This is the invitation sent to many colleagues in September, 2013.
The event was postponed and now scheduled for November 20, 2013.


Dear Colleague,

We are writing on behalf of the US particle physics community, under the sponsorship of the DPF, to inform you of an event we are planning in Washington, D.C. on October 23, to apprise Congress of the leading role of the US particle physics community, particularly in the discovery of the Higgs boson at the LHC.  We plan a reception with refreshments from 5:30 to 7:00 pm, with a 10 minute outreach-style talk on the Higgs by CMS spokesperson Joe Incandela. We have also invited a senior representative of ATLAS to attend.

We have made remarkable advances in recent years. The discovery of the Higgs boson announced on July 4, 2012 was celebrated around the world, and elevated the public's interest in our research. Other very significant recent advances have included the discovery of a large value for the neutrino mixing angle theta_13, as well as the awarding of the 2011 Nobel Prize for the discovery of the accelerating expansion of the Universe.

While the excitement and interest in our work has spread throughout the world following the discovery, the central role of more than 1500 US scientists in the Higgs discovery is not widely appreciated. We provided key ideas, talent, technology, and leadership. At the October 23 event we will focus on the Higgs discovery and the US role to increase Congressional awareness of our success and our opportunities for outstanding new discoveries in the coming years. We will describe for them the intense planning study (Snowmass) that has engaged our community this past year, and the expectations that the P5 process will outline excellent priorities for our field. 

We ask that you consider sending a representative from the particle physics group at your university to participate in this event, and that you strongly encourage your university president or a high level administrator-designee to also participate. Please note that federal funds may not be used for travel or other activities in connection with participation in this event. You will also have an opportunity that day to visit Congressional offices. Each institution is responsible for organizing their visit. This is often most easily achieved by requesting the assistance of your institution's Government Relations Officer. It will be important for you to personally invite your Members of Congress, or their key staffers, to attend the reception.

Please respond to this letter by completing the Survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9CB9CTC
The information gathered will help us to gauge the attendance at the reception. In order to participate it is necessary to complete the Survey by the end of the day on September 19, 2013. All future correspondence will be sent to those who respond by this date. A web site is being set up that will provide information regarding the event and other resources for the visit/event.

We look forward to your enthusiastic participation to make this event a great success!

Best regards,

The Organizing Committee

Marina Artuso, Michael Barnett, Pushpa Bhat (co-Chair), Jim Brau, Chip Brock, Sally Dawson, Dmitri Denisov, Jonathan Feng, Bonnie Fleming, Howard Gordon, Kevin Lesko, Joe Lykken, Harvey Newman, Rob Roser, Ian Shipsey (co-Chair), Michael Tuts, Nikos Varelas, Harry Weerts, Herman White. (Please note: the organizing committee is in the process of being expanded to include additional colleagues from SLAC, and other parts of the community not yet represented.)