Global Weekly Update June 10, 2013

Your Child Nutrition Work Makes An Impact in London!

June 8 was the date of the Nutrition for Growth Summit in the UK, a pivotal day for international pledging toward smart, strategic support of child nutrition. Unfortunately, a bold pledge wasn’t forthcoming from the U.S., and yet we know that the process leading up to the summit helped the U.S. to see more clearly what its baseline spending is on child nutrition, reinvigorate its commitment to accountability in spending nutrition-related funds, and hear international grassroots voices express their passion about the issue.

At last count, our grassroots advocates generated over 30 letters to the editor, three editorials, and five op-eds, shining a white-hot spotlight on the importance of U.S. leadership on this issue. We are so close to our goal of 40 letters and 10 op-eds/editorials! The summit will remain relevant news between now and Father’s Day, so don’t hesitate to write your letter to the editor or op-ed today! A full compilation of all your good work will be available soon.

Additionally, due in part to your leadership, a letter from the House with 81 signatures and a letter from the Senate with 17 signatures went to President Obama, calling for a bold pledge at the Nutrition for Growth Summit. Read more about who signed the letters on our blog; thank you for the action you took getting those signatures!

Finally, you contacted your congressional offices about Hill briefing held this past Tuesday on child nutrition. We know that 16 offices were represented; thank you for being part of the inviting process.

We know that your voices and influence were heard! Consider what RESULTS US Executive Director Joanne Carter said on our June national conference call for grassroots advocates working on global poverty:

[Y]ou all have done a truly remarkable job in getting the U.S. government to pay attention to this issue, and politically we are such a long way from where we were three months ago . . . The bipartisan support you generated on this issue is the most bipartisan support I have seen in many years, maybe since the 2008 legislation on the President’s AIDS Initiative. And you led this for the entire community of organizations working on nutrition and this summit. Everyone acknowledged it. I can’t tell you how many CEOs have said to me personally what an incredible shot in the arm is has been to have you engaged. Those sign-on letters and the amount of media you generated in letters to the editor, op-eds and editorials were so important for bringing this issue to Congressional, USAID, and White House attention and elevating the issue.

Bookmark our online nutrition page for future reference and on-going updates, and take time to read The Lancet’s recently launched, comprehensive report on child nutrition.

1. Got just 5 minutes? Use our action alert to help you write your letter to the editor.
2. Got 15 minutes? Use our longer, more comprehensive May action sheet, which includes other hook ideas, to support your letter-writing.

The 2013 International Conference, July 20–23: Get Ready, Get Set, Go!

Did you know . . . Both the International Conference Global Legislative Handbook (dynamite preliminary material that will help you get more familiar with our issues and Lobby Day requests) is coming soon, and our policy team will soon be advertising blocks of time, starting the week of June 24, when they will be available for International Conference Lobby Day prep calls. Chatting with them will help you craft your advocacy strategy, specific to your legislators, for your Lobby Day meetings. Watch for more information on both of these soon!

And there’s more . . .

1. Registration is open, and the standard registration rate ends June 15! What are you waiting for?

2. Have you read our evolving speaker list? Come to the conference to hear the following invited guests: Dr. Mark Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; UNICEF Executive Director Tony Lake; Jim Weill, President of the Food Research and Action Center; former members of Congress and anti-poverty champions Tony Hall (D-OH) and Jim Walsh (R-NY) . . keep watch as the schedule gets better and better!
3. New to the conference this year? Dial into one of our helpful "International Conference Pro Tips" calls! They’ll be held June 18 at 8 pm ET and June 21 at 1 pm ET. Dial (712) 432-3100, passcode 761262, and bring your questions.
4. Use this helpful International Conference checklist to help you prepare and organize for your trip to DC!

    

   Have you booked your Hill meetings with your members of Congress for Tuesday, July 23? Report them!

