[Nfb-or] Fw: action needed to save OCB

Tue May 19 03:40:17 UTC 2009

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Joyce Green 
To: artds55 at comcast.net ; CHILDRENS CHOICE MONTESSORI ; Vivian M. Smith ; Jerry Hathaway ; charlotta ; linjaynes ; Elizabeth Rousseau-Rooney ; Christine Morse 
Sent: Monday, May 18, 2009 3:50 PM
Subject: action needed to save OCB

Below is important contact information for state legislators who are key in making the decision about OCB's continuation.

Joyce
-------------

ACTION ALERT:  NOTICE OF POTENTIAL CLOSURE OF THE OREGON COMMISSION FOR
THE BLIND

The Oregon Commission for the Blind was informed by Governor
Kulongoski's office on Friday, May 15, 2009 that he is recommending
that the Commission for the Blind be "suspended" as a result of the
economic crisis.  This would mean that the agency would cease to operate
effective July 1, 2009 and the services we provide would somehow be
integrated into other programs within state government.  

We believe that this is not a cost effective decision and that the
services that the agency provides to blind Oregonians are at great risk
if this recommendation is carried out.  The Oregon Legislature will be
making the final decision as to whether or not to continue the
Commission for the Blind.

The agency provides specialized vocational rehabilitation and
independent living services to individuals who are blind.  It is the
only organization in Oregon which provides these services.  

Only 11% of the agency budget is provided by state general fund used to
match federal grants. This represents less than ½ of 1% of the total
state general/lottery fund budget.

Agency services are cost effective.  Successfully employed agency
clients pay back the state investment of their rehabilitation program in
less than 16 months through their tax contributions and create savings
in other programs such as the Oregon Health Plan and other forms of
public assistance.  

The older blind independent living program helps seniors live
independently after vision loss and prevents or prolongs the need for
seniors to enter into assisted living or nursing homes.  Delaying the
need for this care by even one year can save the state $36,000-$68,000
per individual.

The agency felt that it is imperative that we share this information
with all interested parties so that they can contact the legislature as
soon as possible.  Contacts should be made immediately with the Ways and
Means Human Services Sub-committee and the Full Ways and Means Committee
as a decision could be made within the week.  Included is a contact list
for your information.

The following contains a list of members of the full committee and
subcommittee on Human Services.  Following on subsequent pages is the
contact information for each committee member.
Ways and MeansFull Committee Membership:
Sen. Margaret Carter, Co-Chair
Rep. Peter Buckley, Co-Chair
Sen. Betsy Johnson, Vice-Chair
Rep. Nancy Nathanson, Vice-Chair
Sen. Alan C Bates
Sen. Fred Girod
Sen. Rod Monroe
Sen. David Nelson
Sen. Joanne Verger
Sen. Vicki L Walker
Sen. Doug Whitsett
Sen. Jackie Winters
Rep. David Edwards
Rep. Larry Galizio
Rep. Bill Garrard
Rep. George Gilman
Rep. Bob Jenson
Rep. Betty Komp
Rep. Tina Kotek
Rep. Dennis Richardson
Rep. Chip Shields
Rep. Greg Smith

   Human Services SubcommitteeMembership:
           Sen. Alan C Bates, Co-Chair
           Rep. Tina Kotek, Co-Chair
           Sen. Margaret Carter
           Sen. Jackie Winters
           Rep. Mitch Greenlick
           Rep. Bill Kennemer
           Rep. Dennis Richardson
           Rep. Carolyn Tomei
Senator Alan C Bates   
Party: D  District: 3
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1703
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-205, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.alanbates at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/bates

Representative Peter Buckley   
Party: D  District: 5
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1405
Interim Phone: 541-488-9180
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-286, Salem,, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 71 Dewey Street , Ashland, OR, 97520
Email: rep.peterbuckley at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/buckley

Senator Margaret Carter   
Party: D  District: 22
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1722
Interim Phone: 503-282-6846
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-209, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: PO Box 3722, Portland, OR, 97208
Email: sen.margaretcarter at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/carter

Representative David Edwards   (
http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&member-type=representative&sort-by=district#top
)
Party: D  District: 30
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1430
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-384, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.davidedwards at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/edwardsd

