Happy New Year all! I was away for the holidays but excited to get back to JDRF Advocacy and hit the ground running this month, starting with the New Member Outreach Initiative (NMOI). You can join me by signing up to participate in NMOI.

In a post last month about NMOI, I shared with you a general overview of how all your efforts in the field culminated with the renewal of the Special Diabetes Program during the 111th Congress. This successful end of 2010 all started with you introducing type 1 diabetes and JDRF to new Members of Congress back in 2008. Now with the 112th in place, it’s time that we shared the importance of funding research and finding a cure for diabetes with newly elected legislators and give them the opportunity to learn about type 1 as well!

Starting today, JDRF Advocacy Team Chairs will be organizing advocates in their local areas to attend meetings with new Member of Congress. If you’re interested in helping new legislators understand how type 1 diabetes impacts your daily lives, register here to attend or coordinate a meeting of your own.

If you have a question or a comment on how you can help, leave me a note below or send an email to advocacy@jdrf.org.

Hasan