| APA Practice Organization - Action Alert |
| ACTION REQUIRED |
| DATE: | May 26, 2004 |
| TO: | Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington DC and Wisconsin State Federal Advocacy Coordinators, State Psychological Association Executive Directors, APAGS Coordinators and Practice Division Federal Advocacy Coordinators |
| FROM: | Marilyn Richmond, Assistant Executive Director for Government Relations American Psychological Association Practice Organization |
| CC: | Remaining State Federal Advocacy Coordinators, State Psychological Association Executive Directors and Russ Newman, Executive Director |
| RE: | Parity Rallies Coming Your Way |
APA Practice Organization staff continue to work hard with our coalition partners in organizing a national parity rally on June 10 in Washington, DC. Parity sponsors Senator Pete Domenici and Representatives Patrick Kennedy and Jim Ramstad are scheduled to address the rally. David Wellstone, son of the late Senator, will also speak at the event. Additional speakers include consumers, who will have the opportunity to share their stories as "Faces of Hope." The objectives for this event are to:
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| To help achieve these objectives while drawing even more public attention to the importance of mental health parity legislation, Wellstone Action is driving the late Senator's campaign bus all the way from the Minnesota State Capitol to the national rally in Washington, DC. They will stop in Madison, Chicago, Cleveland and Pittsburgh for local rallies to enable even more individuals to be a part of this national effort for mental health parity. We are counting on strong grassroots support at each of these events to increase media attention to add even more pressure on Congress to promptly pass parity. Please do what you can to encourage psychologists and others who care about the parity issue to attend these rallies. |
| ACTION: |
| MOBILIZE YOUR LOCAL PSYCHOLOGISTS AND THEIR FRIENDS TO ATTEND THE PARITY RALLY COMING YOUR WAY. |
| Attendees are encouraged to bring homemade posters and signs that are not mounted on sticks. For example, appropriate signs would say "Pennsylvania for Parity," "Stop Insurance Discrimination," "Parity for All," "Mental Health is Good Health," etc. Please find a list of the parity rallies, times and locations listed below: |
| Start of Bus Trip - Minneapolis, Minnesota: Sunday, June 6 at 1:00 p.m. Kick off Rally at the Minnesota State Capitol |
| Stop 1 - Madison, Wisconsin: Monday, June 7 at 9:00 a.m. Rally tentatively scheduled to take place in the Olin Terrace at Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center 1 John Nolen Drive, Madison, WI Check: www.wellstoneaction.com for any changes |
| Stop 2 - Chicago, Illinois: Monday, June 7 at 4:30 p.m. Rally at Federal Plaza (at Dearborn & Adams), Chicago, IL |
| Stop 3 - Cleveland, Ohio: Tuesday, June 8 at Noon Rally at The Cleveland Free Clinic 12201 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH |
| Stop 4 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Wednesday, June 9 at Noon Rally at United Steelworkers of America Building 5 Gateway Center, Pittsburgh, PA |
| Final Destination - Washington, DC: Thursday, June 10 at Noon National rally at the "Upper Senate Park" (at Constitution Avenue and Delaware Avenue, NE Just west of the Russell Senate Office Building) |
| Transportation: Those driving should park in the pay parking lot in Union Station, three blocks to the north. On the Metro system, the Upper Senate Park is closest to the Union Station stop on the Red Line. It will be a 10 minute walk to the rally site. Taxis can drop people off on Constitution Avenue, Northeast. We are seeking a room in the Senate Office Buildings as a backup rain location. |
| Posted 05/27/04 |