Thank you Virginia, for a wonderful Super Week. I am so sorry that you were not able to come Sarah, but a HUGE thank you for for setting up all the appointments you did. The legislative assistants were very sorry to hear about your fall and wish you well. Your contacts were great!
Stephanie Terezon and I were able to keep most of the appointments, and we dropped in on a few folks without appointments. Stephanie did a great job sharing how immigration laws have affected her family, and how it made it very difficult for her brother to go to college.
1) We dropped in at Representative Frank Wolf’s (without an appointment) and saw Mira Lezell, (Senior Appropriations Advisor) for about 10 minutes. We were able to cover the 3 big things, Funding, Immigration (Dream Act for younger students), and ENDA. For a first lobbying effort, it went quite well, and it gave Stephanie and I great confidence.
2) Then we stopped by Cantor’s office (without an appointment) and had a wonderful chat with Molly Newcomb, Legislative Assistant. She was actually very receptive to us and wrote down a number of things. Again we covered the 3 big things, and shared a little more about school funding in general and how cuts have affected my class this year. She said she would ask Cantor about co-sponsors for ENDA, and she thought some additional R-VA Reps should be on the list. She agreed there were rumors about Immigration from the House, and she expected things to move forward this fall from Goodlatte’s office.
3) At Hurt’s office we kept the appointment, and we saw Sean Brown, Legislative assistant. He and I both went to the University of Arizona, and we shared Tucson stories. That was fun! He wrote down quite a bit, as well, and I look forward to following up with Sean again.
4) Then we stopped by Scott’s office and dropped off things, because no one was able to see us.
5) We stopped by Griffith’s office, because we had already canceled the afternoon. Caitlyn Oakley, Executive Assistant, was very sorry about your fall Sarah, and wished you a speedy recovery. She took the materials, and we could see that the rest of the staff was busy meeting around a table. We talked briefly, and she said please call next time we are in Washington.
6) Sarah, I had not seen the email you sent canceling the Rigell appointment, until later, so Stephanie and I still went. We were a little early, and Abby Gunderson (Senior Leg Assistant) still saw us. She obviously had somewhere to go, but she did sit, listen, and take our materials. She was not too terribly warm or fuzzy, but I am attributing it to the canceled appointment and that we stilled showed up.
7) We went to Forbes office, and since they had very little meeting room, we met in the hall, with Chris Maneval. That went very well, and he was very friendly. We again hit the 3 Legislative biggies, and shared additional funding stories. Stephanie did a great job again!
8) We went to Wittman’s office (my district’s Legislator) without an appointment, and we were able to see Courntey Carrow. She came and spent almost 15 minutes with us. She said Wittman loves to come to classrooms, so I will have to follow up on that!
9) Stephanie then headed back to the NEA Building for a student meeting, and I met Meg for a meeting at Warner’s office along with Mary Kusler from NEA. We met with Luke Albee and David Hallock and they assured Meg she is welcome to call that office anytime, and that their door is always open for her. Go Meg! Go VEA!
10) Afterward Meg and I stopped by Kaine’s office and dropped off material for Senator Kaine’s staff. BTW: Kaines’ office is SR388 which is different that what is published in the NEA Leg guide. Fortunately Meg knew that!
All in all it was a nice lobbying effort.