GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT ADVOCACY DAY

What is the attire for Advocacy Day?
Attire for the Monday training sessions is business casual. We encourage you to bring layers as the temperature in the hotel tends to be variable. Attire for the Tuesday meetings on Capitol Hill is business or business casual. Please also plan to wear comfortable shoes, as you will be walking to meetings on Tuesday once you arrive on Capitol Hill.

Weather in Washington, DC at the end of June can vary between 60° F - 85° F, so we encourage you to bring a light coat and an umbrella. Note that you will have to go through security screenings to get into the congressional office buildings. We strongly encourage you to limit the amount of metal that you wear on Tuesday and to wear shoes that you can easily get on and off if requested by security. Note that boots frequently set off the machines. Also, please keep in mind that you may need a photo ID for some meetings.

Are meals included?
We will provide breakfast and lunch on Monday, June 21st. Dinner on Monday is not included, and we hope participants will use the time to get to know the others in their meeting group and enjoy one of DC's great restaurants. Breakfast will be provided on Tuesday morning.

May someone who is not registered for the event accompany me?
Due to space constraints, we are unable to accommodate anyone who is not pre-registered. Please contact us at advocacy@pancan.org or 202-742-6699 to check on the registration status of an individual who may be accompanying you.

Do I need to participate in the whole training session on Monday, June 21st?
Yes. In fact, this training is mandatory for anyone who plans to visit members of Congress on the 22nd. We will cover critical information such as new information that you can use in your meetings and what we will be asking Congress to do. Please note that the messages that we will be delivering are different from previous years.

The training will also include time for you to meet the others from your state that you will be advocating with and to strategize about who will say what during your meetings. Need another reason to stay until the end? Your meeting schedules will be distributed at the end of the day. There will be an optional orientation at 8:30AM on Monday for all newcomers and those who would like a refresher course.


TRAVEL QUESTIONS

When do I need to arrive in Washington, D.C.?
Training will begin on the morning of Monday, June 21st, so we strongly encourage you to arrive in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, June 20th. If you are participating in PurpleStride D.C. on June 19th, please plan to arrive on Friday, June 18th, as registration for the walk begins at 7:30am on Saturday morning.

What time should I plan to leave D.C. on Tuesday, June 22nd?
We ask that you book your return flight for 6:30PM or later if you are flying out of Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), or 7:30PM or later if you are flying out of Dulles International Airport (IAD) or Baltimore Washington Airport (BWI). In-person meetings with members of Congress are more likely to be scheduled late in the afternoon on Tuesdays, given the congressional schedule. These meetings are the reason that you are coming to DC, so it is important that you plan to stay long enough to attend!

How do I travel between the hotel and meetings?
On Tuesday morning (June 22nd), all Advocacy Day participants will meet at the Fairmont for a Send-Off breakfast, during which last minute changes to the meeting schedules and other critical information will be provided. After the breakfast, we will provide buses from the Fairmont Hotel to Capitol Hill (where all the meetings are held). Please note that due to security restrictions on Capitol Hill, you should plan on leaving your luggage at the hotel. Since everyone will finish their meetings in the afternoon at different times, participants are responsible for their own transportation back to the hotel and/or to the airport. To find out more about public transportation options in Washington, D.C., including Metro maps, fare information and schedules, please visit www.wmata.com.

How do I travel from the airport to the Fairmont Hotel?
Directions from the D.C. airports to the Fairmont Hotel are available at http://www.fairmont.com/washington/MapAndDirections.htm. Cabs from Washington Reagan Airport (DCA) cost approximately $20 one way (including tip) and will take from 10 to 45 minutes depending on whether you are traveling during rush hour. A Metro stop is also located at the airport. (Take the BLUE LINE Rail labeled LARGO TOWN CENTER METRO STATION and exit at FOGGY BOTTOM METRO STATION,) The ride will cost $1.35 during non-rush hour times and $2 during rush hour and will take from 15 to20 minutes, plus a 10-minute walk to the hotel.


ADVOCACY DAY MEETING QUESTIONS

Will I meet with my Members of Congress by myself?
No. Advocacy Day participants will be coming from all across the country. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network will arrange all of the appointments for you based on your home address. You will be grouped with other people from your city, state, or region. Please note that it is very important that you do not set up your own appointments! If you have special contacts with members of Congress or their staff, please let our Government Affairs staff know (email advocacy@pancan.org or call 202-742-6699).

Who will I meet?
We will make every effort to secure appointments for you to meet with your two U.S. Senators and your U.S. Representative. If the Senator or Representative is not available, the meeting will be scheduled with a member of their staff. Please note that staff meetings are just as important as meetings with the actual Senator or Representative!

May I set up my own appointments with Members of Congress?
No. We ask that participants not contact any congressional offices directly to schedule appointments. If you have special connections with individual Members of Congress or their staff, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can take that into account as we are scheduling. Please contact our Government Affairs & Advocacy office at advocacy@pancan.org or 202-742-6699 with any concerns or questions.

If you set up an appointment for yourself, you could prevent others who are constituents from getting an appointment and/or also create complications with other meetings that we are scheduling for you. If you do have special relationships with individual Members of Congress or their staff, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can take that into account as we schedule. Please contact our Government Affairs at advocacy@pancan.org or 202-742-6699 with any concerns or questions.

Will I be able to go on congressional visits with my friends or family from other parts of the country?
We think that it is wonderful that our advocates bring their family members and friends with them to the Advocacy Day! Inviting people from different parts of the country helps us with our goal of bringing our message to as many members of Congress as possible. You, your family members and friends will have ample time to share the event together; however it may not be possible to pair you together for the actual visits as we need all participants to attend the meetings with their own congressional delegation. Please feel free to contact our Government Affairs staff at advocacy@pancan.org or 202-742-6699 if you have questions or concerns.


REGISTRATION QUESTIONS

I am interested in attending the Advocacy Day, but don't know yet if I can. Should I still register?
Advocacy Day registration is now closed. To be put on the waiting list, please contact us at 202.742.6699 or advocacy@pancan.org.

Is it OK to use my office address to register for the event?
No. We use your address to know which congressional district you live in, so it is very important that you use your home address when you register.

How much does the event cost?
No registration fees are charged for the event. In addition, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network covers breakfast and lunch on Monday, breakfast on Tuesday, and transportation to Capitol Hill on Tuesday. Individual participants are responsible for making their own airfare/transportation arrangements to and from Washington, D.C. as well as their hotel arrangements. We have negotiated a discounted room rate of $269 at the Fairmont Hotel. For more information, please click here.

I know that I can't attend the event in person, but would still like to participate in some way. How can I be involved? Our National Call-In provides the perfect opportunity for anyone who can't be in D.C. to participate in the event. For more information, click here.

When is the registration deadline?
Registration closes on Friday, May 21st, 2010, or when the event capacity has been reached, whichever comes first.


Other questions? If you have any questions about the Fourth Annual Pancreatic Cancer Advocacy Day, please contact our Government Affairs Department at advocacy@pancan.org or 202-742-6699. We look forward to seeing you in June in Washington, D.C.!

*Check back soon as we will post more answers to
frequently asked questions as we receive them.*