Legislative Learning Day
When: Tuesday, February 23, 9:00AM until about 1:30PM
Where: Colorado State Capitol, Committee Room 356

You are invited to join us for a legislative learning day at the Colorado State Capitol where we'll explore how our legislative system works, and how and where it is most effective to intervene in the process.  We'll present

1. How a bill is passed, and how and where to intervene.
2. Making relationships with legislators and how to communicate effectively with them.
3. How to influence public policy and and how to effectively interact with other progressives.
4. How to follow the progress of legislation through the process.

After the discussion, we'll break up into small groups and tour the capitol to watch our legislators in action, find their offices and aides, and learn how accessible they really are to citizen advocates.  Legislators are being invited to drop by our committee room over their lunch hour between chamber work in the morning and committee work in the afternoon. 

Your first assignment, prior to the event, is to find out the names of your Colorado State Senator and Representative.  To do this, you'll need your nine digit zip code, and the www.VoteSmart.org website.  From the VoteSmart home page, enter your nine digit zipcode in the space provided on the left hand side of the page.  Remember their names, as you may have the chance to meet with them during our Legislative Training session.

Cost   The event is free, but $1-5 donations to defray printing expenses will be accepted at check-in. In addition, you will need to pay for Light Rail or Parking (bring cash, about $10 in small bills).

Lunch   Bring your own bag lunch, as we'll take 30 minutes after the tour to sit together and eat.  There will be no time to go outside the Capitol to eat. There is a tiny deli inside the Capitol, but it has a very small selection of food and drink.  Soft drink vending machines are available.

Getting There   To get there using Light Rail, get off at California and 16th street and take the 16th Street Mall Tram south to the last station which is one block from the capitol.

Parking  There are free-standing parking lots in the blocks around the Capitol, including one directly across the street to the east.