Melanoma Research Foundation Advocacy Days FAQs
It’s hard to believe the Melanoma Research Foundation Advocacy Days is already in two weeks!
I’m really excited because we have a lot of new advocates this year. I’m also excited to meet so many of you in person!
Quite a few people have reached out to me with questions since I’ve been sharing about the event on my social media. I thought it would be easiest to create a post answering the most asked Advocacy Days questions. This way, I can update the post if more questions come in!
This will be just my second in-person Advocacy Days as my first year was virtual due to COVID. All answers below are based on my personal experience last year. Although I have participated in a number of MRF events, I don’t work there nor do I formally represent them.
What can we expect upon arrival at Advocacy Days?
Most people will be arriving on Sunday, March 3. If you are flying into Reagan International Airport, this is a short Uber/Lyft ride from the Kimpton George, home base for Advocacy Days. A few people will be arriving by train and Union Station is just a few blocks/short walk away.
The Melanoma Research Foundation had a check-in desk outside the ballroom most of our events were located in. Last year, this was set up just beyond the lobby, just past the elevators from the front entrance of the hotel. I didn’t arrive until Monday last year and checked in at that time. However, the desk was set up for anyone who arrived on Sunday.
Sunday was the most unstructured of the three days. Last year, there was a dinner/reception on Sunday evening but I believe everyone had the rest of the evening free after that.
What should I wear?
The dress code will vary over the three days but is generally business casual to business professional.
Monday is our training day and most of it will be spent in a ballroom. Last year, I wore jeans with a nicer top and felt comfortable. I would also plan to wear layers as it’s hard to control temps in the ballroom.
Tuesday is our day on the Hill and more of a professional dress is definitely expected. Dress will vary a bit depending on the person. Some women wore dresses last year while others wore business suits. I usually land somewhere in the middle with a blazer over a dress or dress pants.
Be sure to wear comfortable shoes on Tuesday! Meetings are not in the Capitol but in the House and Senate buildings surrounding it. I try to bring as few extras as possible for passing through security. However, I have brought a tote bag to carry my dress shoes. I wear my tennis shoes walking between buildings and switch before each meeting.
Don’t forget to bring a casual outfit too! Last year, we had the option of doing an evening tour of the National Mall. I would not have wanted to do this in my dress clothes! I’d also recommend bringing at least one sweatshirt or light jacket. I’m from the Midwest and DC felt warm to me during the day. In the evening though, I found myself freezing along with the Arizona crew!
Will we have downtime?
Like most of the questions, the answer will vary a bit from person to person.
If you arrive early on Sunday, you will probably have a significant amount of free time that afternoon before the reception that night. I also don’t recall there being anything planned after the dinner!
Monday is the day with the busiest schedule. We start with breakfast in the ballroom, followed immediately by training. Training goes right up until lunch time, which is also served in the ballroom. After lunch, there is a bit more training and we get our final Hill meeting schedule. Then, we break up into groups by state so we can practice our lawmaker asks for the next day.
After training on Monday, we walked as a group across the street to the Capitol for a group photo. Many of us also did solo and state photos as well! When we walked back to the hotel, there was a small window of time before the evening’s reception. From what I remember last year, Monday’s reception had drinks and passed apps but no sit-down dinner. From there, people who were going on the evening walking tour departed on the bus. I would be surprised if there wasn’t an optional activity again this year. However, I don’t know if it will be the same activity or a different one. The activity cost was covered by the MRF but it is optional. Quite a few people preferred to stay back and relax or spend time with other advocates!
Tuesday’s schedule is the one that will vary the most from person to person. Even within your state, you might have a slightly different schedule than the others. For example, I met with Betty McCollum’s office last year because I live in her district. The other two members of my group met with a different representative who I didn’t meet. The MRF does a great job of trying to leave at least a small window of time between meetings. Some of the offices are pretty far from each other! However, we are dependent on the availability of our lawmakers and their staff. It’s possible they will only have one time slot available. Meetings can also change at the last minute but the MRF has a plan to communicate those changes!
Are we on our own for food?
Yes and no.
On Sunday, it will depend on what time you arrive. There is a dinner that night but if you arrive early, you are on your own before then.
Breakfast and lunch are both provided on Monday. Last year, there wasn’t a formal dinner that evening. However, there was a reception with drinks and appetizers.
On Tuesday, the MRF had a boxed breakfast/lunch prepared for us to grab. Because Hill meetings vary by time, there wasn’t a sit-down breakfast. There was plenty of food in the box for me to have breakfast and a snack!
There are also plenty of places to eat within walking distance. Cafe Phillips, Kelly’s Irish Times and the Dubliner are all on the other side of the block. Union Square is a short walk from the hotel and has a coffee shop and a number of fast food restaurants. There’s also a coffee shop right next to the hotel that serves breakfast and lunch.
I’m so excited to see everyone in a few weeks! If you have any other questions, drop a comment, send me a DM or email me. I’d be happy to answer and keep updating the post for this year and future Advocacy Days events!
You May Also Like:
