Happy New Year!
With 2007 an incredible Promise success thanks to all your hard work, we are excited to see what kind of success the New Year can and will bring for this vital and exciting campaign.
Let’s review: in 2007 we launched the Promise campaign earlier than we ever have before (and you rose to the occasion; even though it was the lazy days of August, you were far from lazy, racking up the number of meetings right from the start). By early fall we were crossing over the 100 meeting line months before the campaign usually even begins. As the leaves fell, you not only put out the calls for meetings, you came through, and by the time the holidays approached, we were nearing the 200 meeting mark -- more than the entire campaign has been in some past years. You did this with focus and purpose: there is no question that we won the renewal of the Special Diabetes Program thanks in great part to all these meetings.
Now, it’s time to step up for 2008 and the second half of the Promise to Remember Me Campaign. Because like our loved ones who battle diabetes, we can never rest from our mission. The time is ripe now to reach out and make those meetings happen. If you have yet to join in or set up a meeting, start the New Year off doing just that. If you’ve been trying with no success, keep in mind that our legislators are starting a fresh calendar too. You should find when you reach out that, with the winter break behind them, their staff is more willing and able to find a time to make your Promise Visit fit in.
Your legislators will be at home in district until Jan 14. There’s a good chance you can fit a meeting in during this time if you make a request quickly. And if that doesn’t fit, they’ll have another break at home around President’s Day from February 16th-24th, which may sound far away, but really now is the time to book that too. Remember, these meetings are to be with the elected official and is good for them too: what better way for them to start a new year than to meet with kids they help every day?
So we ask you to start this New Year knowing how very much we appreciate your hard work and understand the amazing positive implications it has had on the future of diabetes research. And being who we are – a group completely dedicated to not stopping until we’ve cure diabetes – we ask you to keep on moving as well. Our goal is 400 meetings by campaign’s end this spring. Let’s come in ahead of time and past that goal.
After all, we are the people who will be known for curing diabetes. We don’t back down.
If you have any questions or need help, just contact us. We have a team of key volunteers and staff who can help you with anything you need.
Best,
Tom Glass
Lorraine
Steihle