Hey Lisa, I'm a bit baffled by that quote.
My dictionary states that advocacy means - 'support for people who are thought likely to be disregarded or to have difficulty in gaining attention, so that their opinion is listened to' And that lobbying means - 'a group of campaigners and representatives of particular interests who try to influence political policy on a particular issue' Essentially isn't it one in the same - advocacy being on a more personal level and lobbying being on a political level. I can't really see how you can have one without the other. You need the personal to get to the political. There would be no point in lobbying the Govt or politicians if there is no one that you are advocating for. In my limited understanding and it is limited, because I don't work for or on behalf of MC, but don't Unions and other orgs or bodies that deal with such issues do both. Whilst advocating on behalf of a group of people for a particular issue, they try to influence political policy on that particular issue. Ok, I'll stop getting off track - back to Uni work! Jo -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Lisa Barrett Sent: Friday, 2 March 2007 12:56 AM To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: [ozmidwifery] Re: Maternity coalition The way I understand the maternity coalition are formally recognised as a lobbying goup. This is something I read on a public forum about the MC, "Lobbying is a pretty dispassionate job and advocacy work can get in the way of effective lobbying" "Well, I know that MC did a lot of individual consumer advocacy in the early days but, realistically, MC cannot be an advocacy group and a lobby group simultaneously. Again, it's a simple issue of (wo)man power. Consider the fact that all active members are volunteers and almost all are mothers with babies and young children themselves and you'll understand that the face2face advocacy work is very time consuming and extremely stressful for an untrained individual to take on. You don't want unskilled people doing advocacy work!!" Maybe it should be clearer what exactly the maternity coalition do so woman understand how it's helping them and in what capacity and we can really get it out there. Lisa Barrett > > > > From: "Justine Caines" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2007 9:37 PM > Subject: [ozmidwifery] Re: web sites for antenatal information > > >> Dear Carol >> >> I have just squizzed your website and notice Maternity Coalition missing. >> >> It would be useful to link MC to help women to understand that they can >> challenge obstetric domination (should they want to). >> >> Also helps to get it out there that there is a national maternity >> consumer >> advocacy organisation. >> >> Kind regards >> >> >> Justine Caines >> National President >> Maternity Coalition Inc >> PO Box 625 >> SCONE NSW 2329 >> Ph: (02) 65453612 >> Fax: (02)65482902 >> Mob: 0408 210273 >> E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> www.maternitycoalition.org.au >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- >> Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] to turn on/off the digest >> mode. >> Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] to turn on/off vacation >> mode. >> Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] if you need assistance or >> have a quesion. >> >> >> >> To unsubscribe, click on the following web page. >> http://cgi.mail-list.com/u?ln=ozmidwifery&[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> > -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.5/706 - Release Date: 28/02/2007 4:09 PM -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.5/706 - Release Date: 28/02/2007 4:09 PM -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
