PHARMACY BULLDOGS

1
PHARMACY BULLDOGS

• Why and How to get involved
• with the Grassroots Campaign

2
What is Grassroots?

• The term grassroots describes a distinctive
  from the bottom up approach to shaping public
  policy, launching a public affairs campaign, or
  drawing attention to an issue.

3
What is Grassroots Advocacy?

• Public participation engaging real people to
  shape public policy and perception that affect MN
  Pharmacists and the care of their patients
• Demonstration to policy makers that pharmacists
  are paying attention and have personal stories to
  tell about how policy will affect their practice,
  patients, and communities
• Quantity and Quality of contact with the policy
  maker, not on how well you know a particular
  policy issue

4
Who is a Grassroots Advocate?

• YOU and anyone else who has an interest in
  allowing pharmacist to practice to the full
  extent of their capabilities and be reimbursed
  adequately for these services.
• In addition to yourself, encourage others you
  know to take action as well.
• Colleagues, family, friends, patients, and
  organizations can become advocates for MPhA

5
Benefits of Grassroots Organizing

• Influence Policy Impact MPhAs legislative
  policies by generating personal contacts with
  decision-makers
• Impact Elections Volunteers help persuade other
  members general public to support MPhAs
  recommended local, state and federal candidates
• Fundraising A motivated base of volunteers can
  raise financial resources for political efforts.
• Energizing Creates energy, excitement
  momentum.
• Power A strong and engaged base of advocates is
  a demonstration of power.

6
Benefits, contd.

• Complements Traditional Strategies Provides
  additional cover and support for MPhA
• Winning Advocates can make a difference when is
  comes to passing an agenda or stopping hostile
  legislation.
• Antidote to Cynicism Gives a human face to an
  issue.
• Cost Effective Grassroots relies on volunteers
• Maximizes our Advantages Organizes
  issues/messages and people allows us to be
  effective.

7
Benefits, contd.

• Maximizes our Advantages Organizes
  issues/messages and people
• Long-term Capacity Prevents having to constantly
  reinvent the wheel
• Membership Aggressive grassroots organizing can
  help attract new members to the MPhA who are
  drawn to the energy, enthusiasm, and results.

8
Ways to Influence Your Legislator

• Meeting your Legislator A face to face meeting
  can be a powerful opportunity to advance your
  agenda. The meeting can also position you as a
  reliable expert on your issue and an important
  ally for your legislatorif its done right.
• Writing your Legislator Offers you the
  opportunity to give more information than a phone
  call. Great as a follow up to a call, visit or
  e-mail.

9
Why to Contribute

• Contributions play a significant role in electing
  and supporting pharmacy friendly legislators who
  understand the importance of pharmacies and
  pharmacists.
• These legislators are willing to author bills we
  need and vote for our issues in committee
  meetings and in legislative sessions.
• PharmPAC funds help make the Legislature the most
  pharmacy friendly and pharmacy knowledgeable it
  can be.

10
Contribution Refund

• If you make a contribution(s) to a Minnesota
  political party, a candidate for state office, or
  candidates for the Minnesota Legislature, you are
  eligible to apply for a refund of a portion of
  your contribution(s).
• Only those contributions made to candidates who
  signed an agreement with the Campaign Finance and
  Public Disclosure Board (formerly Minnesota
  Ethical Practices Board) to observe state
  campaign spending limits qualify for the refund.
• The maximum refund you can receive is 50 for
  single persons and 100 for married couples. You
  are only allowed to claim one refund with a
  single application per year. You cannot amend
  that filing.If you are registered to vote or
  eligible to vote in Minnesota, you are eligible
  to apply for a refund.

11
Applying for Refund

• To apply, you must
• 1. Get a receipt (Form EP-3) from the political
  party or candidate to whom the contribution was
  made.
• 2. Fill out Form PCR, obtained from the party,
  candidate, or Minnesota Department of Revenue.
  See http//www.taxes.state.mn.us/forms/pcr_08.pdf
• 3. Attach the EP-3 to Form PCR.
• 4. Mail it to the Minnesota Department of Revenue
  at
• Minnesota Political Contribution
  Refund Minnesota Department of Revenue St.
  Paul, MN 55146-1800
• This refund program is not tied in any way to the
  state income tax form. Form PCR must be filed
  separately. You can only file one claim. Form PCR
  cannot be amended.You may file a claim for the
  PCR immediately after making the contribution.

12
Find Your Elected Officials

• To find out who represents you, use the state
  district finder website. Type in your address and
  zip code and you will get a complete contact list
  of all the elected officials who represent you at
  the state and federal levels.www.leg.state.mn.us/
  leg/districtfinder.asp

13
Writing to the Media

• Letters to the editor, commentary and editorials
  are an effective media tool to make the case for
  your cause.
• Be concise (200-400) words
• Write in first person to make compelling
• Offer researched arguments with a human side of
  the story
• Go to the Minnesota Newpaper Associations
  website at www.mna.org to find a local newspaper
  and address to Editorial Page Editor

14
Upcoming Ways to Get Involved

• Legislative Day March 4, 2008
• -Commodore/University Club in St. Paul
• End of Session Bulldog Event May, 2008
• - OGaras Garage in St. Paul

15
Its not the size of the dog in the fight, its
the size of the fight in the dog. -Mark Twain
To find out what else you can do to become a
Grassroots Advocate Please contact Liz Carpenter
at 651-789-3207 or liz_at_mpha.org or Emily Finstuen
at 651-789-3202 or emily_at_mpha.org with the
Minnesota Pharmacists Association for more
information about how you can become involved
promoting and advancing MPhAs legislative
priorities in your community and with your
decision-makers.