text: AND Some further thoughts.....I learned lobbying from a catholic nun who worked for the CAtholic bishops of CA.
  
  We called her Sheila, and a wilting violet, she was NOT.
  
  She knew every staffer and all the members and was present at every Committee hearing on every issue that affected the poor. She saw to it that the rest of us were present with "clients" and we too met with staffers/members and it was our job to have our clients explain just what the program provided that they needed...(and was about to be cut)! We shared our concerns with media and invited them to attend our lobbying efforts!
  
  THATS what real lobbying is all about. NOT A letter decided on at a fancy and expensive meeting....
  
  Think it might be better if the bishops can't work out real lobbying to simply quit, those expensive meetings....donate your meeting  funds to Simone...she knows how to use them.