Webinar
Saturday, June 13, 2015 

--

Professor:  I am going to hit the record button when you are ready.  

This is Joanne Carter, in DC.  Welcome to the global virtual gathering.  It is great to see many of you.  We have better tools and evidence.  We are also in a great position to ensure your funds have bigger impact.  I was a part of a panel led by the UN Special Envoy working with the reforms and recommendations to increase impact.  I think those can have a large role going forward.  Those need to be locked in.  I think we can do critical things with this legislation.  We have generated 15 Op Eds and letters to the editor.  

Can you unmute her?  Can you hear us?  She is not coming through.  We can come back to it later.  We can do it in grassroots section.  Senator Kuntz, I would like to introduce you to folks around the country on this call.  Senator Koons was elected in 2010.  

He has both a law degree and an ethics degree.  (Further introduction to the senator, including his experience).  

Thank you everyone.  This is a great opportunity to connect with you.  My own passion for working on maternal and child health goes back to my experiences thirty years ao.  When I had the opportunity to live in different Kenyan areas, facing poverty and facing this gap around the world. that gave me a true sense of purpose.  I worked with the homeless and mentally ill after that.  I have returned to both Kenya and South Africa.  I have visited people from the Congo, to Mali, from Chad to Uganda.  I was moved by the range of folks in USAID and the NGOs making a huge difference.  Back in college it seems hopeless to dream to make an enormous difference in these fields.  You know how much progresses has been made.  In the 90s half a million women died, and 12. 5 million children died of preventable illnesses.  That level of suffering is a moral issue.  Because of groups mobilizing and with measurable outcomes we have improved the impact of intervention.  We have reduction in child death related to pregnancy and senseless deaths.  

In 2013, 800 women a day died.  I was talking to Raj, the head of USAID, and his focus on measurable outcomes and significant impacts.  When we talked about what was needed in Congress, I was happy to step up.  In the first 24 hours of life, in the US the resources are breathtaking to help a newborn.  

Lyndsey Graham is pulling together on this.  We are introducing our bill, accelerating action in maternal and child health.  It will ensure the US government makes progress in combating preventable death.  These are also the hardest to sustain as funding is cut.  Your willingness to visit senators, to make phone calls, that will make the difference.  This is not won by big lobbying campaigns, it will be your willingness to reach out and be a neighbor in global development.  I can't think of anything more inspiring than communicating to sustain our life saving work.  Thank you for what you do.  I look forward to taking your questions.  

Female Speaker: that was a fantastic summary of where we are and the opportunities.  Thank you for highlighting the impact and measurement piece around innovative financing to expand the money.  I will go to questions folks submitted in advance.  Folks can unmute now.  Heidi is in South Carolina, in Graham's state.  

Heidi: three groups in different places met with his staff.  We are surprised how long it has taken.  Is there anything we can do in south Carolina to really make it happen soon?  What do you know about Senator Graham, why did you choose him to introduce this with you?  

Coons: travelling with Lindsey to Liberia was remarkable.  He is one of the funniest people I have met.  He has a certain directness that is refreshing in a line of work where some people are stuff shirts, pre-vetted.  He tells you what he thinks.  Usually it is good.  Usually it is funny.  I realized that, in working with him, he cares deeply.  He is in a powerful position, as the chairman of the appropriations subcommittee.  It is the combination of those factors.  His warmth and decency as a person, his record, and his seat is right to make an impact.  We are on appropriations together, and that makes us a powerful combination.  With your voice, it will be significant.  I think you should write letters to the editor, publicize that Lindsey is brave.  He will put into action the things we say as a country.  He insists on measurement and accountability.  Americans support foreign aid that makes a difference, but are skeptical about spending money.  You can share I say he is funny, has a big heart, but makes sure our money is spent well.  

Lyla Bartell: we have a few questions if this is the right time.  

Jim: what difference do community letters make?  

Coons: let me speak well of your senator.  He is my co-chair of the competitiveness.   He is great.  Jerry is co-chair of hunger caucus, and understands how we can feed the world.  These senators would respond to constituent letters of concern.  In a deeply red state, I find that any argument on behalf of foreign aid has to recognize that USAID has made us more efficient.  We help the rest of the world to demonstrate results.  It is not as common in the blue states.  I am not from Topeka though.  

Female Speaker: how can everyone in the senate be a champion on this, including junior senators?  

Coons: I am now 56th in ranking.  We are in the middle of a generational shift.  There are only 100 senators, so every additional one can have a significant impact.  If you are from Massachusetts, a senator who is senior in service and ranking member on Africa, would make a terrific addition.  He spent thirty years in the house.  Senator Warren has such a reach and a voice that she alone, I have about 20,000 on twitter, she has millions.  

Coons: we need outreach to staffers.  If you think you are meeting a senator, and get a staffer, you may think you were blown off.  Most of the decisions and work though are done by 23-27 year olds.  I am the oldest person by quite a bit at 51.  We have people who take meetings on lots of issues.  The better your conversations, the more likely it is to go up the chain.  

