Category Archives: Events

2020 Virtual Advocacy Leadership Retreat: Key Takeaways From 20 Years of Advocacy

Advocacy Champions joined Advocacy staff online for the first Virtual Advocacy Leadership Retreat on March 10, 2020. Volunteers developed the entire program before COVID-19 made an in-person event unsafe. They designed keynotes, breakout sessions and “how to” advocacy posters in order to teach one another about advocacy leadership. Keeping programming true to the volunteer leaders’ plans while switching to a staff-run webcast was a unique challenge. Continue reading 2020 Virtual Advocacy Leadership Retreat: Key Takeaways From 20 Years of Advocacy

2020 Virtual Advocacy Leadership Retreat : The Power of Presence

I was full of nerves and excitement a year ago when my son and I traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend an Advocacy Summit. My son decided to become an Arthritis Foundation Junior Ambassador, and to support him I signed up as an Ambassador. I had no idea what to expect, but I was hoping to help my son find his voice. The funny thing was, I found mine. Continue reading 2020 Virtual Advocacy Leadership Retreat : The Power of Presence

2020 Arthritis Advocacy Leadership Retreat: What It Means for You

Earlier this week, nearly 100 of the Arthritis Foundation’s most committed Advocates and Ambassadors tuned in to our Virtual Advocacy Leadership Retreat. Coronavirus stopped us from gathering in person. But it couldn’t stop us from unleashing the power of our Advocates to influence members of Congress from afar. Continue reading 2020 Arthritis Advocacy Leadership Retreat: What It Means for You

Utilization Management Getting an Overhaul in Washington State

“Going to the WA Advocacy Summit is always a privilege. Being able to effect change to our health care law is an amazing thing,” says Heidi Barrett, Arthritis Foundation Washington state advocacy chair and a Platinum Ambassador. “Knowing this change will make the lives of the 1.3 million adults and 6,100 children in Washington with arthritis better is a humbling experience.” Continue reading Utilization Management Getting an Overhaul in Washington State

2019 Advocacy Summit – A Busy First Day Readies Advocates for a Day on Capitol Hill

2019 Advocacy Summit – A Busy First Day Readies Advocates for a Day on Capitol Hill

Yesterday, more than 300 Advocates from all parts of the United States came together in Washington, DC, filled with fire as they get ready to voice their personal stories to make real and meaningful changes for the arthritis community.

The Arthritis Foundation’s 2019 Advocacy Summit kicked off on Monday, March 11, 2019, with an exciting welcome by Foundation President and CEO Ann M. Palmer. The day included motivational and educational breakout sessions where Advocates learned about key legislative asks to support top issues affecting the arthritis community’s access to affordable care. They also learned some important tips and tricks for their Capitol Hill meetings and had the opportunity to participate in a Live Yes! Connect Group demonstration.

The intensive day of training and information concluded with the Excellence in Advocacy Awards Dinner. Seventeen-year-old Ethan Berkovitz from Solon, Ohio, was awarded the Emerging Leader in Advocacy Award for his continued efforts to raise awareness of the disease by actively advocating on Capitol Hill and the Ohio Statehouse, as well as being the go-to team captain for the Walk to Cure Arthritis and Jingle Bell Run.

 

Karen Anderson of Santa Barbara, California, was awarded the Edward M. Kennedy Advocacy Leadership Award for her many years of advocacy on behalf of the Arthritis Foundation. Karen is attending her 11th Advocacy Summit and has been a Platinum Ambassador since its inception. She began volunteering for the Arthritis Foundation after her daughter, Kristin, was diagnosed with systemic scleroderma, one of the over 100 forms of arthritis, at the age of 15. Karen’s introduction to the Foundation was at a JA Conference, and since then she has been a passionate volunteer at the local, regional and national levels. She has served as Walk to Cure Arthritis chair, advisory board chair, regional public policy and advocacy chair and as a member of the national public policy committee.

Representatives Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) and Raul Ruiz, MD (D-CA), received the Advocacy Leadership Award for fighting to reform step therapy requirements nationwide and break down barriers to care for people with arthritis.

A record 70 Platinum Ambassadors were also recognized for going above and beyond the call of duty by accomplishing a challenging list of advocacy needs, all while raising funds to support our efforts to conquer and cure arthritis.

