And we’re off!  MomsRising members have started meeting with Senate staff in states across the country, and boy, are we packing a punch!

This week in Massachusetts, for example, 14 members of MomsRising and 6 members to be (all under six years old) crammed into the offices of Senator Kerry to demand a fix to our broken healthcare system.  Members brought personal stories of the failure of our healthcare system: an uninsured diabetic husband dying of what started as a simple upper respiratory infection, a family contemplating a move to another country due to complex health issues not covered by their current $1,500/month premium plan, a town going bankrupt because of the meteorically rising health insurance premiums.

But you don’t have to have a personal story to share or be an expert on healthcare to have an impact.  MomsRising member, Marya, who organized the meeting with Senator Kerry’s staff writes, “A lively discussion followed, and I am confident that the relationships that were started both between Senator Kerry's office and MomsRising and amongst the members will serve us well in our grassroots organizing efforts now and in the future.”  For more on the meeting check out Marya’s blog at http://evimedgroup.blogspot.com/2009/07/momsrising-healthcare-meeting.html

Can you set up a meeting?  Yes!  Members who are organizing the meetings for their states are finding it an easy and fun experience.  Caroline of New Jersey writes of her meeting with Senator Lautenberg’s staff, “MomsRising provides an easy-to-follow blueprint on how to set up a meeting with an elected official -- what a great learning experience it was for me! Many of those attending our meeting yesterday were participating in this kind of dialogue for the first time -- I think we all found it a great experience.”

Each meeting has been unique and inspirational!  MomsRising member extraordinaire, Delia, from Missouri, enlisted the help of a chaplain from the local diocese to make the moral and humanitarian argument that Senator Bond must take action to alleviate the suffering and distress of families.  She writes, “There are chinks in their proverbial armor!  Can't wait to hear the bugler sound the trumpet calling us to mount up and ride again!!!”  Go Delia!

More meetings are happening every day.  Two in Florida and two in Montana just today!  Join the fun and support our nation’s families!  Together, there is nothing we can’t do!

To find out about a meeting near you, see http://events.momsrising.org/healthcarenow.   To read the courageous healthcare stories of MomsRising members, see http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1768/images/SenateMeeting_MomsRising%20Book%20Color%20Low.pdf