By Alaina Kerkhove, SDSCO Vice Chair

We were able to gain much more support among the legislators this year. We are gaining momentum! Let’s keep up the good work by continuing all year to contact those who are running for the legislature in November. Each and every one of you makes a difference; we have to keep pushing ahead. We are so close to getting CPM legislation passed.

Debbie and I had the great honor of attending The Big Push gathering in Chicago Illinois in November. This meeting was full of a lot of great information. One of the things that came up over and over was how helping with legislative campaigns can be very helpful in gaining credibility and support among the legislators. According to Katie Prown from Wisconsin “Just a small group, which volunteered for a total of 7 key legislators in both parties, was THE single reason we were able to kill our repeal attempt before it got drafted and convert the majority leader in the Senate from an opponent to a supporter.”

In South Dakota we will be voting on every state House and Senate position this year. This election will give homebirth supporters an opportunity to take action and get to know key legislators in our state. In turn, helping with campaigns may just be what helps us to get our bill passed next year.

Here are a few ways that volunteers can help with campaigns:
? Passing out stickers/brochures at sporting events or door to door
? Helping at parades
? Organizing or helping with fundraisers or donating money to a candidate
? Setting up a legislative gathering
? Helping with mailings
? Helping with the primary election on June 3 or the General Election on November 4

We are putting together a list of questions to get an idea for how the candidates feel about our issue. We need at least one volunteer from each district to call the candidates and ask them the questions. If you or anyone you know would be willing to help do any of the above please contact Debbie Pease at qpease@hcinet.net or 605-563-2363.