Help Build a COPD Movement!
Most Americans, including our elected leaders, are not informed about COPD. We have an opportunity to change that, but need your help. The goal of Operation 435 is to educate all 435 Representatives and 100 Senators about COPD. Only by making ourselves heard can we help raise awareness, increase education, improve diagnosis, and fund research. We hope to mobilize the estimated 24 million individuals who are affected by COPD in the U.S. to take action and become COPD advocates. A COPD advocate is someone who makes their voice heard by contacting their local, state, or national elected officials. Call, email, write, or visit your representatives to show that COPD does affect their district. Tell them we are looking for representatives to place COPD on the national agenda.
Importance of Advocacy
Advocacy serves a number of purposes, ranging from educating our government to empowering other individuals affected by COPD to make their voices heard. Living in a democracy, our government seeks input from its citizens to drive policy. The COPD community depends on people like you to come forward and making their voices heard. Being an advocate means you represent the millions of Americans with COPD.
What is a COPD Advocate?
A COPD advocate is someone who makes their voice heard, here are some ways you can be a COPD Advocate:
1. Visit the
COPD Action Center and email or call your members of Congress
2. Write about COPD on your Facebook
3. Visit your representative in their District Office
4. Write to the editor of your local paper about COPD
5. Start a patient organization group in your area
6. Become a State Advocacy Captain
Take Action at the COPD Action Center!
The
COPD Action Center is the cornerstone of our advocacy strategy. This website provides information on current legislation important to the COPD community and offers simple ways to make your voice heard in Congress. All on one website you can:
1. Send pre-written
advocacy letters to your representatives
2. Look up
contact information for your local, state, and national representatives
3. Sign up to
receive Action Alerts so you know when Congress is dealing with COPD
legislation
4.
Email your friends about the Action Center
5.
Find local newspapers to write to about COPD
6. Learn more about
COPD legislation
7. Learn how to
effectively communicate with members with tips on scheduling meetings, writing
letters, or making phone calls
Get to Know Your State Advocacy Captains!
State Advocacy Captains spread COPD awareness and encourage advocacy throughout their states. State Advocacy Captains are on the front lines of COPD advocacy and legislative change. They are the go-to people for all COPD advocates in their states and serve as one of the Foundation’s primary contacts for advocacy activities including:
1. Helping new advocates
2. Attending Capital Awareness Days
3. Attending District Lobby Days
4. Participating in legislative campaigns
5. Training others to be successful COPD advocates
6. Talking about advocacy at a local support group or pulmonary rehab
7. To learn more or apply to be a State Captain call or email
Aimee Bulthuis: (866) 731-2673
ext
459
Help Spread the Word About COPD!
The first step toward improving the lives of those affected by COPD is raising awareness:
1. Join the
COPD Foundation Facebook group
2. Follow us on
Twitter
3. Post on our
Faces of COPD blog
4. Share your story with local newspapers and media
COPD is estimated to affect over 24 million Americans and it’s our job to stand up and have our voices heard. COPD and Alpha-1 needs advocates like you to help Congress pass legislation that helps raise awareness, increase education, improve diagnosis, and fund research. So please take a minute to visit the
COPD Action Center and make Congress work for you!
Contact
Aimee Bulthuis if you have any questions regarding ways to get involved, organizing district visits, or hosting advocacy webinars for your local support group or organization. (866) 731-2673 ext 459