Here is an e-mail I got from FOMM.
From Friends of Missouri Midwives [FoMM]
Have you all sent your emails to the Committee members, opposing Talboy's "Regulate Midwives Out of Existence Bill" (House Bill 301)? Or the latest assignment - the emails to House Leadership and a "thank you" to our new bill sponsor, Thomas Long?
Perhaps it seems as though your little emails can't make much of a difference. If you're like me, you may sit at the computer, staring at the screen for a long time, trying to figure out WHAT to say. You backspace your email six times, thinking it doesn't communicate what you want to say about why you love and respect midwives. And then you go to bed in frustration, wondering if anyone else did the assignment and sent the emails...
I spent several long days at the Capitol last week and was pleased to stop by a committee members office and hear the assistant tell me, "We've received more emails on this midwifery thing than any other issue this year, by a LONG shot!"
I asked her if they were for or against Talboy's bad bill.
She said, "Well, at first it was just moms and midwives emailing us, but now we're hearing from the doctors, too, so it's kind of a mix these days. Both sides are being pretty vocal." I pressed her for more details, and she finally said, "Well, the moms and midwives are definitely still ahead of the doctors on the emailing! It's obvious that a LOT of people in Missouri are worried about us taking away their midwives!" I had to smile to myself that YOUR emails are making a difference. That you've made midwifery the BIGGEST POLITICAL ISSUE that over a dozen representatives have heard about all year!! Let's keep it that way! If you haven't taken the time to sit down and send your emails, please do it today! And then have your mother, and your husband and your neighbor and your friend at MOPs send them emails, too!
Lastly, the cherry on top was a snippet from the Missouri State Medical Association's newsletter that a "little bird" forwarded to us:
"...It has come to our attention that since the hearing, committee
members have been bombarded with emails and phone calls from midwifery
supporters from all across the country. The midwife lobby is clever and
slicker than snot on a doorknob. We are clearly getting out-spammed and
our message is getting drowned out."
Way to go, Friends of Missouri Midwives! We're ahead! Keep up the good work!
