Fly In. Advocate. Fly Out.
NCPA Congressional Fly In is a wonderful opportunity for students to experience policy advocacy on a national stage, and get connected with pharmacists and students from across the country who share similar goals. Here are 10 tips (in no particular order) for students considering attending in order to get the most out of the experience!
- Wear your best picture ready suits (and flats for girls). There will be a lot of photo opportunities during your hill visits, and the pictures may be shared through your state pharmacy association, the legislator’s social media, or NCPA social media–that’s a big deal, so be photo ready!
- Create an excel sheet schedule with room numbers and names of the legislator and staffer that you will be meeting with. Be sure to give yourself at least 30 minutes for each meeting and time to walk to your next appointment in between. There are 3 house buildings and a senate building, so you need to make sure you know where you’re going!
- Work with your state pharmacy association. Chances are, they have done this before. I was lucky enough to be able to join both the Georgia and Tennessee groups on their visits. Not only have these pharmacists attended Fly Ins before and built relationships with the legislators and staffers, but they are also very knowledgeable on everything you will be arguing for, and you can learn a lot!
- Reach out to your district’s representative early. There are contact forms on their websites, and they are very busy. If your state association hasn’t already set up a meeting with them, a personal ask from a voting member of their area may help to get a meeting for the whole group.
- Take the metro. The morning sessions and hotel is located right next to the NCPA Headquarters in Alexandria, VA. We flew in and out of Ronald Raegan (DCA) which is just 2 stops and about 10 steps away from the hotel by metro. Cannot be more convenient than that! NCPA provides buses for transport from the hotel to Capitol Hill each day.
- Research the bills you will be advocating for ahead of time. NCPA should send you updates via email, and you should read about them as thoroughly as possible so you will understand the conversation when you arrive, and can talk in an educated way about them to your legislators.
- Bring business cards. Most legislator offices require a business card when you arrive. This serves as a record of you being there, and will allow them to follow up with any questions if necessary. You will also want to hand out your cards to pharmacists and students that you speak with and make connections with throughout the event.
- Write thank you notes when you return home. Every staffer you meet with will give you their card, make sure you address them by name when thanking them for their time and reiterating the bill numbers you want support for. This will show them you’re committed and remind them to look over the materials you left after your meeting (NCPA provides a folder of one pagers about the bills).
- Bring snacks and a water bottle. Depending on how many visits you have scheduled, you may not have time between the bus drop off and end of the day to eat. I brought a couple snacks in my purse and a water bottle, because all that making a difference in your profession can really work up an appetite!
- Take advantage of all the networking opportunities with others in your field. I have never been surrounded by so many experienced pharmacists so passionate about what they do. Learn from their stories and knowledge, and if you connect with them, be sure to follow up afterwards!
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