Epilepsy Advocacy Campaign May 6-June 17, 2015
Get Active and Start Talking!
Instead of traveling to Lansing, we encourage you to engage your local lawmakers in your community . Visit them in your district and forums to bring epilepsy awareness to them
The kick off will begin with the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan’s Learn & Share Conference Call on May 6, 2015. Join Arlene S Gorelick, MPH President of the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan, and Elizabeth Weihl, partner at RWC Associates and receive talking points, material, and information for successful visits to your representatives .
See the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan agenda for 2015 along with contact information for all state Senators and Representatives.
Sign up for the campaign. Email or call the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan with your plans so we can track your advocacy efforts to [email protected]
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Goals of the Epilepsy Advocacy Campaign
Establish relationships with your elected officials
Promote understanding of epilepsy and its effects on individuals and families
Speak with a unified advocacy message
Promote Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan‘s legislative agenda for 2015
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Unified Advocacy Message
Talk about Epilepsy
• 1 in 26 Americans will have epilepsy over the course of their lifetime.
• Nearly three million children and adults in the United States have epilepsy.
• Children and the elderly are particularly affected.
• The cost of epilepsy is estimated at $19.26 billion, an annual economic burden
associated with healthcare costs and losses in employment, wages and
productivity.
• The risk of death is 2 to 3 times higher than the general population and
• The risk is 24 times higher for those with rare, severe epilepsy.
• In Michigan, at least 100,000 people suffer from a seizure disorder.
• About 30 percent, or 30,000, are children.
• Epilepsy and seizures can affect anyone from any age, ethnic background, or
gender –
• The primary treatment of epilepsy is medication.
• Access to the newer anti-epilepsy drugs is particularly crucial for those who have
intractable epilepsy.
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Talk about the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan’s Legislative Agenda for 2015
Support for HB 4210 and SB 142, which amend the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act to allow edible and topical forms of medical marijuana for adults and children, in particular CBD oil .
Seek Changes in Driving while Intoxicated Law (PA 543 of 2012)
Increase the Number of School Nurses in Michigan
Treat Mental Health Conditions like Other Health Conditions (Mental Health Parity )
(See attached)
Tell Your Story
• Speak plainly. Avoid medical terms, legal terms or abbreviations. Tell your story with clear, everyday words.
• Speak to the heart. People will respond to the passion of your words. Creating an emotional response in your audience helps tap into the common values and feelings that we all share.
• Point the way to a situation that’s improving. Your story should demonstrate how real people will benefit from the solution that you are advocating.
• Keep their interest. Include small but telling details that paint a picture of what you are describing.
• Avoid relying on statistics .
• Personalize your story. Naming the people and places in your story helps your elected officials recognize how policies affect the everyday lives of people with epilepsy and their families
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Epilepsy Advocacy Campaign Engagement Ideas
• Make an appointment to meet your Representative or Senator in his/her office in your district. The Michigan House and Senate meet Tuesday through Thursday. They often have office hours in the district on Mondays or Fridays. Call the Lansing office to set up a time. • Participate in a town hall meeting hosted by your Representative or Senator. You can find out about town meetings on their websites For the Michigan House of Representatives go to http://house.michigan.gov/ . For the Michigan Senate, go to < http://www.senate.michigan.gov/ >. • Put a face on epilepsy. Show you legislators that people are concerned about the issues that impact on people with epilepsy and their families and friends. Show them that people with epilepsy and their families are among their constituents. • Sign up today at on the public policy page at www.epilepsymichigan.org or http://Capwiz.com/efa/mlm/signup . Becoming part of the growing grassroots advocacy group ensures that you are kept up-to-date on issues that affect the people with epilepsy and their families living in Michigan, and the United States. You will know when important issues are coming up for a vote. • Follow up with the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan on the results of your discussion. • After the visit, write a thank you letter letters to your Michigan Representative or Senator. Share it with Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan.
