Taking NCJW’s Voice to Capitol Hill
by Jill Swartz
I recently made my "You Tube" debut! It wasn't because my kids did something cute, I made my debut because I visited Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
The National Council of Jewish Women's (NCJW) grassroots efforts are bolstered by advocates from across the country called State Public Affair (SPA) chairs. As SPAs, we help advance the organization's public policy agenda and activate volunteer networks at the state level. We also monitor statewide legislation and public policy issues, coordinate statewide legislative initiatives, and establish lines of communication with both state and national legislators on behalf of NCJW.
In February, the State Public Affair chairs gathered in Washington DC for two days of training, inspiration, and of course, visits to the Hill. Just prior to my trip to Washington, I called Congresswoman Ros-Lethinen's office to set up an appointment. I figured I would end up meeting with a staff member. However, minutes after I called, someone from the office called me back. The Congresswoman was free at 11 am. Was I available?
The morning of our Hill visits, my Florida SPA co-chair, Judy Traub, and I armed ourselves with our talking points and NCJW materials -- including NCJW’s 2008–2011 Resolutions. When Judy and I arrived at the Congresswoman's office, we were shown in right away. The Congresswoman introduced herself as "Ileana" and immediately proceeded to read NCJW’s Resolutions brochure aloud -- and into a camera, it turned out. After the filming was complete, we had the Congresswoman’s undivided attention. She was receptive to our pleas: more funding for domestic violence shelters, laws that would ease the restrictions on state Medicaid waivers, and passage of a hate crimes bill which would include protections on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, and disability.
At the end of our visit, she gave us copies of photos her staff had taken. She also gave us a piece of paper printed with a link to her You Tube page. When I returned to the NCJW Washington office and logged onto the Internet, there I was -- on You Tube! The best part? Watching Judy ask the Congresswoman whether, if she "liked our Resolutions so much, did she want to join NCJW?”
Getting the chance to meet my Congresswoman face to face and advocating on behalf of NCJW was extremely rewarding. It's great to know that my voice -- and the voice of NCJW -- was heard.
Jill Swartz is a member of the NCJW Greater Miami Section and an NCJW SPA Co-Chair for the state of Florida.