March 5, 1999

At this year's annual meeting, APA members can take advantage of the meeting's Washington, D.C., locale and help influence national mental health policy by visiting their members of Congress while in town. To facilitate these visits, APA's Division of Government Relations (DGR) is coordinating transportation between the Washington Convention Center and Capitol Hill and preparing a written message that APA members can bring to their legislators. The Division of Public Affairs is handling publicity for the visits.

This important initiative was the result of a proposal made by Eliot Sorel, M.D., president-elect of the Washington Psychiatric Society, at a meeting last November in Washington, D.C., of district branch presidents-elect. The meeting was hosted by APA Vice President Daniel Borenstein, M.D., and Assembly Speaker-elect Al Herzog, M.D. The proposal, which was unanimously supported, demonstrates the effectiveness of APA's district branches and the improved working relationship between APA's national and local offices.

Those APA members who are interested in participating in this initiative must write to their members of Congress now asking for an appointment during their stay at the annual meeting. Those who don't know the names and addresses of their members of Congress can obtain the information by going to APA's Web site at and clicking on "Public Policy Advocacy" and then "Write to Congress."

After scheduling these appointments, participants are asked to give the information to Jim Walsh of APA's Division of Government Relations (DGR) and their local district branch or state association. Walsh can be reached via e-mail at jwalsh@psych.org.

APA's Office of Meetings Management is coordinating transportation between the convention center and Capitol Hill.

"We anticipate this initiative to be first and foremost effective and empowering, as well as educational and enjoyable, said Sorel. "We look forward to members' comments and to your enthusiastic participation."

DGR is producing a one-page statement that will allow all APA members participating in the program to deliver a unified and consistent message regarding APA's position on mental health care. The statements will be available at the DGR booth in APA's Member Resource Center in the Exhibit Hall of the convention center and at daily early-morning briefings conducted by DGR staff. At these briefings, which will be held in the APA Press Office (rooms 10/11/12 on the lower level of the convention center), staff will inform participants about what to expect and what they might say during their Capitol Hill visit.

After the appointments, participants are encouraged to stop by the DGR booth and send follow-up letters from on-site computers.

The program is being coordinated by a steering committee of district branch presidents-elect, including Sorel (chair), David Axelrad, M.D., of Texas, Mary Helen Davis, M.D., of Kentucky, Deborah Leverette, M.D., of South Carolina, John Olson, M.D., of Washington State, Galen W. Stahle, M.D., of Minnesota, Stephen J. Walsh, M.D., of California, and Kenneth N. Wiesert, M.D., of Indiana. Consultants include Richard Harding, M.D., of South Carolina, Dale Walker, M.D., of Oregon, and Roger Peele, M.D., and Lawrence Kline, M.D., of Washington, D.C. Also involved are Donna Norris, M.D., speaker of the Assembly, Ron Shellow, M.D., chair of APA's Joint Commission on Government Relations, and Nada Stotland, M.D., chair of APA's Joint Commission on Public Affairs, and their respective staffs.

District branches are supporting the program locally through working groups consisting of the president, president-elect, immediate past president, executive director, and federal legislative and public affairs representatives.