| Senior
Power: A Primer for Making a Difference in Life |
| Remember the award-winning 1939 Jimmy Stewart movie, "Mr.
Smith Goes to Washington?" This was a film where an average
Joe, Senator Jefferson Smith, takes on the establishment and
wins. |
| Or, those of you too young to remember World War II era
films, may have heard about Julia Roberts starring as Erin
Brockovich. This is another example of art imitating life,
where a film star portrays an average Jane who whips big business
polluters. |
| I was reminded of these flicks a couple of weeks ago, when
Chris Moore (The Observer managing editor) and I journeyed
to Richmond to testify in favor of Senator Janet Howell's
Senate Bill 936 to improve the benefits provided in Virginia's
Senior Citizen Higher Education Act. |
| This proposed legislation arose from a Senior Focus column
last July reporting that the 1974 law needed to be updated
and that some state colleges and universities were not following
the letter or intent of the law. Chris described our trip
in more detail in the Feb. 2 issue of The Observer. |
| What was most impressive about our sojourn into Commonwealth
politics and our 15 minutes of fame is that ordinary Joes
and Janes, like you and me, can make a difference, whether
it be on Capitol Hill, down in Richmond, at county hearings,
or in our backyard, community, or homeowner associations.
|
| To get an idea of how to be most effective in getting your
voice heard or to influence legislation, I sought out the
advice and comments of successful politicos‰incumbent movers
and shakers in various levels of government. |
| But first, it's fundamental to understand that in our form
of democracy, politicians owe their success to you and me.
We, the voters, decide who gets elected, so they're eager
to let us know what they're doing and to hear from us. They
do this through newsletters sent to homes, town meetings,
newspaper articles, TV, and e-mail. They'll even have rubbery
chicken lunches at civic functions to give a talk, be seen,
and press the flesh. |
| "The best way to make a difference is to communicate
with your elected representative," says Vera Hannigan,
a member of Reston's Board of Directors and a 23-year community
activist. She stresses that residents' letters, telephone
calls, and appearances at board meetings help her know what's
going on in the community. |
| State Senator Janet Howell echoes Hannigan's view and adds
"when phoning or writing, it's most helpful to include
recommended solutions." |
| She points out that you have to help legislators understand
the issue and alternatives, because there's a tremendous amount
of proposed legislation, often competing for scarce funds,
to be considered within a tight deadline of a 45- or 60-day
annual legislative session. |
| This problem was illustrated at our hearing on amending
the Senior Citizens Higher Education Act. The Committee on
Education and Health approved it. It was then referred to
the Finance Committee where, despite Senator Howell's heroic
efforts, it was rejected because of a potential budgetary
impact. |
| Town meetings are very popular because they provide a forum
for an exchange of ideas among constituents and their legislators.
These can be hosted by individuals, preferred by Congressman
Tom Davis, or as a group such as is done by Senator Howell
and Senator Bill Mims and Delegate Ken Plum. A variation of
this is practiced by County Supervisor Cathy Hudgins who holds
a monthly open house in her office where anyone needing assistance
or wishing to share opinions on issues is welcome. |
| Another approach is for a group of constituents to band
together in petitioning legislative support. A recent example
of this was the advocacy by the North West Center for Community
Mental Health Advisory Board. At issue is the dire need for
expansion of the Fairfax County Women's Crises Shelter for
victims of abuse. |
| To acquaint the public with this problem and gain support,
they wrote letters to the local newspapers. Then, assisted
by the American Association of University Women, they launched
a petition drive which got more than 800 signatures. Members
of the Advisory Board then personally visited individual county
supervisors to explain the problem and the need for county
funds. They will turn out in force for the Fairfax County
budget hearings in April. |
| "PIGS," the acronym for private interest groups,
are a powerful force in our political structure. A review
of the telephone directory associations listing illustrates
the wide range of interests these groups represent. So, if
you have an interest, there's surely a group you can join
to further mutual goals. |
| Successful activism can take many forms. You don't have
to trade in your scuffed Reeboks for fancy casual shoes with
tassels to be an effective lobbyist. It's vital to know the
decision-making process which you are trying to influence,
gain support and allies, and then have the perseverance to
work hard for your goal. |
| You may not win all the battles, but in the words of Hollywood's
Senator Jefferson Smith, "The only necessity for the
triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." |
