The vast majority of what we do as an advocacy group happens at the local level, whether its completing Promise Campaign meetings or monthly get-togethers of our chapter-based Advocacy Teams.  The better we organize at the local level, the more successful we are.

From our interactions with the DOC, and the feedback we get from our advocates, we also know that we could be doing more.  Beyond our advocacy activities, folks consistently ask us what we can do to help them meet others in their community that are dealing with type 1.  We felt the need to be able to better serve the larger type 1 community!

So that brings me to our Type 1 Talk project.  We sent an email just last night to our Advocates to officially launch this program. 

Here are the basics: we’re using Facebook to engage the type 1 community to plan local meet-ups for World Diabetes Day on November 14.  The application allows you to easily plan events using your built-in audience of friends on FB.  You have the option to keep those events just among your existing FB friends or open them up to others on FB in your area that would like to attend.

JDRF will be doing a live streaming video presentation that day to discuss type 1 issues that are important to you.  In fact, the Type 1 Talk FB application links to Google moderator where you can submit topics for conversation and vote-up those you’d like to hear us discuss.  The top vote getters will make the final agenda.

We also make it easy to host an event.  We provide you with materials and the application makes it convenient to talk with other hosts across the country.  The JDRF Advocacy staff will also be around to answer your questions.

We want you to take this opportunity to meet other people in your local type 1 community and, in the process, challenge JDRF to answer your questions and show us how we can better serve you.

So, please take a minute to download the application and start planning your event.  Click here to go to the Type 1 Talk application.

Also, let us know what you think about the program and the application.  You can post feedback in the comments below or on the wall of the application in FB.

Let’s start talking!