2004 Lobby Day

Advocacy Alert: 03/13/2004

Dear CFIDS-Activist Member,

For the first time in 13 years, we have decided not to schedule a lobby day for 2004. Instead, we will be focusing on helping people who are concerned about CFIDS participate in CFIDS advocacy efforts, without the financial, medical and personal burden of traveling to Washington, D.C.

Having people with CFIDS demonstrate strong support for the Association's policy initiatives has always been key to our success on Capital Hill. Historically, this has largely occurred on lobby day. But new tools make it easier than ever for citizens to interact with their elected officials without ever leaving home, eliminating the burden of asking people to physically travel to Capital Hill to lobby.

With this being a major election year, the possibility exists for considerable turnover among members and staff after Nov. 2. If leadership of the House or Senate changes parties, committee assignments will change dramatically too.

These circumstances call for a major CFIDS education campaign in 2005. In 2004 we'll be asking you to write more letters and make more phone calls - and providing you with improved tools to do so. We'll also begin planning for a large-scale 2005 lobby day.

K. Kimberly (Kenney) McCleary
President & CEO
The CFIDS Association of America, Inc.