Name, Office

SPARC Goals SPARC Goals – Facilitate advocacy efforts on the chapter level – Enhance communication between the APhA-ASP Policy Standing Committee and individual chapter members – Update chapters on important legislative events that have the potential to impact the profession of pharmacy

American Pharmacists Month American Pharmacists Month Event Spotlight: DEA Drug Take-Back Day Event Spotlight: DEA Drug Take-Back Day Call for Submissions: Chapter Spotlight Call for Submissions: Chapter Spotlight

October is American Pharmacists Month (APhM) October is American Pharmacists Month (APhM) – History – Theme and purpose – Preparing for APhM – Ideas for your chapter – Media outlets – Resources

“National Pharmaceutical Week” proposed by Robert J. Ruth, a pharmacist from Asheville, NC, at the 1924 APhA Annual Meeting “National Pharmaceutical Week” proposed by Robert J. Ruth, a pharmacist from Asheville, NC, at the 1924 APhA Annual Meeting – First celebration on October 11-17, 1925 American Pharmacists Month launched in 2004 American Pharmacists Month launched in 2004 – In 2005, U.S. President George W. Bush acknowledged the important role pharmacy professionals play in the lives of Americans

Recognize the commitment to patient care and contributions to health care made by pharmacists in all practice settings Recognize the commitment to patient care and contributions to health care made by pharmacists in all practice settings Motivate your colleaguesMotivate your colleagues Educate your patientsEducate your patients Engage and Inspire your communityEngage and Inspire your community Motivate your colleaguesMotivate your colleagues Educate your patientsEducate your patients Engage and Inspire your communityEngage and Inspire your community

Start planning early! Start planning early! Who is your target audience? Who is your target audience? – Colleagues in pharmacy, the community, patients, other health care professionals, lawmakers How will you advertise your events? How will you advertise your events? Select media outlets to tell your story Select media outlets to tell your story

Incorporate your pharmacy colleagues Incorporate your pharmacy colleagues – Find out how your state pharmacy association plans to observe APhM – Hold a faculty and staff or alumni appreciation breakfast at your school or college of pharmacy – Host a celebratory lunch or social event for all student pharmacists – Encourage local pharmacists join your efforts by holding a health fair and displaying APhM décor

Target your community – Schedule a patient care project program (e.g. Operation Immunization) and promote APhM – Visit a local high school and talk to students about careers in pharmacy – Choose innovative locations: airports, theaters, sporting events, flee markets – Multilingual advertisements

Target your lawmakers Target your lawmakers – Invite your members of Congress to visit your school or college of pharmacy – Ask your patients to share their experiences with pharmacists and student pharmacists with their legislators – Encourage your elected officials (e.g. mayors, city managers, and state governors) to designate October as American Pharmacists Month

Media Outlets: Billboards, newspapers, morning talk shows, radio talk shows Media Outlets: Billboards, newspapers, morning talk shows, radio talk shows Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube ‒Facebook: Post our daily pharmacy facts ‒Twitter: Share what your chapter is doing for APhM using the hashtag #APhM2012 ‒Youtube: Post videos on the APhA-ASP account showcasing how your chapter is advocating during APhM

Tools for communicating newsworthy events to the media Tools for communicating newsworthy events to the media – Pitch letters – News releases – Media advisories (or media alerts) – Media kits

Order merchandise to promote your APhM events, thank your patients, recognize your colleagues, or sell as a fundraiser Order merchandise to promote your APhM events, thank your patients, recognize your colleagues, or sell as a fundraiser – ndex.asp APhM Planning Guide APhM Planning Guide Tips for generating media interest Tips for generating media interest Patient education resources Patient education resources – pharmacists-month-2012

Proper Medication Disposal and Drug Take-Back Programs Proper Medication Disposal and Drug Take-Back Programs 1.APhA-ASP encourages the implementation of standardized guidelines for the proper disposal of unused or expired medications… 2.APhA-ASP supports state and federal regulations that allow pharmacies to take back unused or expired medications… 3.APhA-ASP encourages pharmacists and student pharmacists to serve as a source of information for the public on the proper disposal of unused or expired medications.

September 29 th, 2012 September 29 th, 2012 Purpose is to allow general public to safely dispose of unwanted or unused prescription medication Purpose is to allow general public to safely dispose of unwanted or unused prescription medication How to get involved How to get involved – Serve as a resource to educate the public on proper medication disposal – Assist law enforcement in collection efforts – Grassroots Advocacy

Resources: Resources: – – keback/ – s/buyingusingmedicinesafely/ensuringsafeuseofmedic ine/safedisposalofmedicines/ucm htm

Next month, we are spotlighting… – You? – Tell the Policy Standing Committee what policy and advocacy events your chapter is doing. – We will select one chapter to spotlight in each SPARC (you’ll be famous in front of all the other APhA-ASP chapters). – You could even find yourself on the APhA-ASP Facebook page!

Join the Policy Standing Committee Thursday, September 13 th 9:00PM EST Learn how to easily advocate for your profession during American Pharmacists Month, the upcoming election season, and throughout the year! You can also find these webinar slides under Chapter Officer Resources on pharmacist.com

Your Regional Delegate is: Adam Loyson University of Michigan

Athena Brand, Chair, University of Texas Athena Brand, Chair, University of Texas – Autumn Bagwell, Vice-chair, Samford University Autumn Bagwell, Vice-chair, Samford University – – Regions 3 and 5 Kayli Hall, University of Nebraska Medical Center Kayli Hall, University of Nebraska Medical Center – – Regions 1 and 2 Mika Bhakta, University of the Pacific Mika Bhakta, University of the Pacific – – Regions 6 and 8 Catlin Goodfriend, University of Washington Catlin Goodfriend, University of Washington – – Regions 4 and 7