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99 th Legislature 2015-16 Michigan House of Representatives
District Name Party Location Phone Email
001 Brian Banks D S0585 HOB 5173730154 [email protected]
002 Alberta Talabi D S0586 HOB 5173731776 [email protected]
003 Wendell Byrd D S0587 HOB 5173730144 [email protected] Rose Mary
004 D S0588 HOB 5173731008 [email protected] Robinson
005 Fred Durhal D S0589 HOB 5173730844 [email protected]
006 Stephanie Chang D S0685 HOB 5173730823 [email protected]
007 LaTanya Garrett D S0686 HOB 5173732276 [email protected] Sherry Gay-
008 D S0687 HOB 5173733815 [email protected] Dagnogo
009 Harvey Santana D S0688 HOB 5173736990 [email protected]
010 Leslie Love D S0689 HOB 5173730857 [email protected]
011 Julie Plawecki D N0690 HOB 5173730849 [email protected]
012 Erika Geiss D N0691 HOB 5173730852 [email protected]
013 Frank Liberati D N0692 HOB 5173730845 [email protected]
014 Paul Clemente D N0693 HOB 5173730140 [email protected]
015 George Darany D N0694 HOB 5173730847 [email protected]
016 Robert Kosowski D N0695 HOB 5173732576 [email protected]
017 Bill LaVoy D N0696 HOB 5173731530 [email protected]
018 Sarah Roberts D N0697 HOB 5173731180 [email protected]
019 Laura Cox R N0698 HOB 5173733920 [email protected]
020 Kurt Heise R N0699 HOB 5173733816 [email protected]
021 Kristy Pagan D S0785 HOB 5173732575 [email protected]
022 John Chirkun D S0786 HOB 5173730854 [email protected]
023 Pat Somerville R S0787 HOB 5173730855 [email protected]
024 Anthony Forlini R S0788 HOB 5173730113 [email protected]
025 Henry Yanez D S0789 HOB 5173732275 [email protected]
026 Jim Townsend D N0790 HOB 5173733818 [email protected]
027 Robert Wittenberg D N0791 HOB 5173730478 [email protected]
028 Derek Miller D N0792 HOB 5173731772 [email protected]
029 Tim Greimel D 167 CB 5173730475 [email protected]
030 Jeff Farrington R N0794 HOB 5173737768 [email protected]
031 Marilyn Lane D N0795 HOB 5173730159 [email protected]
032 Andrea LaFontaine R N0796 HOB 5173738931 [email protected]
033 Ken Goike R N0797 HOB 5173730820 [email protected]
034 Sheldon Neeley D N0798 HOB 5173738808 [email protected]
035 Jeremy Moss D N0799 HOB 5173731788 [email protected]
036 Peter Lucido R S0885 HOB 5173730843 [email protected]
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District Name Party Location Phone Email
037 Christine Greig D S0886 HOB 5173731793 [email protected]
038 Kathy Crawford R S0887 HOB 5173730827 [email protected]
039 Klint Kesto R S0888 HOB 5173731799 [email protected]
040 Michael McCready R S0889 HOB 5173738670 [email protected]
041 Martin Howrylak R N0890 HOB 5173731783 [email protected]
042 Lana Theis R N0891 HOB 5173731784 [email protected]
043 Jim Tedder R N0892 HOB 5173730615 [email protected]
044 Jim Runestad R N0893 HOB 5173732616 [email protected]
045 Michael Webber R N0894 HOB 5173731773 [email protected]
046 Bradford Jacobsen R N0895 HOB 5173731798 [email protected]
047 Henry Vaupel R N0896 HOB 5173738835 [email protected]
048 Pam Faris D N0897 HOB 5173737557 [email protected]
049 Phil Phelps D N0898 HOB 5173737515 [email protected]
050 Charles Smiley D N0899 HOB 5173733906 [email protected]
051 Joseph Graves R S0985 HOB 5173731780 [email protected]
052 Gretchen Driskell D S0986 HOB 5173730828 [email protected]
053 Jeff Irwin D S0987 HOB 5173732577 [email protected]
054 David Rutledge D S0988 HOB 5173731771 [email protected]
055 Adam Zemke D S0989 HOB 5173731792 [email protected]
