Prepare to Meet Your Lawmakers – YPC and Capitol Hill Day, Nov 9 & 14
Two events sponsored by the Young Members Group (YMG) bookend the American Nuclear Society's Winter Meeting, and are traditional highlights for many ANS members. Now that details for participating have been announced, you may find that attending these opportunities are well worth extending your trip-but you'll have to be prepared!
On Saturday, November 9, many young professionals interested in new skills and networking opportunities will gather for the ANS Young Professionals Congress. In addition, for ANS members interested in affecting our nation's energy policy, the capstone of the meeting will be Capitol Hill Day, on Thursday, November 14.
The Young Professionals Congress
The YMG and the North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NAYGN) will sponsor a one‐day program to provide a unique opportunity for young professionals in the nuclear industry. The Young Professionals Congress sessions promise to provide actionable skills development and broad networking opportunities for all attendees. General Chair Gale Hauck, Program Chair Peter Shaw, and other organizers have now released this year's ambitious program. The schedule includes a number of skill sessions addressing topics such as professional communication, project management, and work-life balance. In addition, the valued voices of attendees will be heard in sessions such as the National Energy Policy Panel and the Voice of the Young Generation discussions.
How to prepare for YPC
First of all, you'll have to register. Members of ANS and NAYGN are encouraged to attend. While registration is complimentary if you register for the full ANS Winter Meeting, please note that attendance for the full ANS meeting is not required to attend the YPC. YPC‐only registration is only $35 for ANS members and $75 for non‐members.
Once you've registered, be sure to check the schedule of events and plan to arrive at the Omni Shoreham a day ahead of time. The YPC meeting is on Saturday, November 9.
Storm the Hill Day
Whether interested in improving Congress's understanding of the Nuclear Waste Administration Act, or curious about the status of our nation's budgets, many ANS members are passionately motivated to engage with their legislators. One of the best opportunities for ANS members to do so is a day of Capitol Hill visits (a.k.a. Storm the Hill Day) on November 14. During this capstone event of the American Nuclear Society Winter Meeting, all ANS meeting attendees are invited to spend a day meeting with their representatives on Capitol Hill as well as their staffs.
How To prepare for Storm the Hill Day
First of all, alerting the Hill Day organizers that you intend to participate will help the visits go smoothly. The registration form for the ANS meeting includes a space to mark your intent to participate in the Capitol Hill visits. Once you've marked your intent, the organizers will be prepared to facilitate your visit to Capitol Hill. If you've already registered for the meeting, but forgot to mark your intent to participate in the Hill Day visits, you can still let the organizers know by contacting ANS.
Next, to make the most of your time with your representatives and his/her staff, attendees are encouraged to brush up on communication techniques as well as on current legislative issues. Doing research at home before the meeting will earn bonus points. In addition, a Hill Day Pre-Briefing and a Policy and Communications Workshop have been organized to prepare everyone fully for Hill Day. The pre-briefing on Wednesday, November 13, at 4:00 PM will provide a crash course on the logistics of the visit and key current issues. At 5:00 PM, the ANS Policy and Communications Workshop will follow the pre-briefing. This workshop is a great resource of general information, tips, and techniques for communicating about nuclear policy.
On behalf of the YMG, we look forward to seeing you at these great events in Washington, DC.
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