So many people in our organization have been working hard all year to make possible the passage of the Independent Midwifery Practice Act, but it will take everyone’s help to pass our legislation. Here are some of the ways that YOU can make a difference during this legislative season starting right now.

Pray
Pray daily for the passage of the Independent Midwifery Practice Act and all the intentions listed on page 1.

Contact Legislators
By now most of you have already contacted your legislators at least once. If you haven’t done this yet, PLEASE do it now! Our legislators need to hear from as many people in their districts on the midwifery issue as possible. If you aren’t comfortable calling them, send them a short letter or email telling them why you feel it is so important to pass our legislation. The insert to this newsletter provides contact info for legislators at their homes and while at the capitol.

If you have already contacted your legislators in the past, consider sending them a “congratulations on being elected” letter. Let them know you are counting on their help to pass midwifery legislation. Then be prepared to contact them again as soon as we get our bill number (after January 9th). It is very important that you let your District Contact know of any contact that you make with your legislators. Than she can provide the board with a summary of what is happening in your district and where your legislators stand on this issue. If you don’t have a District Contact, contact Debbie Pease (District 17) directly. Remember to follow up personal phone calls and visits with a short thank you note and a fact sheet which you can download from our website at www.SDSCO.2truth.com.

It makes no difference whether you voted for a particular legislator or not-he or she won-so it’s time for him or her to start representing you. Remember to make the point that you are part of a statewide group from both sides of the political aisle made up of east and west river residents that are politically active and regularly vote. As we well know, in a representative form of government, it is typically the squeaky wheel that gets oiled…so start squeaking!

We all need to contact Health & Human Services committee members – they represent us all. Committee members are listed on the Legislative Contact Insert to this newsletter.

Go To Pierre
It will make a huge impression on your legislators if you go to Pierre to meet with them. Contact our lobbyist, Paul Levijoki, before you go and he will help you to make the most of your visit. He can guide you through the capitol and help you meet with your legislators. We are not sure when our bill will be heard in committee. If you can’t come to the committee hearing on short notice, then come to Pierre during the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd week of the legislative session.

We need as many people as possible to fill the committee rooms when our bill is heard by the Health & Human Services Committees (both Senate & House). Wisconsin had hundreds of supporters at their capitol last year when they passed their bill. It would also be wonderful to have the gallery filled with our supporters during the debate of our bill on the House & Senate floors. I know most of us will not be able to come every time our bill is debated, but make a commitment now to get to Pierre at least once during the legislative session. Let other members know if you have an extra seat or two when you go to Pierre or if you are looking for a ride by utilizing our chat group & District Contacts. Debbie Pease wants
to fill up her 15 passenger van for both committee hearings. She will be taking Hwy 81 near Yankton to I 90. She plans to get to Pierre the day before and spend the night. If you would like to reserve a spot, let her know (contact info on page 3 –
District 17).

Testify
Most of us will not be able to testify in front of the committee, but we can all have our testimony entered into the official record by writing a letter to the legislature… just tell them why you want the Independent Midwifery Practice Act to become a law. Representative Roger Hunt said that he would like to present a huge stack of letters to the committee as testimony of all the families who feel this is important. Not only can all of us do this, but we can get our family and friends to do this as well. Try hosting a letter writing party. Send letters to Mary Nelson at the return address on this newsletter or email them to her. EVERYONE SHOULD DO THIS!

Contribute Financially
It is a sacrifice of time and money to go to Pierre. If for some reason you can not come to Pierre, please consider contributing the money you would have spent on a trip to Pierre to help SDSCO, Inc. financially.