5. Lobby Day Reception on Capitol Hill. For the culmination of our big lobby day on July 23, we’ll once again be hosting a reception on Capitol Hill and Prof. Yunus will join as our special guest. We’d like to have as many members of Congress also attend, so please start sending your invitations. You can find a customizable invitation on our website.
6. Building Bipartisan Champions. Do you have a story of a successful meeting with a member of Congress you thought would be significantly opposed to our issues? By contrast, do you have a member of Congress you’re working with, but you’re struggling for talking points that help you gain common ground? We’d like to talk with you! Contact Lisa Marchal, Senior Global Grassroots Associate, for help and for ways that your stories and questions can help others at the International Conference and beyond.

Can’t Come to the International Conference? Still be Part of the Action!

This month’s action sheet is a great tool for our grassroots advocates around the country who might not be able to attend this July’s International Conference in Washington, DC.

Be "present and in the room" with other advocates having meetings on Capitol Hill by writing letters that your fellow advocates can hand-carry to Washington! Use this month’s action sheet to speak up about supporting the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, as this will undoubtedly be a hot topic during Lobby Day.

Take out a pen and paper; in a few minutes you’ll have a letter that you can send along to Washington in the suitcase of a fellow advocate (or send it to Lisa Marchal, Senior Global Grassroots Associate, and she’ll make sure it gets to its recipient).

Exciting $1,000 Match Opportunity from Marianne Williamson!

RESULTS Educational Fund has an exciting opportunity to receive $1,000 in match donations!

RESULTS board member Marianne Williamson recently gave a powerful talk as part of 2013 TEDx Traverse City and generously chose RESULTS Educational Fund as her charity of choice. As her chosen charity, all donations made to RESULTS Educational Fund will receive a match, up to $1,000 total, from the Utopia Fund. These donations must be made through the Utopia Fund’s website.

We have until July 14 to turn $1,000 in individual donations into a total of $2,000 for RESULTS Educational Fund! We would greatly appreciate if you could forward this opportunity to your friends and networks.

RESULTS Development Manager Jen Maurer would be happy to talk with you directly about your ideas on how we can meet our $1,000 goal.

Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life. While poverty persists, there is no true freedom.

— Nelson Mandela

1. June 12, 9 pm ET. RESULTS Introductory Call. Heard of RESULTS and want to know more? Join us for this 30-minute introductory call. Contact us with any questions and RSVP for the call. Dial (712) 432-3100, passcode 761262 to join.

2. June 17, 8 pm ET. Next RESULTS Free Agents call for global poverty advocates. Dial: (218) 486-1611, passcode 7378587 (RESULTS). Are you a RESULTS activist with our global poverty campaigns, living in a town with no RESULTS group? You are alone no more! Contact Lisa Marchal, Senior Global Grassroots Associate, for more information on this monthly group call.

3. June 18, 8 pm ET. Media Support Call. Want to be part of the on-going support that’s available to help you reach your media goals? Then this is the call for you! Join monthly for inspiration and ideas to keep you going. Dial (218) 862-1300, passcode 682494 to join this call.

4. June 18, 8 pm ET. Tips for Those New to the International Conference. Want some pro tips to help you make the most of your first RESULTS International Conference? Dial (712) 432-3100, passcode 761262 to join this call, and bring your questions!

5. June 21, 1 pm ET. Tips for Those New to the International Conference. Want some pro tips to help you make the most of your first RESULTS International Conference? Dial (712) 432-3100, passcode 761262 to join this call, and bring your questions!

6. June 28, 1 pm ET. RESULTS Introductory Call. Heard of RESULTS and want to know more? Join us for this 30-minute introductory call. Contact us with any questions and RSVP for the call. Dial (712) 432-3100, passcode 761262 to join.

7. July 13, 2 pm ET. RESULTS National Grassroots Conference Call for Global Poverty Campaigns. Dial (888) 409-6709 to join!

8. July 20–23. RESULTS International Conference in Washington, DC. Register today!