forget the dress...:confused:

Here's a quick synopsis of the week's events:

I arrived Monday late afternoon. Greta arrived that evening. Tuesday morning we took off for Capitol hill and saw the sights. The weather was perfect and we took advantage of it. Went through the National Arborteum, National Air & Space, and the WWII Memorial (later in the week I also visited the Library of Congress and strolled the White House!)

Tuesday was initial meeting with all the delegates from the NMSS and all the chapters. Met with our division/chapter and got our packets.

Wednesday the conference started with keynote speakers and a short briefing on Gov't Relations 101 (what to do and how to say it!). Then we had a short course on the issues, lunch and a prep session on how to talk to your legislators. That led to lots of homework when we got back to hotel rooms!!! Bio's, background, putting together the packets, etc.

Thursday was spent on Capitol Hill. Of course, it was raining, and very humid! Lots of walking, walking, and more walking!



Met with all four of my state's legislators and educated them on the issues at hand for MS and disabilities. Explained the process for applying, approval, and the lengthy waiting process for SSDI and Medicare for people under the age of 65. They were all unaware of the process as well as the lengthy waiting period.

They were unaware of the Congressional Bi-partisan MS Caucus co-sponsored by Congressmen Carnahan and Burgess and Senators Dorgan and Hatch.

The big ticket item is the CDRMP - Congressionally Directed Reseach Medical Program. This year, the MS Society is asking for $15m of the over $125m specifically be directed for MS Research. The reasoning is that so many of the Gulf War Vets are being dx'd with MS. The stats are high and research $$ are needed to find out why. That's not the only reason but the CDRMP is a line item in the DoD budget.

There's a lot of support but a lot of resistance as well.

I also got a special treat. I had the pleasure of meeting and spending the day with Mrs. Eastern Montana. She has MS and was the Montana delegate. We paired up together as our appts were close in time and in the same buildings. That turned out to be a good opportunity as we ended being escorted through the underground tram from the Senate to the House Chamber (this is for "members" only) and were able to walk right through the middle of the White House!!! Then we were escorted back to the Senate for our next appt! Talk about cool! Never been through the underground tunnel system.

All in all, it was a great experience. There are some very good people working for MS Awareness and the cause. I was very glad that I went and met some of these very special people.

Russ Carnahan was awarded the 2007 MS Society Representative of the year for furthering MS Awareness. He has done a lot to help. So those of you from Missouri, please take the opportunity to thank him. http://www.nationalmssociety.org/new...x.aspx?nid=224

Senator Durbin received the 2007 Senator of the Year award. He is from Illinois. http://www.nationalmssociety.org/new...x.aspx?nid=230

Governor Rendell of Pennsylvania received the 2007 Governor of the year award. He created an Office of Health Care Reform as well as the Chronic Care Management, Reimbursement and Cost Reduction Commission.

Overall is it was a great learning experience and I hope to go again next year!

Welcome home, Cheryl, and THANK YOU!:)

Kewl! Glad you had a great time! (shoving bail money back under couch):Deliberate:

Thank you Cheryl for everything you have done! Glad you had a great trip now it is time for you to relax a bit....

Welcome back Cheryl! Thank you and God bless you for what you've done! :hug:

You ALL are most welcome.

I must add a tiny little PS -

Some of you may remember Doug Franklin from the MSAA and his wonderful (I am being facetious) testimony in front of the FDA during the Tysabri hearings. He sat next to me and was very curious about my testimony, my experience, was very friendly, and then stood up and testified about how cognitively challenged PwMS are to the point of not being able to comprehend the Consent Forms and understanding the concept of death, in other words MSAA was against Tysabri.

He was at this conference. Greta was sitting next to me when he was introduced as part of the Board for this conference. She made me promise I would not say anything to him or approach him.

Well, Greta I kept my promise. But...during the breakfast the following morning he approached me and his comment was that I looked familiar and he was trying to figure out where he knew me from. I reminded him that he sat next to me at the Tysabri hearings and he said oh yes now I remember and went on to tell me about the latest negative news about Tysabri. I cut him off, told him I was in a clinical trial for Tovaxin and walked away.

He has not changed. But I kept positive and chose not to engage him in any sort of confrontational manner in public.

So, Greta, you can be proud of me.

I am wondering if he has changed his position. But from his comments I gathered that he (maybe personally, and not the MSAA) is still not pro-Tysabri.

I guess that's more than a little PS, but thought I would share that with those of you who remember the incident in 2006. Many wrote letters to the MSAA because of Mr. Franklin's testimony.

I plan to do a little more investigating ... but thought I would share that with you. MSAA is a good orgranization. They've done a lot of good for PwMS and have helped the cause and are helping now.

Oh....I almost needed the bail money then?:eek:

No, Twappy, you were never in jeopardy of losing those hard earned $$...you need them for lunch! :D

Good, cause I am off to Costco and I have just enough for a dog and soda!:D
(covering dogs ears)
(guess I should buy some other stuff too, huh?)