Weeks 6 and 7

The past couple of weeks have been very busy with making more preparations for Local Action Team Trainings for Lobby Day 2011.  We have had a lot of areas respond with new information, meaning I have been updating the event pages and newsletters as this information has come in.  We have trainings located all over the state, all for preparation for Lobby Day in May.  Pretty soon, we will have a large amount of e-mails going out to update everyone about Lobby Day.  As I have mentioned before, we already have the templates fro these e-mails, but we will be updating those soon before they are sent.  We also have determined a location for our Lobby Day meeting place, which will be at the YWCA here in Columbus.  A couple of weeks ago, we went there to tour the ballroom.  It should be a good location for everyone to meet in the morning before the long day at the Statehouse.

Speaking of the Statehouse, Kim and I went to the protest there last Tuesday.  There were thousands of people, both union workers and supporters, rallying against SB 5.  We were there to make sure that collective bargaining for domestic partner benefits would be preserved.  Also, SB 5 has a section - 3101.01 -  which reiterates that "marriage is between one man and one woman."  Bands were playing, people were chanting, signs were held - all makings for a successful protest.  Unfortunately, the doors were locked to us for at least an hour and a half.  About a thousand people finally were allowed inside, but everyone else had to go to the Ohio Theater across the street if they wanted to listen to the hearings.  However, it was very cold out and I had to get to my part-time job, so Kim and I left around 3:00.  It was a great experience, though, to witness such an event and to see so many people come together for a common cause.

Weeks 4 and 5

 The past week has been pretty crazy.  Our new Executive Director, Ed, just arrived last week, so we have been busy setting everything up for him.  Also, we have begun to prepare for Lobby Day and the Cause Conference, both of which have provided a lot of assignments.  Last week, I set up all of the e-mails for both of these events, which have to be sent out at various times throughout the next few weeks.  This makes is so we at least have a template in place, and all we will have to do is possibly make minor changes before they are sent.  I also had to set up registration pages for each of the events, as well as for the training events that will take place throughout the state. 

So far this week, I have had to set a few things up for Ed in order to make sure he has the most current information.  This includes my current assignment, where I have to find the information about the groups who opposed the EHEA when it was in the House.  I also had to set up a memorization game about the state legislators in which a picture of the legislator will pop up and you must give his or her name and Senate or House district number.  The game is designed to not only help Ed but everyone in the office remember the old and new legislators by face.

I am going to try my best to make sure I remember to update the blog next week.