1. Dear Colleague Letter Follow Up
   
   Impressive job, NAAF advocates! On Tuesday, July 24, 2007, a letter from the office of Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (CA-6) was sent to Dr. Steven Katz, Director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), urging his Institute to develop and implement a plan that significantly raises awareness and use of the National Alopecia Areata Registry among scientific investigators. Through YOUR hard work and persistence, thirty-nine Members of Congress signed on to the letter as a way of showing support to their constituents affected by alopecia areata.
   
   We would like to extend a great display of gratitude to the following thirty-nine signers, as well as the constituents in their districts who urged them to sign on!
   
   Lynn Woolsey, Tim Ryan, Jim Ramstad, Donald Payne, Charlie Rangel, Carolyn Maloney, John Yarmuth, Tammy Baldwin, John Hall, Brian Higgins, Jo Ann Davis, Jim McGovern, Chris Shays, Doris O. Matsui, Joe Donnelly, Henry Waxman, Zach Wamp, Charlie Wilson, Patrick Kennedy, Heather Wilson, Frank Wolf, Peter Welch, Chris Van Hollen, Todd Russell Platts, Jason Altmire, Baron Hill, Pete King, John Tierney, Wayne Gilchrest, Robert Wexler, Rodney Alexander, Jim Moran, Ciro Rodriquez, Patrick Murphy, Tom Allen, Jerry Lewis, Raul Grijalva, Barney Frank and Tom Udall.
   
   I am happy with this, our first attempt as a group to make a Congressional impact. I look forward to this group doing even more, with more success, in the future. I will keep you updated on the progress and impact of our letter.
   
   
2. Announcement: Federal & State Campaign on Insurance Coverage
   
   As you may recall, the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) was recently awarded the National Health Council’s Technical Assistance Grant (TAG). As a recipient of this grant, NAAF will receive $25,000 in consulting services (approximately 200 hours) over the next 12 months. NAAF quickly formed their TAG-Team, comprised of staff, select Board Members, and patient advocates, who have determined that NAAF will use these resources to implement a campaign to work towards enactment of state and federal laws that improve insurance coverage for hair prostheses. As our key group of Advocates, we will be calling on you to help us along the way. Stay tuned for updates and action requests regarding this exciting project.
   
   
3. Take Action!
   
   Please use the down time between our last Grassroots Campaign (getting Representatives to sign on to the Letter to NIAMS) and our next effort (insurance coverage for hair prostheses on both a state and federal level) to keep in contact with your Members of Congress. If you haven’t already, be sure to contact your Member of Congress to express your gratitude for having them sign on to the letter, or your disappointment that they didn’t sign on in time. As I have mentioned before, it is important to keep your Members engaged in our issues year-round, so that when we really need them, they are familiar with you, and with alopecia areata.
   
   
4. Inspirations from NAAF Advocates
   
   Each month, I will highlight feedback from an Advocate that inspired me. This one I received shortly after I returned to the office from the Conference.
   
   The only time I felt really normal and in control since AU came into my life was on Capitol Hill.  I want to do more to help all aspects of this disease with NAAF.   When I was in Sen. Kerry's office, Aaron (aide) mentioned it would be great if we had a AA Awareness day in MA...He said that there could be a chance to get Kerry there after I asked.
   
   Please keep your sending me your comments and inspirations. It helps to keep us all on track and moving forward, and reminds us that we are all in this together.

Lisa Butler
Director of Support, Government & Public Affairs
lisa@naaf.org