These days nearly every member of Congress is using Twitter, Facebook or Instagram on a regular basis. The era of congressional offices sending out press releases as the main way to convey the Member's message is long gone. Now, both staff and members alike use social media to push information out immediately and interact with their constituents every single day. Because social media has become the main form of communication with most congressional offices, advocates have had to adapt the way they interact with Congress.

I'm proud to announce our newest way to engage with members of Congress, by using personalized videos. Advocates and the general public can visit alzimpact.org/engage and send a short, personalized video message directly to their members of Congress.The Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM), is launching the video platform in conjunction with the 2017 Alzheimer's Association Advocacy Forum. Advocates can use the tool to urge Congress to increase federal Alzheimer's research funding and make fighting this disease a national priority. Please take a minute to send a video to your members of Congress and then share with your social networks.

Additionally, the Alzheimer's Association is urging all of its advocates to help increase the impact of the 2017 Advocacy Forum by joining Thunderclap. More than 1,200 advocates will flood Capitol Hill on March 29 to ask Congress for increased research funding. Thunderclap allows all Alzheimer's advocates who can't attend the Forum a way to amplify our unified message through social networks like Twitter and Facebook.

With a new Congress and Administration Alzheimer's advocates must increase awareness about this devastating disease and educate leaders about the Alzheimer's crisis and our policy solutions. Please help the Alzheimer's Association and AIM continue our momentum on Capitol Hill during this year's Advocacy Forum and sign up for both alzimpact.org/engage and Thunderclap, and then share with your social networks.

John Funderburk is the Senior Field Director of the Alzheimer's Impact Movement.