The dress code for Monday is business casual. The dress code for Tuesday’s meetings on Capitol Hill is business or business casual. Comfortable shoes are strongly encouraged!

The health and safety of all our guests and participants is our number one goal. Please see below for important details which will continue to be updated based on our unique needs and review the COVID-19 Waiver. If you are feeling sick or have been recently exposed to someone who recently tested positive for COVID-19, you should stay home. People who have underlying health conditions or taking medications that weaken the immune system, should talk to their healthcare provider before attending large gatherings.

RECOGNIZE COVID-19 SYMPTOMS

The CDC has identified the symptoms of a COVID-19 infection. If you have one or more of these symptoms on the day of the event, please stay home. If you are waiting for COVID-19 test results or have had close contact with a person who has tested positive for or who has COVID-19 symptoms, please stay home unless you get a negative test result before the event.

YOUR SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY

The COVID-19 virus and its variants are highly contagious. Some people infected with these viruses get severely ill, become hospitalized or die. Event attendees acknowledge the risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus, assume all such risk, and the American Cancer Society, Inc., shall not be held liable.

PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY

Help protect our community. It is strongly encouraged that individual attendees are vaccinated. The wearing of face masks at the event will follow local guidelines. Please report to your staff partner if you later contract COVID-19 and believe you could have received or spread the virus at the event.

COVID-19 INFORMATION HUB

Take a moment to review the information hub as you prepare to travel. BCD Travel’s COVID-19 Information Hub (health & safety FAQs).

No, there is no fee to attend the Grassroots Lobby day training, reception and Hill Day. 

No, OVAC is unable to cover the costs of volunteers representing our member organizations.

Yes, we have a blook of rooms reserved at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill (400 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001) where our training, reception and breakfast will take place. To reserve a room in our room block, first complete your registration, then scroll down on the Confirmation Page and click the 'Book Now' button located under Sleeping Rooms.

No, once registered for 2024 OVAC Grassroots Lobby Day, we will schedule meetings on your behalf. If you have any personal or specific connections with specific congressional offices that we should be aware of, please share in the registration notes. 

All meetings will be scheduled for Tuesday, March 5^th from 9:00 am- 5:00 pm. It is very important that you hold the full day for meetings, as schedules will be determined by the availability of congressional offices and will not be finalized until the week of the event.

We will group participants from the same or nearby congressional districts or states for the meetings with members of Congress and their staff. Every participant will have a state leader and some larger groups will also have group leaders for House meetings. 

We will update you on timing, but participants typically receive a DRAFT schedule via email from Soapbox (our scheduling service) about a week prior to the meetings. Your schedule will include all the information about your meetings, including whom you are meeting with, other members of your group, and talking points. Please note that your schedule can – and likely will – change right up until the actual meeting time. All changes will be accessible via the link that you will receive in that email. 

Before entering House or Senate buildings, all visitors will be screened by a magnetometer for security purposes. Please plan to report to the appropriate House or Senate office building entrance noted on your schedule at least 10-15 minutes before the meeting start time and follow the directions on your schedule to alert staff to bring you through security. 

Please send an email to [email protected] as soon as possible so we can make sure any meetings that have been scheduled in your name are cancelled. 

We will host an in-person training and preparation session on Monday, March 4th from 12:00 – 4:30 pm at the Hyatt Regency Washington – Capitol Hill (400 New Jersey Ave, NW) where we will provide information on everything you will need to be successful in your meetings. The training will include the current status of congressional activity related to NIH, NCI and CDC funding, the messaging we will be using for the Hill Day, tips to prepare for your meetings, and important logistics so you know how and when to access your meetings. We will also have time for Q&A and strategizing with your group. We request that all participants join the training, regardless of previous Hill Day experience. 

We’ve reserved time during the training on March 4th for you to meet with your groups so that you can plan for your Hill Day meetings. You can also meet your groups at the breakfast on March 5^th.