The future of the DME industry will depend on the effectiveness of our district level grassroots advocacy action plans. Grassroots advocacy is a year-round effort, not just something to do when there is a critical issue. In fact, the only way to be an effective advocate is to develop a personal relationship with your legislator now.
Changing political minds, one member of Congress at a time, is the goal of NAIMES and should be the goal of every supplier. Developing relationships with your members of Congress at home is the most powerful form of advocacy. It is much harder for your lawmaker to say no if you have a personal relationship. While some of us may have representatives who are virtually impossible to get close to because of their leadership role, we should not assume that it is impossible, or that your contact with them will not yield results.
This checklist is your guide to developing a relationship with your lawmakers. A personal relationship means having your Representative and Senators recognize you and know your name. Without the power of personal relationships we will not change our destiny, and remember that only Congress can change the path of public policy for DME.
The concept explained below is to meet your Representative face-to-face at every opportunity when he or she is at home. View each such encounter as a simple business meeting where you are getting to know one of your peers. Your elected officials want to hear from you and want your support as much as you want theirs. Follow these directions to build a fruitful relationship with your members of Congress:
- Show up! Whenever they are in your area be there to meet them.
- Meet, greet and shake hands. Listen and learn. Get to know them.
- Thank them for their service and for supporting your community.
- Repeat the above steps frequently (monthly if possible).
- Help them know you personally first, before you ask for help.
- Make a small contribution ($100) after a few meetings.
- Continue repeating steps 1-3.
- When they recognize you by sight and know your name, the roots are growing.
- Now help them know you professionally. Share your values and goals.
- Don’t ask for help until roots start to grow. (You may have to ask, and that’s OK.)
- Contribute semi-annually. Small amounts are fine.
- Now harvest your support! Ask for their support for your issues.
- Reinforce the message of home care and its value.
- Cultivate support for the lawmaker’s goals.
- Results will mean power for DME.
Remember that relationships at home equal grassroots power. This plan works and it’s easy, as painless as meeting a new neighbor in your community. Think of advocacy as marketing—you likely wouldn’t walk into a referral source’s office and ask for their business in the first minute of the meeting. You get to know them and sell yourself and your business. Grassroots advocacy is the same. You can’t expect your Representative to act on your request when you’re a stranger. Get to know your lawmakers by learning all you can about them and their passions. As with most selling relationships, knowing what their goals are and supporting them may result in them supporting you.
This simple concept is also known as “preparing for the future.” We will always need to lobby for something relating to our industry and the best way to do that is to “dig your well before you’re thirsty.” Waiting until you need the help is almost always too late when it comes to politics. Getting to know your Representative personally may take time and patience, but I can assure you that the rewards will be worth it.
I urge you to use this plan and keep it handy. Copy this page, or print it out by going to the HomeCare website at www.homecaremag.com. Post it where you can see it as a reminder every day. Give a copy to your managers and ask them to get involved. Never let your lawmakers be in your local area without you showing up and planting grassroots seeds.
