Annual Conference is next week! How are ARRM staff preparing?
Some of ARRM's Youngest Advocates:
Nora and Mylo Grafstrom
Staff Highlight: Sara Grafstrom, Director of State and Federal Policy
You've been working at ARRM for almost 10 years! Can you tell us a little about your ARRM journey?
I was hired by ARRM after spending a couple legislative sessions working at the Minnesota House of Representatives. When I started, my job title was Field Coordinator and I was tasked with helping other ARRM staff implement our newly formed grassroots plan. Right before I was hired, ARRM had completed a consulting contract with an organization called Grassroots Solutions focused on how the organization could be more effective in influencing state policy. One recommendation was to create the new job position of Field Coordinator. Over time, I was given the opportunity to transform the grassroots program, and with the assistance of our members, help it grow into what we have now: a robust network of grassroots advocates across the state, the largest Day at the Capitol every year, and a strong voice for providers and our Direct Support Professional workforce. Recently, my job title changed again, now to Director of State and Federal Policy. I now have the exciting job of representing our members at the Capitol every day in a more direct lobbying role with legislators. Personally, while at ARRM, I have gotten engaged, married, bought two houses and have had two babies!
During legislative session, you work with local officials, monitor proposed legislation, and tirelessly promote members' messages. What are the major tasks you tackle when session is in recess?
Legislative advocacy is really a year-round initiative. During the time the legislature is not in session, it is important that we are connecting with legislators in their districts, hosting various events and strengthening our relationship with elected officials. Additionally, we begin planning next year's legislative agenda almost immediately following the previous year's session adjournment. I work with various ARRM committees to identify legislative priorities for members, work on our proposal, and meet with other stakeholder groups to ensure our legislative agenda and accompanying bills are ready to go on day one of the legislative session.
What's something about you that can't be known by looking at you? A hidden talent perhaps?
No hidden talents...but a couple fun things in no particular order:
- I enjoy pulling weeds in my garden
- My favorite thing to do in the summer is attend water ski shows
- I was the Bridge Club Champion in 5th grade
- I hate cooking
- I once ran face first into a parked minivan after losing control on my roller blades going down a large hill
What are some of the events you're planning or ideas you have for the summer?
ARRM's legislative advocacy team is hosting a series of Coffee and Conversation events across the state this summer! Madeleine Lerner, ARRM's Grassroots Organizer, has been setting up these events that are designed to give ARRM members an opportunity to have a more casual conversation with their legislators about what is working and not working, and what issues legislators need to pay attention to in 2020. Additionally, I'm excited to participate with other ARRM staff in recognizing all of our amazing ARRM Cares nominees across the state and meeting with members to hear about their vision for ARRM's focus moving forward.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
The work we did through the 5% Campaign is still one of the most fun and proudest accomplishments I have had during my time at ARRM. We were able to completely transform how we tackled large legislative issues by coming together as a coalition with other organizations and focusing on a single message. We amplified our voice at the Capitol in a truly awesome way. The work we did on the 5% Campaign taught me a lot of lessons on successful and unsuccessful strategies for grassroots organizing, gave the disability community name recognition with legislators, and gave grassroots advocates an outlet to share their story. While there is still a lot of work to do in tackling the workforce crisis, the 5% Campaign, now the Best Life Alliance, is an important piece of the puzzle.
ARRM is a part of the Best Life Alliance, a nonpartisan coalition that advocates on behalf of Home and Community-Based Services. The coalition is comprised of ARRM members, MOHR members, self-advocates, family members, etc. What are some of your major responsibilities as a leader of the Best Life Alliance?
I lead the Grassroots Team along with my colleague Anni Simons from Fredrikson and Byron. We have been serving this role together since the 5% Campaign formed in 2014! We host monthly phone-in meetings with our team as well as formulate a monthly grassroots ask for team members to take and share with their networks. As leaders of the Grassroots Team, we also identify needed action alerts, draft the alerts, and get them out to advocates to begin communicating with legislators. In addition, to my role with the Grassroots Team, I also help convene the Best Life Alliance Steering Committee and Lobby Team meetings. It is at these meetings where major decisions on strategy are discussed and is really where the work of the Best Life Alliance is driven from.
What is one book that you have a sentimental attachment to? Was it a childhood favorite? Is it the book you've reread the most?
When I was younger, my favorite books were the Amelia Bedilia books...my Dad and I used to spend hours reading them together. Now, I love the children's book The Wonderful Things You Will Be. I have given a copy to both of my children on their first birthdays with a special note inside. It makes me tear up every time we read it together!
Contact Sara: sgrafstrom@arrm.org
Staff Snapshots
Sue Schettle, CEO
Update:I'm doing one of my favorite things and that is hitting the road and meeting with members. I plan to be putting a lot of miles on my car within the next few months.
Annual Conference Preparations: I'm not really preparing. I'm just trying to stay out of the way of the ARRM staff who are deeply invested in this new one-day event. I'm proud of what they've done! I'm just going to experience the day like the rest of the folks. My role is to connect with as many members as possible.
What is one book that you have a sentimental attachment to? Was it a childhood favorite? Is it the book you've reread the most?
I love Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. I read it to my kids all the time when they were little. It's my favorite and I'm sure I read it to them a hundred times.
Contact Sue: sschettle@arrm.org
Drew Henry, Director of Strategic Communications
Update: It's been an extremely busy month with breaking down the legislative session results, preparing for Annual Conference and beginning to develop all our engagements to recognize the 90+ ARRM Cares Award nominees submitted by members across the state. It's an exciting time to be putting all these resources and recognitions together for members, especially as we lead up to membership renewal - a great and energetic cap to a successful year.
