Advocating for the DOC... in D.C.

Something pretty cool is about to happen.

As I mentioned before, I've been invited* to take part in JDRF's Government Day event in Washington, D.C this weekend. This is the first time I've been a part of something like this, and I'm thusly a combination of giddy, nervous, determined, and proud. And because several of my fellow diabetes bloggers and DOC members will be in attendance, the weekend is sure to include some Blunt Lancet and unicorn sightings.

This weekend isn't about me, though - this is about all of us in the diabetes community.

Let me explain.

JDRF is bringing together advocates from every chapter in the U.S., along with JDRF staff and researchers to talk about where we are, what needs to happen, and how. The weekend also includes these advocates meeting with members of Congress to build and maintain relationships with them - because when big votes for diabetes-related funding come around, we want them to remember us when they vote. 

So where does a rag-tag group of diabetes bloggers fit into this? JDRF has invited a handful of us to share some perspective on what the greater diabetes community needs from them. They're looking for our ideas, feedback, and knowledge of what people affected by type 1 diabetes are looking for from JDRF. The DOC group at this event will be doing a roundtable talk with the advocates on Sunday at 2:00pm EST. I'm excited that JDRF has been interacting more and more with the DOC, because we can learn a lot from each other.

This is where it's about you guys! We want and need you to participate in this session, so that as many voices as possible can be represented. There are a few ways you can do that:

• Submit questions via Twitter to the JDRF Advocacy staff (@JDRFAdvocacy) and find tweets from attendees by following the event's hashtag: #JDRFGovDay. (I think it's safe to assume I'll be very tweet-happy for the next four days.)
• Utilize JDRF Advocacy's Facebook page as another way to submit questions (great for those, like me, who tend to be verbose in their feedback).
• Tune into the live webcast of our roundtable discussion at the JDRF Advocacy USTREAM channel.

I'd also like to hear straight from you all: What's important to you? What should I mention to help represent what our community needs/wants most? What would you like to see JDRF do that they aren't already doing to help the diabetes community at large? Leave a note in the comments section below!

*Disclosure: JDRF is covering the costs of my travel, hotel, and a few meals for this event. I'm attending not only as a member of the DOC, but also on behalf of my local JDRF chapter. This is the first time I've ever had costs covered for me to attend something diabetes-related, and while I'm very thankful for the opportunity, the fact that JDRF is footing the bill will not affect what I write here now, or later. Meaning: my opinions are my own.