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Posted April 9:
“Please Don't Leave Our Children Behind Day” Organizers:
There are just 9 days to go before “Please Don’t Leave Our Children Behind Day!” Please see http://geco.hinsdaleinfo.net/springfield for previous updates.
Today I want to summarize important information about our day.
Important: Participant Confirmation
I need each group participating to contact me with the following information by Friday, April 13th”:
Contacting organizers in Springfield:
Once in Springfield, should you need to contact me, my cell phone number is:
Review Of Our Schedule:
a.m. Morning activities organized by individual groups, or time used for traveling to Springfield 11:30 Meet at the Howlett Building. Please look for me (Newenka DuMont) or Terry Mohaupt – one of us will be at each door. Please be certain to register with us when you arrive. We will be there from 11 O’clock onwards. Please remember that we will all need to pass through security to enter the building. Check in and then proceed to your assigned location. Each group will have been designated as either HEADS or TAILS. (If your group prefers one designation over the other, please let me know – I will assignment them on a first come, first served basis. Please read the schedule carefully, if you are planning to meet your legislators at a specific time!)
HEADS: 11:45 Picnic Lunch in the Hall of Flags. 12:15 Lecture in the Howlett Building Auditorium – Representative Tom Cross (*)
TAILS: 11:45 Lecture in the Howlett Building Auditorium – Representative Tim Schmitz (*) 12:15 Picnic Lunch in the Hall of Flags.
Heads and Tails: 12:45 p.m. Group photo, hopefully on the steps of the capitol. All legislators are welcome to join us for the photo! 1:15 p.m. Time in the chamber balconies watching the proceedings. 1:30 p.m. Afternoon activities organized by individual groups. Groups may remain in the Capitol Building, or proceed on to other organized activities.
(*) Our speakers are both elected representatives, and are thus not entirely in control of their own schedules. Both have committed to speak, but should something come up on the floor of the House, they may not be able to make it! Please follow these links to learn more about our speakers: http://www.timschmitz.org/, http://www.tomcross.com/.
Rules to Follow in the Howlett Building:
There are several rules that we must follow in the Howlett Building:
1) No tape or other adhesives may be used to affix anything to the walls or other surfaces of the Howlett Building. 2) No candles, balloons, confetti or alcoholic beverages are permitted in the Howlett Building. 3) Absolutely no food or drink is allowed in the auditorium of the Howlett Building. 4) No roller skating or skate boarding is permitted on the Capitol Complex 5) No smoking is permitted in state buildings. 6) You will need to pass through a metal detector on your way into the Howlett Building as well as the Capitol Building – please plan accordingly. Wear as little metal as possible and be prepared to remove it in order to pass through the detector. Also, carry only a small bag, as bags will need to be searched.
Once you have finished eating, please pack up your garbage, and clean your space.
Something to share with our legislators:
We are compiling a series of documents into a packet of information to distribute to legislators. The exact contents of the packet is still being finalized. I will share the packet with all of you electronically in my next update. We will bring enough copies for every legislator who has been contacted, according to the confirmation emails that each of you will be completing and sending to me by Friday, April 13th. It is vital that you tell me every legislator you are planning to contact, so that we will have enough copies on hand.
Press Release:
Terry Mohaupt has prepared a press release regarding Please Don’t Leave Our Children Behind Day, which has been sent to the following:
- Chicago
Tribune and Sun-Times and Springfield State Journal Register - Springfield TV stations SCA, WICS, WRSP - Chicago radio stations WBEZ, WGN, WRTE - Springfield radio stations WMAY, WQNA
If you would like to send a press release to a local news outlet, you can find a copy at: http://geco.hinsdaleinfo.net/press_release.htm.
Important Information for the Springfield Tourist:
1) Parking in Springfield can be challenging. There is free parking available at the Illinois State visitors center at Pasfield and Edwards Street. (This is also where all buses must park.) Paid parking is available at Fourth and Capitol. 2) Julie Crooks pointed out that the Lincoln Home is a run by the National Park Service, which has developed a good Junior Ranger program for children. The Junior Ranger program is available in Springfield. See the Nation Parks web site for more details: http://www.nps.gov/liho/forkids/index.htm. 3) The Lincoln Library and Museum does sell tickets over the internet, up until 3 days in advance. If you know you are going to visit, you might want to save yourself a little time by buying in advance: http://tickets.alplm.com/
Other Groups in Springfield on April 18th:
It appears that April 18th isn’t only “Please Don’t Leave Our Children Behind Day,” but also Animal Protection Day, School Health Center Advocacy Day and Gross Receipts Tax Lobby Day. Please be sure that everyone in your group comes wearing a yellow t-shirt. (If it’s cold, which seems likely, have people wear long sleeved shirts underneath.)
I will send out one last briefing next week. Nine Days to Go!
Newenka DuMont, IAGC Gifted Day in Springfield Coordinator
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