10. Know who you are: a patient/physician advocate. What is good for your patients is good for your practice and quality health care in the Commonwealth.

9. Know your stuff: Know your issue, why it is good for your patients/district/specialty or not, who supports, who opposes and why. Be clear about the opposition’s strength and weakness; acknowledge legitimate concerns (if any) and refute those that are incorrect.

8. Know your legislators - their interests, their district, biases and voting records.

7. Know the legislative staff. Nine out of ten times, these are the people you will speak with and write to. They are invaluable sources of information and the key to your entry into the legislative process.

6. Your word is your bond. Never promise something you cannot deliver or overstate the relative importance of an issue.

5. Build coalitions: there is strength in numbers. Look for allies - everywhere. In politics, an ally is someone who may disagree with you on every other issue, but supports you on the one at hand. Don’t assume the opposition is homogenous - finding the one group from the “other side” that supports you can be the golden bullet.

4. Don’t waste time on opponents (or legislators) who are publicly committed to opposing you. Focus on relationships with allies or people who have room to be flexible and are keeping an open mind.

3. “Today’s opponent may be tomorrow’s ally”. Never allow a legislator to consider you a bitter enemy because you disagree.

2. Thank those that help you.

AND THE NUMBER ONE RULE OF EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY….

“When you are crossed politically, don’t get mad, get even”
 ~~ Bobby Kennedy

1. The power of the ballot box is yours, VOTE!