Representative Larry Galizio    
Party: D  District: 35
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1435
Interim Phone: 503-350-0804
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-282, Salem,, OR, 97301
Interim Address: P.O. Box 231161, Tigard, OR, 97281
Email: rep.larrygalizio at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/galizio

Representative Bill Garrard   (
http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&member-type=representative&sort-by=district#top
)
Party: R  District: 56
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1456
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-480, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.billgarrard at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/garrard

Representative George Gilman  
Party: R  District: 55
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1455
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-493, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.georgegilman at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/gilman

Senator Fred Girod   (
http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&member-type=senator&sort-by=district#top
)
Party: R  District: 9
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1709
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-421, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.fredgirod at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/girod

Representative Mitch Greenlick    (
http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&member-type=representative&sort-by=district#top
)
Party: D  District: 33
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1433
Interim Phone: 503-297-2416
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-492, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 712 NW Spring Ave., Portland, OR, 97229
Email: rep.mitchgreenlick at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/greenlick

Representative Bob Jenson   (
http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&member-type=representative&sort-by=district#top
)
Party: R  District: 58
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1458
Interim Phone: 541-276-5821
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-481, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 2126 N. W. Despain Ave., Pendleton, OR, 97801
Email: rep.bobjenson at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/jenson

Senator Betsy Johnson   
Party: D  District: 16
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1716
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-215, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.betsyjohnson at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/johnson

Representative Bill Kennemer   (
http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&member-type=representative&sort-by=district#top
)
Party: R  District: 39
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1439
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-380, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.billkennemer at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/kennemer

Representative Betty  Komp   
Party: D  District: 22
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1422
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-273, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.bettykomp at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/komp

Representative Tina Kotek   (
http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&member-type=representative&sort-by=district#top
)
Party: D  District: 44
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1444
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-281, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.tinakotek at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/kotek

Senator Rod Monroe   (
http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&member-type=senator&sort-by=district#top
)
Party: D  District: 24
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1724
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-409, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.rodmonroe at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/monroe

Representative Nancy Nathanson   
Party: D  District: 13
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1413
Interim Phone: 541-343-2206
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-280, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: PO Box 41895, Eugene, OR, 97404
Email: rep.nancynathanson at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/nathanson

Senator David Nelson   
Party: R  District: 29
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1729
Interim Phone: 541-278-2332
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-211, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 1407 NW Horn Ave., Pendleton, OR, 97801
Email: sen.davidnelson at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/nelson_david

Representative Dennis Richardson   (
http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&member-type=representative&sort-by=district#top
)
Party: R  District: 4
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1404
Interim Phone: 541-601-0083
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-373, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 55 South 5th St., Central Point, OR, 97502
Email: rep.dennisrichardson at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/richardson

Representative Chip Shields   
Party: D  District: 43
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1443
Interim Phone: 503-231-2564
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-276, Salem,, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 5313 N. Vancouver Ave., Portland, OR, 97217
Email: rep.chipshields at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/shieldsc

Representative Greg Smith   
Party: R  District: 57
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1457
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-482, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: rep.gregsmith at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/smithg

Representative Carolyn Tomei   
Party: D  District: 41
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1441
Interim Phone: 503-653-5180
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., H-279, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 11907 SE 19th Ave., Milwaukie, OR, 97222
Email: rep.carolyntomei at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/tomei

Senator Joanne Verger   
Party: D  District: 5
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1705
Interim Phone: 541-756-4140
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-401, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 3696 Broadway PMB 344, North Bend, OR, 97459
Email: sen.joanneverger at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/verger

Senator Vicki L Walker   
Party: D  District: 7
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1707
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-309, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.vickiwalker at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/walker

Senator Doug Whitsett   
Party: R  District: 28
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1728
Interim Phone: 541-882-1315
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE., S-303, Salem, OR, 97301
Interim Address: 23131 North Poe Valley Rd., Klamath Falls, OR, 97603
Email: sen.dougwhitsett at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/whitsett

Senator Jackie Winters    (
http://www.leg.state.or.us/servlet/XSLT?URL=members.xml&xslURL=members.xsl&member-type=senator&sort-by=district#top
)
Party: R  District: 10
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1710
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE., S-301, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: sen.jackiewinters at state.or.us
Website: http://www.leg.state.or.us/winters

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