Annual Conference Preparations: I'm working with Ashley to put all the content and materials together for conference, from conference brochures to our ARRM Cares Wall of Honor; we want to make the conference experience as fun and energy-filled as possible. On the day of, I'll be running AV during keynotes and working with exhibitors throughout the rest of the day.
What is one book that you have a sentimental attachment to? Was it a childhood favorite? Is it the book you've reread the most?
I always remember reading The Missing Piece by Shel Silverstein. I think it helped shape up from an early age the concept that even when things are "perfect" there are still flaws. It's important to embrace those, but also not to overlook all of life's experiences in search of the so-called "perfect" existence because you could end up missing a lot of amazing things.
Contact Drew: dhenry@arrm.org
Ken Bence, Director of Research, Analysis and Policy
Update: Through our ARRM network, I've arranged some very productive advisory sessions for the organization and our members. The CEO of the Iowa HCBS providers association came and spoke to our Alternative Payment Model Workgroup. She provided us with a lot of important learnings from the challenging managed care transition process they've gone through over the past few years. At the next meeting, in August, we hope to have a similarly productive learning session on what's happening in Wisconsin. We also have had a very good series of Dial-in With DHS webinars this year, featuring useful and timely topics. (Sneak peak: the topic for July 12 will be the Minnesota Provider Screening and Enrollment (MPSE) portal). And don't forget the special webinar in July, examining the Competitive Workforce Factor in more detail, with helpful tips for estimating the impact of an organization.
Annual Conference Preparations: This will be my first ARRM Annual Conference and I am very excited to attend! I am looking forward to meeting more members and learning great information from the presenters. We want this to be a great experience for our attendees, so please let ARRM staff know if there's anything we can do to help!
What is one book that you have a sentimental attachment to? Was it a childhood favorite? Is it the book you've reread the most?
This is a tough one to answer. I have many special memories of reading such classics to my kids: Goodnight Moon, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, The Little Fur Family, Dr. Seuss books, and others all the way through the early Harry Potter years. I guess for myself, I really enjoyed The Killer Angels and the others in the series on the Civil War. The Killer Angels is significant because it focuses on the Battle of Gettysburg, which is where I went to college and lived for a total of 8 years, and really got into the historical significance of the town. And, my daughter was born there!
Contact Ken: kbence@arrm.org
Ashley Wear, Manager of Member Events and Promotions
Update: Living and breathing ARRM's Annual Conference! I've also been working on getting the Fall Leadership Conference underway as well, yay!
Annual Conference Preparations: Annual Conference is definitely my biggest project and ARRM's largest event of the year. Along with content and session selection from the Education Committee, I've been working on executing the programming and training, as well as the extras that come with this conference. You'll likely see me connecting with everyone from attendees, to speakers, exhibitors and sponsors, venue staff and volunteers; I will be working on the logistics and flow of the day to ensure everyone has a great experience. There's a lot of moving pieces and a lot of effort from the committee members and staff to create a valuable day. I try to bring that all together. It'll be a fun and busy day, if you see me in the halls, do say hi!
What is one book that you have a sentimental attachment to? Was it a childhood favorite? Is it the book you've reread the most?
I can't pick just one book, but I will say I have a special love for Roald Dahl books. It reminds me of a time when I always had my nose in a book and just loved to read as a kid. I don't have or make the time anymore, but maybe I'll pick up the BFG or Matilda for a little nostalgia reading!
Contact Ashley: awear@arrm.org
Madeleine Lerner, Grassroots Organizer
Update: It's coffee time! I've been organizing our Coffee with Legislators event series. This month, we met in Blue Earth and Eden Prairie. In July, we will be heading to Stillwater and Saint Cloud. There is still time to register so check it out! This is your chance to discuss the events of the 2019 legislative session and address issues for 2020.
Annual Conference Preparations: I'm going to be running the ARRM booth at Annual Conference with Sara. I will be your guide with regard to 2019 legislative and grassroots highlights! Swing by for a recap of this session and get some pre-printed postcards to send to your legislators. Sara and I have some other fun things planned; we can't wait to see you there!
What is one book that you have a sentimental attachment to? Was it a childhood favorite? Is it the book you've reread the most?
It's difficult to pick just one book. As a kid, I was an avid reader. I would read YA books practically the second they were released (Harry Potter). But I think I have to go with The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. I first read it in kindergarten or the first grade. I didn't know why at the time, but it really stuck with me. I mostly remember reading it with my Grandparents. The Giving Tree is always in the back of my mind. The older I get, the more I look back to that book. It taught me a great deal about friendship and the complexity of human relationships.
Contact Madeleine: mlerner@arrm.org
Savannah Hanley, Manager of Member Services
Update: ARRM Cares is my life and things are going well! We've been working with organizations to celebrate ARRM Cares nominees. We're looking forward to traveling all over Minnesota to help support companies in their recognition of the nominees! It's been a lot of fun working on this and I'm looking forward to these upcoming events!
Annual Conference Preparations: I am the registration captain! Along with our amazing volunteers, I will help you get your badges and begin the awesomeness of Annual Conference!
What is one book that you have a sentimental attachment to? Was it a childhood favorite? Is it the book you've reread the most?
I loved, and still love, The Monster at the End of This Book. It's a hilarious book about Grover from Seasame Street. A monster tries to stop the reader from reaching the end of the book by using brick walls, rope, etc. At the end, he finds out the monster was him all along!
Contact Savannah: shanley@arrm.org