Every year Nutrition First awards up to $1,500 in scholarships to it’s individual members. We encourage you to stay tuned for more scholarship information and request for applications in the New Year. Nutrition First was pleased to award two of our members in 2012 with scholarships to attend the Children’s Alliance Advocacy Camp this October. Here is our letter from one of those recipients documenting her experience:
“Dear Kristen and Nutrition First members,
Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity to attend the 14th annual Children’s Alliance Advocacy Camp. It was my pleasure to meet, interact, learn from and share with other advocacy campers from all over Washington State, Children’s Alliance staff, district representatives, lobbyists, legislators, and media representatives.
I now have a better understanding of the framework behind the successful advocacy. In order for good advocacy to be effective an advocate would take part in working in the community to sign people up for the network and participate in the campaigns. Also, he or she would know and understand how laws and policies are made which would provide an advocate the ability to meet and work with staff from executive branch agencies in order to work out plans for implementation of the laws.
The practical aspect of an effective goal setting model of specific, realistic and measurable goal setting, including developed action plan with specified time frames gave a very useful tool for an advocate and leader to be effective.
In addition, as advocate leaders, we had the opportunity to hone key messages for the legislative proposal and present them in groups of role-play. This gave us the experience to effectively communicate our message on the issue of dental care for all children of Washington. Not only were we able to inform but also, learn to influence a legislator in supporting our issue.
This was a tremendously rewarding and satisfying experience for me. Thank you for allowing me to share it with you.
Sincerely,
Sally Blizzard