PNHP Chapter Organizing “The Minnesota Experience” PNHP Annual Meeting 2011

1. Ann Settgast, MD & Elizabeth Frost, MD Co-chairs PNHP-MN PNHP Chapter Organizing“The Minnesota Experience”PNHP Annual Meeting 2011

2. Getting started • Co-chair concept: highly recommended! • Snail mail invite to a first meeting using national PNHP list • Website => Dave Howell • Consider a chapter resolution as an organizing tool

5. Recruiting members • Loose definition of member: signer = member • Word of mouth: ask each member to sign on 5 more • Advertisements in local MN physician publications +/- business reply card • Talks to MD groups (residency noon conferences & Grand Rounds) • Tabling • E-Mailing & snail mailings to physician groups

6. Volunteer Speakers Group • Speakers Trainings • Recruit a core group so no invitation is turned down • Go in pairs • Use resolution and sign-in sheets at all physician events • Log your events

7. Medical Students • Critically important • Lunch lectures • Curriculum • Student groups (ISTOP, AMSA) • Interest fair • Day on the Hill

8. Acquire physician lists • Brainstorm email or snail mail lists you might acquire: • Specialty groups • Politically active groups • Campaign donor lists • Workplace lists

9. Sample invitation email • Dear 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 600 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

10. Data Collection & Email List • Keep membership database in Google Documents or Excel • Consider asking national office to send your chapter emails (we limit to 1-2 per month) rather than gmail like we do!

11. Chapter Structure • Steering committee • ~ 10 members (1 treasurer, 1 secretary) • Two year commitment • Attend chapter & SC meetings regularly • Be available by email for quick decision-making • Rotating student slot • Chapter meetings ~ 4 per year

12. Event Planning • Bring in an outside expert; this always generates interest • Examples: Dr. William Hsiao, T.R. Reid, Dr. David Himmelstein • Use PNHP-national connections • Don’t be shy about letting folks know you are a physician

13. PNHP interns • Highly recommended • Medical student provides perfect link • 50% of time devoted to education • Other jobs: • Acquiring speaking invitations • Survey members • Surveys/Studies

14. 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 in these*

15. Fundraising • One end-of-the-year letter • Yearly ‘Summer Celebration’ with another single payer group • Dues from the National Office • Our budget: about $6,000 per year

16. Miscellaneous Tools • Business Cards • Paid high school student to manage database (organize by district) • Paid consultant (to organize our day-on-the-hill)

17. Things we could do better • Delegate more to steering committee • Have a dedicated media contact member • NOT use g-mail for chapter emails • Do not try to do too much – keep it simple