What do you think is the most effective way to turn this idea into real policy? Add your suggestions here for how you think we should run an advocacy campaign to advance the idea – including the overall strategy, messaging, targets, and tactics.

Approach this from the standpoint that people reading this forum already agree with you on the importance of the issue, and are asking "What can we do to help make this a reality?"

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1. 

   Someone with media relations skills and solid media contacts should pitch the idea of a story (or series thereof) to CNN's Lou Dobbs. This is exactly the type of story that he gets passionate about. More, since Mr. Dobbs' daughters are very accomplished equestrians and actively involved in the "show circuit," NAIS will have a profound, personal impact on the entire Dobbs' family. Given Mr. Dobb's audience and clout, even a single mention by him would garner national attention and outrage faster and more effectively than any paid advertising campaign could hope to achieve.

   Suggested by Bill Killpatrick on 01/17/2009 @ 03:32PM PT

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2. 

   Stop funding NAIS except for one activity - to make all information about the creation and status of NAIS available to the public via a website portal. This will save us the time and expense of making requests through the FOIA. None of the NAIS related information should be exempt from disclosure (one FOIA response indicated that hundreds of pages of cost/benefit data is being withheld).
   
   USDA needs to use NAIS funds to create a website portal that has links to all NAIS-related information: cooperative agreements, memorandums, interim reports, final reports, cost/benefit analysis, draft business plans, user guides, etc. in a .pdf format or a spreadsheet format.
   
   The USDA needs to require each state needs to use their NAIS funds to create a website page that has links to all their NAIS-related internal information.
   
   Until that information is made available and a sufficient time is provided to examine the information and make recommendations, all NAIS enrollments must be stopped.
   
   
   

   Suggested by Ann Nelson on 01/17/2009 @ 08:14AM PT

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3. 

   End all funding for NAIS. 

   Suggested by Lucy Marie on 01/17/2009 @ 06:13AM PT

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