056 Jason Sheppard R N0990 HOB 5173732617 [email protected]
057 Nancy Jenkins R N0991 HOB 5173731706 [email protected]
058 Eric Leutheuser R N0992 HOB 5173731794 [email protected]
059 Aaron Miller R N0993 HOB 5173730832 [email protected]
060 Jon Hoadley D N0994 HOB 5173731785 [email protected]
061 Brandt Iden R N0995 HOB 5173731774 [email protected]
062 John Bizon R N0996 HOB 5173730555 [email protected]
063 David Maturen R N0997 HOB 5173731787 [email protected]
064 Earl Poleski R N0998 HOB 5173731795 [email protected]
065 Brett Roberts R N0999 HOB 5173731775 [email protected]
066 Aric Nesbitt R 153 CB 5173730839 [email protected]
067 Tom Cochran D S1086 HOB 5173730587 [email protected]
068 Andy Schor D S1087 HOB 5173730826 [email protected]
069 Sam Singh D 141 CB 5173731786 [email protected]
070 Rick Outman R S1089 HOB 5173730834 [email protected]
071 Tom Barrett R N1090 HOB 5173730853 [email protected]
072 Ken Yonker R N1091 HOB 5173730840 [email protected]
073 Chris Afendoulis R N1092 HOB 5173730218 [email protected]
074 Rob VerHeulen R N1093 HOB 5173738900 [email protected]
075 Brandon Dillon D N1094 HOB 5173732668 [email protected]
076 Winnie Brinks D N1095 HOB 5173730822 [email protected]
077 Tom Hooker R N1096 HOB 5173732277 [email protected]
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District Name Party Location Phone Email
078 Dave Pagel R N1097 HOB 5173731796 [email protected]
079 Al Pscholka R 351 CB 5173731403 [email protected]
080 Cindy Gamrat R N1099 HOB 5173730836 [email protected]
081 Dan Lauwers R S1185 HOB 5173731790 [email protected]
082 Todd Courser R S1186 HOB 5173731800 [email protected]
083 Paul Muxlow R S1187 HOB 5173730835 [email protected]
084 Edward Canfield R S1188 HOB 5173730476 [email protected]
085 Ben Glardon R S1189 HOB 5173730841 [email protected] Lisa Posthumus
086 R N1190 HOB 5173730846 [email protected] Lyons
087 Mike Callton R N1191 HOB 5173730842 [email protected]
088 Roger Victory R N1192 HOB 5173731830 [email protected]
089 Amanda Price R N1193 HOB 5173730838 [email protected]
090 Daniela Garcia R N1194 HOB 5173730830 [email protected]
091 Holly Hughes R N1195 HOB 5173733436 [email protected] Marcia Hovey-
092 D N1196 HOB 5173732646 [email protected] Wright
093 Tom Leonard R 251 CB 5173731778 [email protected]
094 Tim Kelly R N1198 HOB 5173730837 [email protected]
095 Vanessa Guerra D N1199 HOB 5173730152 [email protected]
096 Charles Brunner D S1285 HOB 5173730158 [email protected]
097 Joel Johnson R S1286 HOB 5173738962 [email protected]
098 Gary Glenn R S1287 HOB 5173731791 [email protected]
099 Kevin Cotter R 164 CB 5173731789 [email protected]
100 Jon Bumstead R S1289 HOB 5173737317 [email protected]
101 Ray A. Franz R S1385 HOB 5173730825 [email protected]
102 Phil Potvin R S1386 HOB 5173731747 [email protected]
103 Bruce Rendon R S1387 HOB 5173733817 [email protected]
104 Larry Inman R S1388 HOB 5173731766 [email protected]
105 Triston Cole R S1389 HOB 5173730829 [email protected]
106 Peter Pettalia R S1485 HOB 5173730833 [email protected]
107 Lee Chatfield R S1486 HOB 5173732629 [email protected]
108 Ed McBroom R S1487 HOB 5173730156 [email protected]
109 John Kivela D S1488 HOB 5173730498 [email protected]
110 Scott Dianda D S1489 HOB 5173730850 [email protected]
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99 th Legislature 2015-16 Michigan Senate
Party Dist. Member OfficePhone No. OfficeFax No. OfficeLocation
D 27 Ananich, Jim 517-373-0142 517-373-3938 S-105 Capitol Bldg