We have sequestration to cut spending across the board over a decade.  We want to raise spending in a modest and non-modest way.  Then we can talk about investment in mental and child health.  Cuts to the global fund, HIV/AIDS work.  Be engaged, optimistic.  I hope we work it out.  That is where a message about maternity and child health interventions will matter most.  We have to deal with real messages.  

Female Speaker: thank you, that is fantastic.  We can give a couple more minutes.  Another question from the chat window: if you have 60 seconds with another senator, what would you say to describe it?  You have said powerful things focusing on conservative members and others.  How do you make the case?  

Coons: America is a special country, that has demonstrated that we are willing to share all over the world.  But not without limits.  Where our experience has identified, effective, inexpensive innovations, we are moving forward with helping those who will otherwise die.  It will be more effective, measurable, and impactful.  We have a conservative and liberal senator passionate about impacts and outcomes.  Think about the message it sends to the nation.  

Female Speaker: that is one of the best pitches I have heard!  There was a question about when you think the bill will be introduced.  It sounds like in the next few weeks the bill will be introduced.  

Coons: yes.  I believe we can do this before fourth of July.  There have been hiccups in other things on both the trade and national defense issues.  Whether we introduce before or after fourth of July.  I think we will be before the end of July 

Female Speaker: this will be our top priority.  We are excited to bring this to the Hill.  How important is it to pass this bill before the administration moves on?  Are there risks that the ball might be dropped without solidifying these reforms?  

Coons: Yes.  Raj Shaw I admire.  I think Dr Shaw was a transformational leader.  The reforms on efficiency and outcomes really opened a window.  It sustained funding when other areas were cut significantly.  If we move on and trust that we will be blessed with another leader.  Gail Smith is also very capable.  I think we should seize this Lyndsey Graham is in the best position, and the best republican senator on this issue.  There are others, but I think we have to capture this moment.  

Female Speaker: it is fantastic to have you on this call.  We also know that if you don't have the lead champion, the rest doesn't matter.  Your leadership is very important and we are grateful to work with you and support you on this.  

Coons: you talked about Christie before.  One of my great partners is Christy Gleason, a powerful and motivating partner.  She has great staff who support.  None of us get far without our own families and staff.  Thanks to all those on the call.  Thanks to Joanne for her work.  The impact is measurable, meaningful.  This is not just another policy issue, it is a calling.  I am excited to hear about your meetings on the Hill.  

Female Speaker: thank you.  Maybe we can see you in person in July!  We would love to give you a cheer in person.  

Coons: that would be great, thank you.  

Female Speaker: before I turn the call over to Ken Patterson for a grassroots update, it is clear to see the leadership and partnership we have in the senate.  We hope to have the same in the House.  On a sadder issue, I want to acknowledge the passing and lives of two longtime amazing results leaders.  Many of you know Bob Dickerson died after a final battle with cancer.  Bob was such a presence that it is hard for me to grasp he is gone.  I think you may have realized that Bob was more fired up in these last months.  He got into the NYtimes, became even more impressive.  Bob spurredus all to be bolder.  We will start an award in his name.  

We lost Gail Newman, another wonderful results leader.  She was living with her daughter.  She was in Miami results.  I think they pioneered coming to Washington to cover every office in the state.  We spoke about a life without regrets, and I think they threw themselves into this work in that way.  I think it is a model for us all.  I feel that they would be saying not to stop now, we have come this far.  I will post information on memorials celebrating their lives and work.  I look forward to seeing you in July.  Talk with us if there is anything we can do.  If you can't make it, there are many ways to make a difference through media, letters, etc.  One of the largest NGOs in the.  One of the most powerful activists I know will be there.  I look forward to our impact.  I will turn over to Ken Patterson now.   

Ken: I am doing two parts, legislative update and grassroots.  Let's start with the photo.  If you haven't seen this photo, it is great.  For legislative update we have three issues to cover.  Trade, appropriations, and maternal and child health legislation in terms of what Senator Coons talked about in the coming weeks and months.  Starting with trade.  On this issue, many of you have taken action to oppose the trade promotion authority.  Our fear is that the current trade deal, the TPP, will harm foreign nations ability to produce drugs at generic or cheaper prices.  This would set back our work and cost lives.  Giving this authority makes it easier to push harmful trade deals.  Under fast track authority, congress has limited options.  They can't filibuster or make amendments.  They don't want to seem negative on trade.  Yesterday the house voted down a part called trade adjustment assistance.  Both the trade authority and assistance must pass for the full measure to pass.  One part passed, but it can't advance yet.  Carly Pildis will keep you up to date with what is next.  Thank you for jumping in and acting quickly.  

Moving on to appropriations, I have a summary.  I have to say that because of the intense work from earlier, and the targeted work with the foreign operations subcommittee, our programs worked well for PY 2016.  The overall bill was 3% smaller this year.  The total amoutn is 47.8 billion dollars, 1.4 billion less than last year.  

On the global fund, the house funding is up to 1.5 billion to the global fund.  We are on track for the billion dollar pledge from the past half of 2014, and into 2015 in January when the pledge was made.  