At the end of the day, Advocates were preparing themselves for hundreds of meetings they have in store with members of Congress. During these meetings, legislators will be asked to discuss legislative priorities like reforming burdensome step therapy practices and making access to vital treatments easier and more affordable. They will also be urged to support funding for arthritis research at the Department of Defense and to join the Congressional Arthritis Caucus – a group for members of Congress that serves as a clearinghouse for information regarding arthritis and its devastating toll on our population and economy.

Join us on March 12 at 12:00 p.m. ET to help amplify the impact of our in-person meetings with legislators by participating virtually in our #AdvocateforArthritis social media campaign. Print out this sign and, in one sentence, written large and legibly, tell us why you #AdvocateforArthritis!

Connecting | More than Ever Before! Celebrating the Record Breaking 70 Platinum Ambassadors

A record number of individuals achieved the Arthritis Foundation’s highest advocacy honor in 2018 and became Platinum Ambassadors. At the 2019 Advocacy Summit, March 11-12, in Washington, DC, participants will be able to connect with the 2018 cohort of 70 Platinum Ambassadors who will be recognized for their outstanding advocacy achievements on behalf of the arthritis community. Registration for the Advocacy Summit closes on February 4 – register today! Continue reading Connecting | More than Ever Before! Celebrating the Record Breaking 70 Platinum Ambassadors

2018 Platinum Ambassador Assembly Highlights

Platinum Ambassador Assembly – Highlights from Capitol Hill

Earlier this week, we held our first ever Platinum Ambassador Assembly in Washington, D.C. The Assembly is a meeting for our most highly engaged advocacy volunteers to hone their skills, meet other Platinum Ambassadors from around the country and share their stories with members of Congress. Our Junior Ambassadors and future leaders – volunteers committed to achieving Platinum Ambassador status in 2018 – were also in attendance to learn, share their stories and fight for the over 54 million Americans who are living with arthritis.
Continue reading Platinum Ambassador Assembly – Highlights from Capitol Hill

2017 Advocacy Summit Highlights

Success at Summit! Advocates Meet with Congress as American Health Care Act Released

The 2017 Advocacy Summit was held March 6-7 in Washington, DC, and while the outcome is still developing, we are very pleased with the results thus far.

Arthritis affects people regardless of age or origin, so it was no surprise that this year’s Summit attendees were a mix of all ages from coast to coast. More than 400 people from 45 states attended.
Continue reading Success at Summit! Advocates Meet with Congress as American Health Care Act Released

Advocacy Summit Day 2 Highlights: Advocates Meet with State and Federal Policymakers to Share Their Stories

Day two of the Advocacy Summit started with lots of chatter about the Trump administration’s unveiling of repeal and replace health care legislation.

Several aspects of the bill align with our Patient Principles for Health Care which outlines four principles that, if adopted, will result in a transparent health care system that allows easier access to more affordable care. The bill includes language that prevents denying coverage for people with preexisting conditions, bans lifetime coverage caps and allows young people to remain on their parent’s insurance plans until they turn 26-years-old – all good news for the arthritis community!
Continue reading Advocacy Summit Day 2 Highlights: Advocates Meet with State and Federal Policymakers to Share Their Stories

2016 Arthritis Foundation Platinum Ambassadors

Record Number of Advocates Earn Platinum Ambassador Status

A record number of individuals have achieved the Arthritis Foundation’s highest advocacy honor in 2016 and became Platinum Ambassadors. At the 2017 Advocacy Summit, March 6-7, in Washington, DC, 41 new Platinum Ambassadors will be recognized for their outstanding advocacy accomplishments on behalf of the arthritis community.

Platinum Ambassadors are an elite group of Advocates who go above and beyond the call of duty by accomplishing a challenging list of advocacy assignments along with four bonus activities, all while raising funds to support the Foundation’s mission to conquer and cure arthritis.

“Platinum Ambassadors are the special forces of our Advocate army,” said Sandie Preiss, national vice president, Advocacy & Access. “They use their voice and arthritis stories, at an elevated level of frequency and sophistication, to help knock down barriers to health care.”
Continue reading Record Number of Advocates Earn Platinum Ambassador Status