The Federal Retirees team debuted new volunteer training at AMM 2023 with a focus on securing and conducting successful MP meetings.
Federal Retirees volunteers gathered in Gatineau for the Annual Meeting of Members (AMM) in June.
This year, AMM included an advocacy training session focused on why advocacy matters to active and retired federal employees. During the session, participants learned about the impact of Federal Retirees’ advocacy work on pensions and health over the past 60 years and worked with fellow volunteers to build skills needed to effectively advocate for better retirement income security and a strong, sustainable health-care system.
To kick off the session, national office advocacy team staff reviewed the Association’s strategic goals, the importance of advocacy and significant Federal Retirees advocacy wins.
Staff then provided detailed overviews of each of our four Association priorities — retirement income security, a national seniors strategy (including long-term care and home care), pharmacare and veterans well-being — outlining why they matter now and the advocacy work currently being done on them.
Participants also had the opportunity to use the Personal Toolkit to engage with the advocacy priorities through exploratory journaling. Volunteers then bravely shared their own personal stories with the group.
Advocacy program officers (APOs) Maria Fitzpatrick from Alberta, Cynthia Foreman, from Manitoba and Richard Simpson from Saskatchewan brought a hands-on approach to the session, demonstrating how to set up and make the most of MP meetings (even with less cooperative MPs).
Following the demonstrations, participants brought the training to life by teaming up with other volunteers from their region to practice through role-play and to share their own learnings from past meetings with MPs.
Since the AMM, branch volunteers have been putting these training materials to good use and connecting with their local MPs across the country! Read about their successful advocacy work in our Advocacy Spotlight column.
If you’re eager for more advocacy training, reach out to your local APO for more information. Not sure who that is? Email advocacyteam@federalretirees.ca
About Advocacy Spotlight
Advocacy Spotlight showcases successful initiatives and projects put forward by our dedicated volunteers and supporters.
The National Association of Federal Retirees has a proud history of advocacy on behalf of our members and all retirees. In collaboration with our volunteers and supporters from coast-to-coast, we continue this tradition of strong, smart advocacy campaigns focused on improvements to the financial security, health and well-being of our members and all Canadians. Our success is not only measured in policy changes and legislation. It grows with every meaningful discussion with parliamentarians, and with every email and letter written. Together, we are achieving and surpassing our strategic advocacy goals and targets every day.