Thank you for supporting the campaign to increase funding for prostate cancer research.  This document provides step-by-step guidelines for meeting with your Congressmen and Senators in person.

STEP 1.   ORGANIZE YOUR GROUP
You should have a list of everyone who will be attending the meeting and be prepared with a general outline of topics you would like to discuss.  While you can go by yourself, a diverse group of constituents including other patients/survivors, doctors and researchers will help to make your case.  For this meeting your group will be requesting an appropriation of $125 million for the Prostate Cancer Research Program of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program at the Department of Defense.

If you have questions about organizing, preparing or scheduling your group, Kevin Johnson (Kevin@zerocancer.org -- 202-303-3120) or Marie Blessinger (Marie@zerocancer.org -- 202-303-3106) will be happy to help you.

STEP 2.   REQUEST A MEETING WITH YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
Phone contact is the most direct method.  The easiest way to ensure a meeting with your Member of Congress is to request a meeting in his/her district or state office.  Most Members (Representatives and Senators) have multiple offices in their respective districts/states.  This information can be obtained in several ways:

• Members’ DC office information can be obtained at http://www.zerocancer.org/site/PageServer?pagename=GI_Advocacy_Center .
• Members also post their DC and local office info on their official web pages at www.senate.gov or www.house.gov.

Below is a sample script to use when making your appointment:

“Hello, my name is ________.  I am a prostate cancer [patient, survivor, advocate, etc.].  I have a small group of [patients, survivors, doctors, researchers and advocates] who would like to schedule a meeting with the Congressman/Senator about prostate cancer and some of the issues he/she is likely to hear about during the current session of Congress.”

Be sure to write down the name of the person you will be meeting with, the date and the time.  In the majority of the cases you will be meeting with a Congressional staffer.  This staffer is very important within the operation of the Congressional office and he or she can be convinced to be a champion for your cause.

Please do not forget to email or call Kevin Johnson (Kevin@zerocancer.org -- 202-303-3120) or Marie Blessinger (Marie@zerocancer.org -- 202-303-3106) with your meeting information so that we can keep track of where visits have been made.

STEP 3.  CONDUCT THE MEETING
It is important to be organized and prepared.  In a face-to-face meeting, more information can be covered as long as it is delivered in an organized manner.  Prepare an outline so that you stay focused.  Your priority in this meeting is to request an appropriation of $125 million for the Prostate Cancer Research Program of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program at the Department of Defense.

Most importantly you need to convey your personal story of prostate cancer and why these issues are so important to you.

Your meeting may last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes.  You need to be succinct, direct and polite.  Congressional offices are often small, crowded and busy so be prepared to hold your meeting anywhere from the lobby to a small conference room or even in the hallway.  The important thing to remember is that you are having the meeting and that you have this important opportunity to deliver the message of increased funding for the DOD CDMRP. 

As you finish the meeting restate your “ask”, request the Member’s support and thank the Member or staffer for their time.  Thank you’s are very important.

STEP 4.  AFTER THE MEETING
When you get home from your meeting it is a good practice to write a short thank you note to the Member or staffer.  This is also an ideal opportunity to restate your “ask.”  If time permits, we would love to hear about your meeting.

SAMPLE MEETING AGENDA

1. Brief Personal Introductions
2. The “Ask” – Please appropriate $125 million for FY2010 for the Prostate Cancer Research Program of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program at the Department of Defense.
3. Personal Stories
4. CDMRP Talking Points (Use as needed)
5. Increase federal funding for the Prostate Cancer Research Program (part of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program at the Department of Defense)
   1. $125 million in fiscal year 2010.
   2. Program funded at $80 million for the previous 4 fiscal year.  It was funded at $100 million in fiscal year 2001.
   3. DoD’s Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) funds groundbreaking high-risk, high gain research to prevent, detect, and cure prostate cancer, and to improve the quality of life for individuals and families living with prostate cancer.
   4. Since fiscal year 2001, the prostate cancer community has struggled to conduct human clinical trials; the PCRP will require at least $100 million to adequately conduct a clinical trial program.
   5. Without adequate funding, clinical trial studies that might produce potentially lifesaving medicines will never have the opportunity to make it to the marketplace or to patients who need them most.
   6. Every year that the program is level funded, it becomes more challenging to fund new research or in some cases, to complete research that has already been started.
6. Other issues that may come up during the 111th Congress:
   1. Screening and treatment bill
   2. Resolutions for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month (September), Men’s Health Month (June) and African-American disparity with regards to prostate cancer.
7. Thank you and restate the “Ask”