Post date: Jan 17, 2013 7:13:42 PM
RALLY ADVOCACY Day
Learn. Meet. Share.
Hear inspirational speakers, enjoy and sing to live music, meet other advocates
from around the Commonwealth, and share your story with your legislator!
When? Where?
Monday, January 21, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. . Bell Tower on Capitol Square
(Located on the corner of 9th & Bank Streets)
Questions? More Info?
Bonnie Neighbour . VOCAL . bonnie@vocalvirginia.org . (877) 862-5638
Jessica Fleenor . The Arc of Virginia . jfleenor@thearcofva.org . (804) 649-8481
Coalition for Virginians with Mental Disabilities . 2147 Staples Mill Road . Richmond, VA 23230
RALLY ADVOCACY Day
Directions. parking. SHUTTLE.
The Coalition for Virginians with Mental Disabilities will hold its annual General Assembly Rally on Monday, January
21st from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Bell Tower on Capitol Square, located at the corner of 9th and Bank Streets in
Richmond. A map of Capitol Square can be found at http://hodcap.state.va.us/publications/Capitol_Visitor_Guide.
pdf, on page 15. The Bell Tower is on the bottom left of the map.
FROM NORTH OR SOUTH: Take I-95 to Broad Street West exit. Continue west on Broad Street until 9th.
FROM EAST OR WEST: Take I-64 to I-95 South. Take Broad Street West exit. Continue west on Broad Street until 9th.
Parking in Richmond on streets is difficult at any time, especially when the General Assembly is in session. There are
plenty of parking lots and garages nearby. They charge a small fee for parking; it is cheaper than parking tickets.
For individuals traveling to the Rally in a van and may have difficulty dropping off participants at the Rally site, the
Richmond Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA) has generously arranged for satellite parking and shuttle service.
Individuals who need an area to rest or use restrooms may do so in the lobby of RBHA. Satellite parking is located at
107 South 5th Street. Shuttle service will be available from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m. to the Bell Tower, with return trips
from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. For questions or additional information, contact Laura Nguyen at (804) 819-4078.
visit Your Legislator. meeting preparation.
1. Find out who your Senator and Delegate are by visiting http://virginiageneralassembly.gov, or call Legislative
Information at (804) 698-1500. Write down your legislators’ home district mailing address, e-mail address, and the
Richmond office phone number.
2. Review the Coalition’s legislative agenda, as it focuses on the needs of individuals with mental illness, intellectual
and developmental disabilities, and substance use disorder.
3. If you can, contact your legislator by letter or e-mail to notify him or her that you will be in Richmond on January
16th and would appreciate the opportunity to meet with either them or their legislative aide. Let them know that you
are especially interested in funding for services to individuals with mental illness, intellectual and developmental
disabilities, and substance use disorders. Be sure to include a few words about why this is of interest to you. Also,
invite your legislator to join you at the Rally between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. at the Bell Tower on Capitol Square.
4. In the week prior to the Rally, (January 14th through January 18th), call your legislators’ offices in Richmond to
remind them that you will be in Richmond the following week and are looking forward to meeting with them. Don’t
forget to remind your legislators that they are welcome to attend the Rally and that you hope to see them there.
5. Plan and rehearse what you will say to your legislators or to their aides when you visit them. Be sure to connect
what you say with key points on the Coalition’s legislative agenda. Please put your remarks and/or personal story in
writing to leave with them.
6. There will be a table in the lobby of the General Assembly Building where you can find out who your legislators are
and/or pick up materials to leave with them when you visit. The table will be open at 10 a.m.
Coalition for Virginians with Mental Disabilities . 2147 Staples Mill Road . Richmond, VA 23230