Membership in the Paul G. Rogers Society for Global Health Research requires specific, primarily self-motivated, outreach activity conducted by Ambassadors who are selected by an independent Advisory Council. Ambassadors will be self-motivated global health researchers who will be primarily responsible for seeking out the following opportunities (in strategic consultation with Research!America). Ambassador outreach will be conducted through vehicles that will include but are not limited to:
Meetings with Opinion Leaders and Decision Makers. Ambassadors will be expected to have two meetings with opinion leaders and decision makers who are positioned to influence the U.S. investment in global health research.
Decision makers at the national level have varied but critical responsibilities that relate to the support and conduct of global health research. It is essential that relationships with decision makers be developed and cultivated. Science and those who conduct it must be accountable and accessible to those who support it. In order to leverage influence relative to the Ambassadors' positions, they will be encouraged to arrange meetings within their own states and/or regions.
Editorial Outreach. Ambassadors will be expected to submit an average of three to six letters to the editor, or opinion editorials, or hold meetings with editorial boards by June 1, 2008.
Through this outreach, Ambassadors will increase dialogue and discourse regarding a broad range of global health research issues in editorial boardrooms and on America's editorial pages. Decision makers pay close attention to the opinions expressed in their regions. Ambassadors will capitalize on this and garner increased coverage, awareness and understanding of the importance of global health research.
Public Outreach. Ambassadors will be expected to speak at an average of two engagements to non-scientists groups or audiences by June 1, 2008.
These speaking engagements will provide opportunities to garner a higher level of support for global health research by facilitating understanding, expanding education opportunities for, and interest in, global health research careers, and calling attention to innovations that create a higher quality of life. Examples of such groups include civic organizations, professional media organizations and religious groups. In order to leverage influence relative to the Ambassadors' positions, speaking engagements within their own states and/or regions are encouraged.
Monitoring and evaluation of the Members' progress and impact of public outreach activities will be conducted annually to enhance the quality of Ambassadors materials and messages, media coverage and results.
Members of the Paul G. Rogers Society for Global Health Research will not lobby
"Lobbying" has a strict legal and Internal Revenue Service definition and involves conducting activities aimed at influencing public officials regarding specific legislation. Ambassadors will not address specific legislation, proposed or otherwise. Ambassadors will meet with opinion leaders and decision makers to educate them about the importance of global health research in addressing health and economic problems. They will also discuss the high priority the American public assigns to global health research. As active, articulate members of the research community, Ambassadors will be prepared to address questions and concerns about global health research, thus advancing public and policy-maker dialogue.