Important Updates on our Advocacy Efforts

Live How You Like, Leave How You Like

A Template to Show your Support

The legislative session is now fully underway. The Medical Aid in Dying bills in both the Senate and Assembly have bill numbers (A. 136 and S. 138) and we are working to get them voted on. As we are feeling like a positive vote is likely if we can just get them to the floor, we have increased our advocacy efforts. We have recently hired a Campaign Manager and Strategist and are working to hire a Community Organizer as well.

We will be focusing on specific legislative districts that we need to gain support from, and you may be hearing from us if you live in one of these districts. We will also be rolling out some digital advertisements in these areas so be on the lookout for more coverage on social media and cable television. If you see some, please share it with your networks. Liking, commenting and sharing posts helps with our reach and the more often people see these ads, the more likely it is that they will act on behalf of them. (They say that people need to be asked 7 times before they actually do something, so repetition is key!)

So many of you have asked to volunteer to help with this campaign, and are looking for some robust activities to engage in. We have reached out to the sponsors of the bills (Assembymember Amy Paulin and Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal) for some guidance on that. The good news and bad news is that the volunteer activities needed right now are not that robust. (This is good news for those of you that don’t have a lot of time to commit but bad news for those who were looking to fill their time advocating for this bill). What they really suggest is letters and phone calls. Now, for those of you that want more to do, write more letters! Write a letter every week. Make a weekly phone call. Call your senator and your assemblymember. (Don’t be embarrassed if you don’t know who your representatives are! Most people do not know! Just reach out to me and I will look them up for you.) Call The Senate Majority Leader (Andrea Stewart-Cousins) and the Speaker of the Assembly (Carl Heastie). Call Governor Hochul. Mark your calendars every week to call/email/write to them and remind them that as a constituent, you want to be represented and you support Medical Aid in Dying. If you have a personal story about why this bill is important to you, please share that with them.

There may be other things we will need in the next few months. The legislative session ends in June so we are hoping to focus all of our resources on this issue in the short term so we can have a long-lasting impact in the future!

Mandi Zucker, LSW
Executive Director

Recent Events & Updates

Introduce yourself at tomorrow’s Meet-n-Greet

Meet-n-Greets are our way to get to know you, and to live our mission of normalizing conversations about death and dying. We encourage EVERYONE to attend one meet-n-greet and introduce yourself to us! We take one hour to share our work, get to know you, hear from people about why we advocate for medical aid in dying, and engage in a short activity that sparks conversation about end of life. It’s a free, inspiring way to get a little more involved with us.

Join us at the next meet-n-greet on TODAY at noon. Registration is free but required. Register here.

Upcoming Trainings

• There is still time to join us on Thursday, February 20th at 7pm on Zoom for an overview of tabling and outreach volunteer opportunities! If you enjoy attending events and want to represent EOLCNY, pass out literature and answer basic questions and advance care planning, this is for you! Click here to register and you will receive the Zoom information in a follow-up email.
• Save the date! Our next Advance Care Planning Forms Tutorial is March 6th, 2025 at 7pm on Zoom. If you’d like to learn more about getting your paperwork in order, click here to register!

Fundraiser in Bedford, NY on April 10th

Do you live near Bedford and would like an opportunity to come meet us in person and support our work? Board member Kristen Karlberg has generously offered to open her home to a Meet-n-Greet Fundraiser and we would love for you to be our guest. Come hear from our Executive Director, Mandi Zucker, and our Senior Consultant, David Leven, about the work we are doing and how your financial gifts support this work. The evening event is free to attend and we will ask for a donation before you leave. Reach out to Mandi if you would like an invitation.

Ask Us Anything

Q: Where should I keep all of my end-of-life documents so that the important people in my life can find them when they need them?

A: We used to believe that putting these documents in a “safe” place was the best idea. But those safe places are often hard to find. We recommend giving copies to your health care proxy, your Power of Attorney, your doctor, lawyer and anyone else that may need to make decisions for you in an emergency. Have a copy of your Living Will and Healthcare Proxy available (like in your purse, phone, or by your front door) so you are sure to have them with you if you are rushed to the hospital.

If you have a question you’d like answered, send it here!