Whether you are writing to your MP or to the minister of health or finance, adapt these letters to fit your own situation. Personalized letters have more impact. The sample letter presented here is to the minister of health.
The Honorable ___________________, P.C., M.P. Minister of Health House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A OA6
Dear Minister,
At the CNA Biennial Convention in Ottawa in June, you noted that “since Jeanne Mance set foot in this land, nurses have been caring for this country, and now, more than ever, it is time for Canada to show how much it cares for nurses.” I thank you for these words and am writing you today to encourage you to demonstrate your willingness to invest in the nursing profession.
Canadians are worried about the state of the healthcare system and associate the declining quality of care with the decreasing availability of nurses. (Note: Add a personal example from your own area as appropriate.) As you are aware, Canada faces a severe shortage of nurses with the knowledge and skills to meet the future health needs of Canadians. Care is becoming increasingly complex and technologically advanced. As you work to create an integrated continuum of care, Canadians will require highly qualified nurses to plan and deliver that care.
As the federal government examines its fiscal priorities and resources for the coming year, the nurses of Canada urge you to take a leadership role in making sustainable investments in the healthcare system, including:
● Increasing federal transfer payments
● Expanding the continuum of care to include accessible home and community care
● Making a modest investment of $200 million over 5 years to support nursing recruitment, retention, research, and the dissemination and uptake of evidence to provide the best patient care
The nurses of Canada are looking to the federal government to demonstrate the strength of your commit- ment to ensure that all Canadians continue to enjoy ready access to the best healthcare system in the world. Sincerely,
[Your name & address]
From Canadian Nurses Association. (1998). The quiet crisis in healthcare. Lobby Kit. Ottawa: Author. Used with permission.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To be published, letters to the editor should comment on a public issue, and they usually are a response to a particular article or editorial published in the newspapers. An example may be a letter that responds to an editorial discussing the next federal budget, which is expected to be a “health budget.” Keeping the letter short and punchy will enhance its chances of being published. Remember to sign the letter and add a daytime telephone number in case the editor wants verification or more informa- tion from you. Information on where to send letters is usually found in the letters section of the newspaper.
NEWS RELEASES
A news release is much like a letter but does not have a salutation. Information should include rele- vant facts—the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the issue that you want to highlight. The release should also include the name and telephone number of a person whom the media can contact for further comments or to arrange for an interview. The following example of a news release may be adapted to fit various needs:
In (name of region), registered nurses will be meeting with politicians and holding events, such as news conferences, to build support for the nursing investment. A meeting with (name of politi-
cian) will be held (insert date) at (insert place). A photo opportunity and brief statement by the
nursing group will follow at (time and place). The event is scheduled in response to a public meeting held (insert when and where), when nurses joined their voices with the growing number of Canadian nurses calling for a federal investment in healthcare. Canadian nurses are warning the government that Canadians will soon be deprived of care if action is not taken to avert a mas- sive nursing shortage.
“Nurses make up 75% of health professionals. Without registered nurses at the bedside, who will care for Canadians?” asked (insert name). “You can’t open beds in hospitals or deliver quality home care if there are no nurses.”
Earlier, in Ottawa, in meetings with members of parliament and government officials, the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) called on the federal government to support recruitment and retention of registered nurses, nursing research, and the dissemination and uptake of evidence. The CNA estimates the federal government investment should be $40 million a year over the next 5 years. “Our support of this is essential. We know firsthand the impact of the nursing shortage on patient care,” said (insert name).
RESOLUTIONS
Prepare a written resolution for presentation at a professional organization’s annual general meeting, such as one for a provincial association, a college of nursing, or the CNA. To be most effective, reso- lutions should be submitted in writing before the meeting date, so be sure to check deadlines, as res- olutions received after the deadline may not be able to be considered by the resolutions committee. Although resolutions can usually be presented from the floor of the meeting, this means that time for consideration and discussion may be limited. You will be most effective if you allow participants time to formulate their own responses and opinions on the topic.
A resolution is an original main motion written with great formality. A resolution generally has two parts: a preamble (optional) and the resolution.
The preamble states the reasons for making the resolution and is the equivalent to debating the question before it is on the floor. Each paragraph begins with the word “Whereas”—underscored or in italics and followed by a comma—and each paragraph closes with a semicolon. Additionally, the word after “Whereas” begins with a capital letter (i.e., “Whereas, The”). There is no limit to the number of times you use “Whereas.”
A resolution is introduced with the word “Resolved,” and, as with “Whereas,” the word is under- scored or put in italics and followed by a comma. Additionally, the word after “Resolved” begins with a capital letter (i.e., “Resolved, That”). You may have more than one “resolved” sentence.
All proposed resolutions must include supporting documentation, including the financial impli- cations relevant to the proposal. Also, it is helpful if the proposed resolution includes an implementa- tion date. An example follows:
Whereas, The biennial meeting will be held in Ottawa; and
Whereas, There will be business, education sessions, and special awards; therefore
Resolved, That all the members of the Canadian Nurses Association be encouraged to attend the 2008 Biennial meeting from June 16 to 18, 2008.
Each resolution must be moved and seconded.
Questions regarding the preparation of a resolution can usually be answered by contacting the association office to which you will be submitting the resolution. Box 1.4 summarizes the resolution process. See the Appendix for an example of a complete resolution.