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·Research - JB&A developed a statewide poll, which was put into the field from Jan. 29 to Feb. 3, 2003. The results revealed a clear preference for the MI Choice program among Michigan residents. This poll was distributed to the governor's office, legislators and the media over subsequent months to demonstrate overwhelming public support for maintaining MI Choice. ·Capitol Rally - JB&A planned and coordinated a rally in the rotunda of the state Capitol to demonstrate in support of continued funding for MI Choice. Held on the day prior to the governor's annual budget presentation to the legislature, the rally was attended by more than 150 people and drew media coverage from around the state. ·Editorial Board Meetings - JB&A coordinated a series of editorial board meetings at major Michigan newspapers. Attending the meetings were representatives of local Area Agencies on Aging and a spokesperson for the statewide association provided by JB&A. JB&A supported these meetings by developing comprehensive media kits including case studies on the effectiveness of home-based care, a history of the MI Choice program, news releases and other information about the cost of the program relative to other forms of long-term care. As a result of these meetings, eight separate newspapers across the state endorsed MI Choice as a cost-effective program that is good for people and the state budget. JB&A and our clients also managed to secure placements for op-ed columns in several newspapers. ·Media Relations - In addition to editorial boards, JB&A coordinated communications to media covering the state budget debate. This ensured that the position of the Area Agencies on Aging Association was well known among journalists, and helped to generate several mentions of the organization by the Associated Press, Gongwer News Service and other key media in their coverage of state budget deliberations. ·Coalition Building and Web Site - A key to coordinating communications among the 16 Area Agencies on Aging and advocates around the state was the MI Choice Coalition and Web site, www.savemichoice.com. Recruitment for the MI Choice Coalition was spearheaded by local Area Agencies on Aging who, with the assistance of JB&A, communicated to key MI Choice stakeholders and recruited coalition members beginning in February 2003. Coalition recruitment also was conducted through a portal on the MI Choice Web site. JB&A managed and maintained e-mail lists of coalition members, and organized and distributed e-mail alerts to coalition members. These alerts kept people informed of budget developments, and helped people contact their elected officials by using a form installed on the Web site to send e-mail messages to the governor and legislative leaders. The coalition grew from an initial 200 members to more than 1,100 in three months. More than 15 coalition news alerts were distributed via e-mail by JB&A staff from February to August 2003. Members of the legislature reported heavy volumes of e-mail to their local Area Agency on Aging directors. ·Testimonial Booklet - An objective of the campaign was to ensure that MI Choice - a government program - had a human face to it. JB&A conceptualized and developed "This is MI Choice" - a 46-page book written by MI Choice program recipients, their caregivers and physicians. These first-person accounts of hope and heartbreak helped position MI Choice for what it is - an indispensable part of the lives of some of Michigan's most vulnerable seniors and adults with disabilities. ·Coordination of Communications - Perhaps the biggest benefit provided by JB&A to our clients was the management of communications. It is challenging for an organization comprised of 16 independent local agencies, representing unique areas of a large state, to coordinate messaging and the act of communicating to ensure that their message is clear and cuts through the clutter to reach target audiences. JB&A was given responsibility for focusing the message and coordinating all communications on behalf of the association and its members. The result was a consistent message, delivered clearly and frequently to key audiences in government and advocates across the state.