Chapter Organizing“The Minnesota-Missouri Experiences”

PHNP-MNAnn Settgast, MD

Elizabeth Frost, MD

PHNP-STLEd Weisbart, MD Linda Lieb, MBA

Getting started

• Co-chair concept: highly recommended!

• Invite to a first meeting using national PNHP list

• Website support from PNHP (Dustin Calliari)

• Consider a chapter resolution as an organizing tool

Recruiting Members

Acquire Physician Lists• Brainstorm email or snail mail lists you might

acquire:

• Specialty groups

• Politically active groups

• Campaign donor lists

• Workplace lists

Sample invitation emailDear XXXX,

I am writing to introduce you to the Minnesota chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program. As you may know, PNHP is a non-profit research and education organization of over 18,000 members nationally who support single-payer health care. Our Minnesota chapter was founded in 2007 and is vibrant and growing.

Federal efforts toward meaningful healthcare reform are stalled. Fortunately, Minnesota has a viable state single-payer movement. Although the state legislative climate is currently unfavorable, the Minnesota Health Act authored by Senator John Marty is a state single-payer bill which holds great promise over the next several years. It has significant legislative and public support. This, in the context of a pro-single payer administration, bodes well for Minnesota's position as a state where single-payer can actually happen.

Our Minnesota chapter has over 700 physician and provider signatures on its resolution supporting HR676 (the federal equivalent of our Minnesota bill) and the Minnesota Health Act. A list of your colleagues who have already signed the resolution is available at http://www.pnhpminnesota.org/signers.php.

These signatures are influential in showing legislators and the public the support among Minnesota physicians for a single payer solution to the nation’s ever-growing health care crisis. Please consider signing on. This can be done in 2 quick steps:

1.Go to the Minnesota PHNP website http://www.pnhpminnesota.org/

2.Select the link "Read and sign our resolution now”

You need not join PNHP or make a contribution to be a signer. Your contact info, if you choose to provide it, will not be shared, but will enable you to receive our chapter updates (average 1-2 emails per month).

The PNHP website has a link to the text of Minnesota's bill as well as other single payer resources. If you are not interested in signing the resolution at this time, but would like more information, please reply and let us know you would like to be added to our chapter email list.

Thank you for your help in making high-quality healthcare affordable and available to ALL patients.

Sincerely,

XXXX

Volunteer Speakers Group• Speakers Trainings

• Recruit a core group so no invitation is turned down

• Use this group when invited to speak, table, panel, etc

• Go in pairs**

• Use resolution and sign-in sheets at all physician & medical student events

• Log your events

• Speaking invites lead to more speaking invites – always include a slide on this at the end

Medical Students• Critically important & they are VERY

INTERESTED!

• Lunch lectures/curriculum

• Student groups (ISTOP, AMSA)

• Medical student interest fair

• Day on the Hill – student focus

Data Collection & Email List

Chapter meetings• Meetings – have a clear agenda & action

plan

• Bring in local or outside expert for educational component

• Allow time for socializing**

PNHP Interns• Highly recommended

• Medical student provides perfect link

• 50% of internship devoted to education

• Other jobs:

• Acquiring speaking invitations via outreach

• Survey members

• Create a single-payer presentation and deliver it

Establish Yourselves as Experts

• Seize opportunities to respond to questions & inaccurate statements using evidence

• Develop a relationship with media

• Follow-up all meetings with thank-you notes – insert evidence into these

Fundraising• One end-of-the-year letter or annual

report reviewing the year’s activities & upcoming plans

• Yearly ‘Summer Celebration’ with another single payer group

• Dues from the National Office

Miscellaneous Tools• Business Cards

• Paid high school student to manage database (organize by district) and do small projects

• Paid consultant (to organize our Day-on-the-Hill)

• Treasurer/Checkbook

Things we could do better

• Delegate more to active members

• Engage members more to solicit speaking invites

• Have a dedicated media contact member

• Use our power of numbers (eg. calling or letter-writing campaigns)

• Have an intern every summer

Where Do You Start?

Most of Your Colleagues Already Agree With You

0 25% 50% 75% 100%

Percent supporting National Health Insurance

Carroll and Ackerman. Ann Int Med 2008;148:566

Surg Specialties

General Surgery

OB-Gyn

Family Med

Med Specialties

General Int. Med

Gen Peds

Emergency Med

PsychiatryPeds Specialties

Radiology

Where Do You Start?

Court decisionsLocal legislative

proposalsSpeaker circuit in townNew editor at a paper

New cmoNew research

Where Do You Start?

Don’t Forget The Key Ingredients

PNHP Speakers Are Eager to Help

April 2012April 2012

PNHP Speakers Are Eager to Help

In one month, we’d already outgrown my

house.

April 2012April 2012

April 2012April 2012

Go Where Your Audience Already Is

April 2012April 2012

Key

ingredient

!

Keep Opening New Doors

October 2012October 2012

Keep Opening New Doors

October 2012October 2012

Use Events to Introduce Your New Group to the Media

Now they know who we are!

Use Events to Introduce Your New Group to the Media

Have a Member-Building Strategy

Chapter Organizing“The Minnesota-Missouri Experiences”

PNHP Annual Meeting 2012

PHNP-MNAnn Settgast, MD

Elizabeth Frost, MD

PHNP-STLEd Weisbart, MD Linda Lieb, MBA