On education, the increased funding from 50 to 70 million funded overall education at 800 million.  To give an overview, the 2015 levels and proposed levels are here.  The next steps are that the House could bring a full bill to the floor as early as this week.  We will keep you on alert to stop negative amendments or cuts.  Your advocacy was critical in protecting the accounts and increasing the numbers we did.  Very few do this sort of advocacy.  

We have a lot going on, I will move to maternal and child health bills.  We hope to introduce the senate bill sooner than the end of July to take it direct during the conference.  We have the same hopes for the house version.  Our hope is that both of these bills will be introduced and we will be the first on capitol hill with bipartisan support.  

Our goal is to create strong will to co-sponsor on legislation.  San Francisco folks did that today.  We want constituent letters, all of that was talked about as important.  At home and in DC.  We want to demonstrate support, and be careful in how we mobilize our communities on this.  We had a conversation this past week where I asked how to mobilize constituents.  They came up with some great ideas: call-in dates before and after conference, posting on social media pages, faith communities writing letters.  Even letters from the action network remotely.  You could ask people to hand deliver a letter for them in Washington.  I think we can be creative with this.  If we are the first group to lobby on this legislation, we want to go in with many letters and media.  

That is all on the legislative update.  Let's move over to the grassroots cafe.  Let me give a few notes.  You can find the "take action" tab on the site.  Let them know about a special offer through midnight on Sunday night, a special code to waive the late registration fee of $100.  If you put in the code IC100F that will dedicate from the registration.  You want to get reservations.  We need to let the hotel know the blocks of rooms.  It will be hard to let them know if not.  It means they will release the rooms.  

We said we will do two drawings.  You have been added for a $300 scholarship.  We have your name in the media bowl.  We will do a drawing here.  I will see if Gene wants to assist with the scholarship.  Dickerson has 12 entries on this.  Gene, you want to draw?  

Steve Arnold wins a 300 dollars scholarship!  Congratulations, and thanks to all the others.  I want to shift gears.  I will ask Amanda Beals for an update.  

Beals: I want you to take a step back and think about the first moment you were introduced to Results.  What did it feel like to connect to an opportunity that helps you be who you want?  We need them to take action to create that political world.  We are the most powerful recruiters for future advocates and what we can accomplish.  We can call people into action.  Think about how you might do that and help with expansion.  We have a couple opportunities to reach out.  First, the expansion team actively builds new probes.  If you know people in other places where we can connect, we would love that.  Second, we have identified strategic districts in your backyards.  We would love to find the next activists.  We will talk about skills to help you succeed in this.  If you want to help us reach out we would love that.  We have an online form you can fill out to give us information.  I will move to Lisa Marchall.  

Overwhelming political will.  

Lisa: we will get Lester on the line.  We will see if he can unmute his line.  The story that Michigan has is remarkable.  The groups work well to collaborate domestic and global, and working on the generation of overwhelming will.  Can you start with a quick description of the meeting you just had?  

Lester: we had a meeting with Debbie Dingle on May 8th.  She is not on the appropriations committee, or foreign aid, but she became the senior whip for the democratic party.  We found out she is in 35 caucuses and working groups.  She is well connected.  The meeting was an hour.  17 results activists representing groups.  The various members were different age, gender, culture, knowledge levels.  It contributed to an effective meeting.  

Lisa: how did you make the connection personally to the representative around maternal and child health?  

Lester: before the meeting, we honored her husband, long time servant of the House.  We honored him at an NAACP event.  I made a presentation.  I think that made an impression.  Also the president of NAACP was well connected, and is now starting a results group.  John Dingles foreign Aide LA is there now.  His father is a TV doctor.  We have a close connection with the staff.  

Another aspect is that planning is critical.  My sister puts together an agenda.  We meet with staff, and if you meet with them they have information and knowledge.  I encourage you to do that.  We had different activists talking about roles in maternal and child health.  

Lisa; did you learn anything that you would do differently?  In preparing for or executing the meeting?  Or additional take aways for advocates.  We are all refining our skills in this.  

Lester: we had several calls on this preparation.  Not everyone was on the call.  Do the planning, and do follow up after.  I talked to staff yesterday, and they said that they will sign on.  He is going to look for representatives to participate.  

LIsa: to finish out the call, we will have Ken Patterson close us out but use the chat menu to answer the question: what new additional creative thing are you going to do, or will your groups do, to help create a political will.  

Lester: let's have a number, bring letters to the IC.  Follow up with community organizers.  Hash tag.  Get Maryland house delegation on the bill.  Continue working to energize college students.  Lunch and learn.  There are great ways to mobilise.  We will continue with this.  Do a selfie at local children hospitals with message to support the bill.  Do this with doctors.  

One of our volunteers is doing a learning series on "Quiet Leadership."  This is great in supporting and engaging other people.  How do you solicit that in others?  If you are interested, contact her.  Excellent ideas.  Finally, we are nearly halfway through the year.  We would love to have a sense of the activities you have done.  You can find the reporting forms in the updates.  I want to acknowledge the two heros we just lost.  I think Bob would agree that now is the time to pick up the pace.  What could be more important.  This work is taking the baton of these great activists.  I will give you a chance now to give a shout of encouragement.  [Multiple voices.]  

[End of Event.]