D 9 Bieda, Steven M 517-373-8360 517-373-9230 310 Farnum Bldg
R 35 Booher, Darwin L 517-373-1725 517-373-0741 720 Farnum Bldg
R 8 Brandenburg, Jack 517-373-7670 517-373-5958 605 Farnum Bldg
R 38 Casperson, Tom 517-373-7840 517-373-3932 705 Farnum Bldg
R 7 Colbeck, Patrick 517-373-7350 517-373-9228 1020 Farnum Bldg
R 33 Emmons, Judy K 517-373-3760 517-373-8661 1005 Farnum Bldg
R 31 Green, Mike 517-373-1777 517-373-5871 805 Farnum Bldg
D 11 Gregory, Vincent 517-373-7888 517-373-2983 1015 Farnum Bldg
R 34 Hansen, Goeff 517-373-1635 517-373-3300 420 Farnum Bldg
D 23 Hertel Jr., Curtis 517-373-1734 517-373-5397 315 Farnum Bldg
R 29 Hildenbrand, Dave 517-373-1801 517-373-5801 S-324 Capitol Bldg
D 3 Hood III, Morris W 517-373-0990 517-373-5338 S-9 Capitol Bldg
D 6 Hopgood, Hoon-Yung 517-373-7800 517-373-9310 515 Farnum Bldg
R 32 Horn, Ken 517-373-1760 517-373-3487 1010 Farnum Bldg
R 22 Hune, Joe 517-373-2420 517-373-2764 505 Farnum Bldg
D 2 Johnson, Bert 517-373-7748 517-373-1387 220 Farnum Bldg
R 24 Jones, Rick 517-373-3447 517-373-5849 915 Farnum Bldg
D 5 Knezek, David 517-373-0994 517-373-5981 610 Farnum Bldg
R 13 Knollenberg, Marty 517-373-2523 517-373-5669 520 Farnum Bldg
R 15 Kowall, Mike 517-373-1758 517-373-0938 S-309 Capitol Bldg
R 28 MacGregor, Peter 517-373-0797 517-373-5236 715 Farnum Bldg
R 12 Marleau, Jim 517-373-2417 517-373-2694 S-2 Capitol Bldg
Party Dist. Member OfficePhone No. OfficeFax No. OfficeLocation
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R 30 Meekhof, Arlan B 517-373-6920 517-373-2751 S-106 Capitol Bldg
R 19 Nofs, Mike 517-373-2426 517-373-2964 S-132 Capitol Bldg
R 20 O'Brien, Margaret 517-373-5100 517-373-5115 910 Farnum Bldg
R 25 Pavlov, Phil 517-373-7708 517-373-1450 905 Farnum Bldg
R 21 Proos, John 517-373-6960 517-373-0897 S-8 Capitol Bldg
R 14 Robertson, David B 517-373-1636 517-373-1453 305 Farnum Bldg
R 10 Rocca, Tory 517-373-7315 517-373-3126 205 Farnum Bldg
R 37 Schmidt, Wayne A 517-373-2413 517-373-5144 820 Farnum Bldg
R 26 Schuitmaker, Tonya 517-373-0793 517-373-5607 405 Farnum Bldg
R 16 Shirkey, Mike 517-373-5932 517-373-5944 320 Farnum Bldg
D 4 Smith, Virgil 517-373-7918 517-373-5227 510 Farnum Bldg
R 36 Stamas, Jim 517-373-7946 517-373-2678 920 Farnum Bldg
D 18 Warren, Rebekah 517-373-2406 517-373-5679 415 Farnum Bldg
D 1 Young II, Coleman 517-373-7346 517-373-9320 410 Farnum Bldg
R 17 Zorn, Dale 517-373-3543 517-373-0927 710 Farnum Bldg
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Mail for Senators can be addressed: Mail for Representatives can be addressed: The Honorable The Honorable State Senator State Representative State Capitol State Capitol Post Office Box 30036 Post Office Box 30014 Lansing, MI 48909-7536 Lansing, MI 48909-7514
Dear Senator/Representative ______,
I would like to express my appreciation for the opportunity to meet with you I know you are very busy, and I am grateful that you made time to talk with me about issues that are important to people with epilepsy and their families. .
You will recall that we touched on [list the key issues that you discussed, e.g. changes in the marijuana law, etc. [
[If you promised to follow up with any other information, include it here.]
I look forward to continuing this relationship and to future meetings with both you and your dedicated staff. In the meantime, if I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
[Your name,]
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