Even if you only have a few minutes, you can be an MS activist.
Help Raise Awareness
- Find out about your elected officials and start a relationship.
- Download and distribute this MS Activism Brochure, titled "Federal Advocacy."
- Read and comment on the MS activist blog
- Create some BUZZ! Post information on MS issues on your own web site or blog, and join the MS Chat Room.
Take Action
- Volunteer with your chapter’s government relations committe.
- Sponsor an MS activist’s trip to Washington, DC.
- Go with a friend or family member to visit your legislator’s office
- Volunteer to recruit new MS activists at your next local BikeMS or WalkMS
- Become a subject matter expert on an MS issue and serve on a state or community task force
- Organize an event to meet other MS activists in the community
Join our Network of Grassroots Activists
When you join the MS Activist Network
- The National MS Society will look to you to serve as an activist for the interests of people with MS.
- We will arm you with the information and tools you need to fully understand the issues, talk about them with others, and take action.
- We will send you an MS Action Alert when an important issue or piece of legislation calls for your immediate attention.
- We will send you our monthly Federal Focus on Advocacy e-newsletter—an update on activism successes, timely legislation, and emerging issues.
How to contact your public officials:
- Write or Email Your Public Officials: here's a sample letter to make it easy
- Call Your Public Officials: here's a sample phone call to make it easy
Meet with Your Public Officials
You can schedule a meeting with a public official or their staff at any time - and you don’t have to go to Washington, D.C. Every member of Congress has one or more offices in their local district. You can make an appointment or just stop by.
If you’ve had a meeting, we’d love to hear about it. Let us know who you met with, the issue you discussed, and how they responded.
Write a Letter to the Editor
A letter to the editor is an easy way to share your story with the public and call for action. Write a persuasive letter, be thoughtful and polite. Be sure to ask for the action you want. And be brief. Editors are mostly likely to publish a letter no longer than 150-250 words. Remember to include your full name and address.
Call Your Local Talk Radio
Write out what you want to say beforehand. Then keep dialing until you get through. When you do, share your story and be positive. Be clear and concise about the point you want to make. Don’t engage in argument. Say what you want to say, then hang up.
Attend a Town Hall Meeting
Members of Congress hold regular town hall meetings or listening sessions with constituents in their districts. Usually these are held during Congressional recess. Call your legislator’s district office and ask about upcoming town hall meetings. Before attending a meeting, write out the question(s) you want to ask. If you want to talk through an MS issue, call your chapter advocacy staff. If you attend a meeting, we’d love to hear about it.
Thank you for being an MS activist.
