Visit Your Member of Congress
Meeting on Capitol Hill
Join us in Washington DC on March 30 - April 1, 2015 to speak directly to Senators and Congressmen about Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.
We set up the meetings for you and train you on what to say. It's very easy and by participating, you get to be a part of history.
A Step by Step Guide to Meeting Locally
Meeting with your legislator in his or her office lets you convey your message about Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia face to face. Follow these steps to schedule an appointment and make the most of your meeting.
Step 1: Schedule an Appointment
Tips to schedule an appointment:
- Call well in advance
- Be prepared to be flexible
- Be patient but persistent
- Follow up
- Say thank you
- Plan to call the Member of Congress’ office well in advance of when you intend to meet with him/her.
Find your member of Congress. After you’ve looked up your member, click on their name to go to their website. Scroll to the bottom of their homepage and find the phone number for the office where you’d like to have your meeting.
Call your Member of Congress' office and ask to speak with the scheduler. To increase your chances of getting a meeting with your representative, try one of these lines:
“I’m a constituent, and I would really like to meet with the representative/senator to discuss how Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia has affected my life. Is there a date that he/she is available for this meeting?”
“I would really like to meet with the representative/senator while he/she is back from Washington to talk about Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. What date would work best for his/her schedule when he/she is back home?”
Follow up! Clarify the best way for the office to contact you about your meeting request. Call the office again to check the status of your meeting request. Keep contacting the office once a week until you are offered a firm meeting time.
Some offices may require that you put your request in writing in order to schedule a meeting. Use this
sample meeting request letter if you are asked to provide a written request.
Step 2: Contact Us
Tell us when you schedule your meeting!
We’ll provide you with all the tools, training, and resources you’ll need to make your meeting a success.
Click here to email the CHERUBS Awareness Committee.
Step 3: Print Your Materials
Click here to find and print all of the handouts you’ll need for your meeting.
Step 4: Attend the Meeting
When you meet with your Member of Congress, your job is simple — to inspire. Tell your Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia story — and remember, you’re the expert. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your meeting:
What to Share:
How to Say It:
- Be prepared — plan what you want to say
- Keep it brief
- Show up early and prepare to be flexible
- Dress professionally
- Leave handouts
Better to Leave Out:
- Acronyms (like “CDH”, instead use “Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia”)
- A mention of who you voted for
And don’t forget to let us know how it went!
Click here to email the CHERUBS Awareness Committee.
Step 5: Send a Thank You Letter
If your Member of Congress has taken the time to support Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, by meeting with you or sponsoring legislation which is VERY important, it is vital to say thank you.
Here’s a sample thank you letter.
CDH
occurs when the diaphragm fails to fully form, allowing abdominal
organs into the chest cavity and preventing lung growth.
CDH occurs in 1 of every 2500 births; somewhere in the world, a baby is
born
with CDH every 10 minutes. 50% of babies diagnosed with CDH
do not survive. The cause is not known. Over a half million
babies have been born with CDH since 2000. 
CHERUBS
is the world's
first, oldest, and largest CDH non-profit organization. We are
truly a grassroots organization - CDH families creating something out
of nothing when there was no other CDH group, information and services
in 1995. CHERUBS
was created to make sure that no family endures Congenital
Diaphragmatic Hernia without support or accurate information. Our
Board of Directors
includes CDH parents, grandparents, survivors, nurses, doctors and the
world's top CDH researchers. CHERUBS is run solely by volunteers and
donations. At CHERUBS,
every CDH family has an opportunity to honor or remember our children
while doing good to help others and work together as a CDH community.
No other charity in the world has such a
respected, educated or experienced group of leaders who care so much
about the CDH community.
