I just heard from NatCapLyme about which states are the most in need of more sponsors for a copy of the book Cure Unknown and the DVD of Under Our Skin, which will be delivered in conjunction with the congressional lyme briefing being held on September 24. All states still have congresspeople needing coverage except California which is fully covered (yay us!), and I have heard that South Carolina is covered too (good job SC!), but some of the states that are the most in need are as follows:
Florida, Ohio, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Wisconsin and Washington
If your state is one of the above, your congresspeople will not be aware of how many people in their state are suffering unless YOU tell them. They will not be able to receive the very educational book Cure Unknown, or the compelling documentary Under Our Skin unless they have constituents willing to sponsor them.
There is still time to sponsor your congresspeople, you can donate as little as $10 or as much as $1000 or more. $32 will cover a copy of the book and the dvd for one congressperson, $96 will cover a book and dvd for all three of your congresspeople (your house representative and two state senators). Go to http://www.natcaplyme.org/congressbriefing to sponsor your congresspeople (and if you aren't sure who your representatives are, there is a link available there to find out). If you cannot donate, please write a note to your congressperson, which can be sent to [email protected], they need to hear from you.
Please forward this information on to anyone in your state that may be able to help sponsor their congresspeople as well. If you belong to a state or regional e-mail lyme group, please forward this information there as well. This can definitely be done, if California can get their entire state covered (and we have a LOT of representatives), then other states can get this accomplished as well.
We can do this folks! -karen
[ 07. September 2008, 04:06 PM: Message edited by: cs ]
Posted by blackmon (Member # 1528) on :
I'm from FL and just made a donation a few days ago and addressed personal messages to my reps. - Senator Nelson and Congresswoman Brown.
If anyone else can help out from FL maybe it will be the start of greater awareness for our state.
Any amount will help.
Nancy
Posted by cs (Member # 15270) on :
Ok, I just crunched some numbers to put this into perspective (and not being a math whiz, feel free to double check my math). I am using NatCapLyme's estimation of $17,000 to cover the books and dvd's for all 535 congresspeople, which comes to approximately $32 each thanks to the huge discounts they are able to get on the books and dvd's. Of course they do need additional to help cover the luncheon itself and the public screening of the film the night following the briefing, but here are the details on how much it will cost to sponsor the book and dvd for each state.
Florida has 25 house representatives and 2 senators. It would cost $864 to sponsor all 27 of them. That could be reached by 10 people each donating $86, or 20 people each donating $43.
Ohio has 20 congresspeople, costing $640 to cover them all. If only 10 people each contribute $64 each, or if 5 people were to contribute $128 each, then your entire state would be covered.
Georgia has 15 congresspeople, which would cost a total of $480 to sponsor them all. That could be covered by 10 people each donating $48, or by 5 people each donating $96. A really good neighborhood garage sale or school bake sale could cover the entire state.
Illinois has 21 congresspeople costing $672 to sponsor them all. 10 people donating $67 each, or 15 people donating $45 each would cover it, as would 5 generous people each donating $134.
Indiana has only 11 congresspeople to cover. That would take only $352 to sponsor them all. If only 10 people each donate $35, or if 4 people were to each donate $88, that would do it. If one generous person could find a way to donate $352, perhaps with some help from family and friends, you could cover your entire state and be a hero
When you break down the numbers state by state, they really are not unreachable goals at all. If everyone could do a small part, this goal could easily be reached, and we could have all of our country's 535 congresspeople completely sponsored. Whaddya say? -karen
Posted by cs (Member # 15270) on :
And just wanted to say thanks so much for donating Nancy Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Good Blackmon... that is great! Thanks!
Did you know that Congresswoman Brown-Waite was the very first one in FL to sign on as a cosponsor to the Lyme bill?
Once I got her educated and signed on there... several others in Florida followed.
And she is a big thumbs up in my book... for that and her help for the veterans she provides... so I'm glad to know she will be getting a copy of the movie and book.
Kinda like a reward for being good!
Thanks again!
PS... Nelson? That's a different story. He seemed close to signing on... and supported it.. but wouldn't make the leap.
I hope the movie opens his eyes to what is going on. So he NEEDS it.
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Posted by pryorka (Member # 13649) on :
I've tried contacting my congressman. All I ever get is an automated response full of BS confirming no one read it. Boy I'm glad I voted for him....
Posted by cs (Member # 15270) on :
FYI, I'm getting better results calling their state offices as opposed to their DC offices - actually had a very nice convo with one this afternoon which I am hoping will turn into something. So you might give that a try.
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