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Welcome to Lakeland Village Associates |
Friends,
Friends of the Retarded lobbyist, and parent, Bob Gee, reminds us that, all
the numbers and arguments are before the House of Representatives. It is now
time to concentrate on personal pleas. I agree. Bob wrote such a plea,
to all House members, that he said got one response of "most compelling reason
not to close an RHC." His letter is attached.
We too must write compelling, personal pleas. Our e-mails should be short,
simple, and to the point. I recommend that we use plain text, with frequent
paragraph breaks. Avoid using large font, underling or color. Just keep it
simple.
We have only a few days left to be effective. Please start writing today. The
Appropriations committee will have their budget ready as soon as next week.
We should all be aware that any of the three Western Washington centers could be
chosen for closure. Not just Fircrest, but Rainier and the Frances Haddon Morgan
Center have their necks on the chopping block.
Remember, the click and go email on the links page of the
Bob's attachment requires MS Word. If you don't have MS Word, free software to
read MS Word is available at :
http://office.microsoft.com/downloads/2000/wd97vwr32.aspx
If I can be of help to you in this effort, in any way, please feel free to
call or e-mail me.
Best wishes,
Paul Strand
4308 29th Ave SE
Lacey, WA 98503
(360)493-1552
pstrand2000@attbi.com
Friends,
Looks like one of the three Western Washington RHCs are on the chopping block. Certain Legislators have made it clear that they plan to close an RHC this session But, they keep changing their mind about which one. At this point, the likely candidate, is FHMC and I have a feeling that FHMC will be asked to cooperate. I even received a call from a well meaning parent asking me if FHMC would be willing to move to Fircrest. In addition, I saw a just released OFM scenario that says, in part,: "The FHMC program would continue operating as a unique entity on the Fircrest School campus."
Don't relax Fircrest, this could be a ploy. This doesn't mean that one parent group should oppose, or use, another parent group to try and save their own RHC. The thought has crossed my mind that the legislature may be trying to use divide-and-concur techniques to weaken our offensive -- don't let them. Remember, that the concept of grabbing RHC money is flawed. On the march to closure, unexpected events will balloon costs and expand schedules.
I appeal to all families, friends, lobbyists and advocates -- Rainier, Fircrest, FHMC, Yakima Valley, Lakeland -- to support one another and include each other in this battle to save the RHCs.
If you haven't already joined the battle, then Join NOW. " e-mail, or call your parent leader and join the fight. Our battle cry is, "CLOSE NO RHC.
"If you want to keep it, you have to fight, fight, fight."
Paul Strand
4308 29th Ave SE
Lacey, WA 98503
(360)493-1552