PDA Contact Dentist Guide
Grassroots movements attempt to mobilize individuals
to take action to influence an outcome, typically
by mobilizing individuals to vote in a particular
manner, or to contact a person with influence
to take action on a particular issue. PDA utilizes
grassroots by encouraging our members to contact
their legislators to vote for or against a piece of
legislation, and to educate them on specific issues.
PDA’s grassroots network is essential to making
Pennsylvania a better state to practice dentistry.
One of the best things you can do for yourself,
your patients and your profession is to offer to be a
resource for your local, state and federal legislators.
Most legislators’ knowledge on any one particular
topic is a mile long and an inch deep. They know
the area of their profession, but since the Pennsylvania
General Assembly touches almost every topic under
the sun they simply cannot be an expert on all
issues. That’s where you come in. You can answer
policy questions and give real world answers to
technical issues that the legislator doesn’t know.
Legislation has been changed because a constituent
has indicated a proposed law was a bad idea or
needed to be improved. You are helping a legislator
rather than asking them for help, which immediately
distinguishes you from everybody else. It helps
establish a relationship before you make a request.
Getting to know your legislator does not need to
be a time consuming or frightening experience.
The relationship between legislator and constituent
is an integral part of the democratic process, and if
a legislator is unaware of their constituents’ needs,
they cannot be properly represented.
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NOV E M B E R/DE CE M BER 2019 | P EN N S YLVA N IA D EN TA L J O UR NAL
PDA has created a Contact Dentist Guide that can
help you navigate the process of contacting your
legislator. Communicating with your legislators
is absolutely essential in helping PDA advance
our policy goals and we want our members to
feel comfortable reaching out to their legislator
regarding PDA issues. This guide includes tips
for contacting or setting up a meeting with your
legislator, a general overview of the legislative and
regulatory process, information about becoming a
contact dentist for a particular legislator and useful
websites that you can use to stay informed.
Look for PDA’s Contact Dentist Guide coming
soon to PDA’s website at www.padental.org/
publications and the PDA Go app. PDA appreciates
your involvement in its grassroots network; your
efforts help to advance PDA’s efforts to make
Pennsylvania a better state in which to practice
dentistry.