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<TITLE>FW: Day (or week) in Annapolis</TITLE>
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<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#1F497D" FACE="Calibri">In case you missed this annou</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#1F497D" FACE="Calibri">ncement. If you are going to be meeting with legislators, please attend one of the orientation meetings.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#1F497D" FACE="Calibri">Debbie</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">_____________________________________________<BR>
</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B><FONT FACE="Calibri">From:</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri"> Deborah [<A HREF="mailto:deborahb14@verizon.net">mailto:deborahb14@verizon.net</A>]<BR>
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<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Every normal year, we spend a day in Annapolis trying to meet in person with every state delegate and senator in all 47 of Maryland’s legislative districts. We generally focus on 3 issues. We give the legislators fact sheets on all the issues and spend as much time as we and they have, usually about 15 minutes, talking with each legislator that we can meet. We are broken up into teams with a team leader who has done this many times before. Once you learn the drill, you find yourself able to participate and offer an expert opinion on at least one of the issues. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">At the end of the day, we report to our legislative director, Sharon Maneki, on which delegates and senators will co-sponsor our bills. As the session goes on, we advocate for our bills by writing emails or letters or calling our legislators to remind them of the issues. When the bill is up for a hearing, we usually go to the hearing in force, holding up our canes and making our gide dogs visible. A few of us will provide detailed expert testimony to the legislators. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">These activities require a good deal of stamina, and some of our people cannot walk around the House and Senate office buildings for a whole day. Those who cannot participate in that way give support with their letters, emails, and phone calls.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">This year, none of us are walking around Annapolis. We will be holding Zoom meetings with the legislators. Those of us in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties will be talking to legislators on Thursday, January 28. If you are able to participate, please let me know. If you cannot participate for the whole day, it is possible to attend some appointments. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">If you would like to participate, you should attend one of two orientation meetings on either Wednesday, January 20 at 8 pm or Monday, January 25 at 8 pm. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Following this email, I will send you three emails, one of which will contain orientation information, and three of which will be fact sheets on the issues. If you have questions, you may contact me or ask them at one of the orientation meetings.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Please let me know if you are able to attend on Thursday, January 28, for part or all of the day. We will send out Zoom links later on.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Calibri">Debbie Brown</FONT></SPAN></P>
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