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September 9, 2005

Friends:

INDONESIA PICTURES!!!! I hope you enjoy these, my eyes are crossed from putting them in order and narrating them and all the computer work – plus, I couldn’t get the vertical pics to turn over without getting an error message, so you’ll just have to turn your head until I can get them fixed! Soon, I will be posting my notes from the conference online as well – once I get them transcribed (and interpreted – is it bad when you can’t read your own handwriting?).

KATRINA HELP:

Many of you have asked what we can do for survivors of Hurricane Katrina. In the Resource section, I have listed organizations that are taking donations. I know the Kansas City metro area is accepting a couple thousand survivors, and communities all over Kansas are also welcoming newcomers. This is a great opportunity for our state – most of the survivors will not be able to return to their homes and will need jobs, homes, and education for their children. This is our chance to show the world some Midwestern hospitality. See below for an extensive list of aid groups.

Announcements

Personal Activities and Education

Where’s Waldo

Disclaimer

Resources

Announcements

Be sure to catch ABC’s new political drama, “Commander In Chief” at 8:00 pm, Tuesday, September 27^th. You can catch it in between checking the Shawnee Mission election results!

· Steph’s sidebar: (There is an election that day to continue the SMSD sales tax that was passed in 2002 – be sure to vote! Click here for information on advance voting in person or by mail if you are going to be out of town.)

The show is about a woman as POTUS – President of the United States (finally!). Unfortunately, my understanding is that in the show, she succeeds a president who passed away, instead of being elected in her own right. Maybe they’ll show her winning re-election? The show is an effort to get the American public used to the idea of a woman in the top office, considering that dozens of respected nations around the world have already passed this milestone… FYI – studies and polling show it is likely that the first woman president will be a Republican.

For more information on this subject, I highly recommend the book Madame President, by Eleanor Clift. Although I don’t agree with her politics, the book is a great read and doesn’t have a partisan bent, which is a nice change!

Personal Activities and Education

Thank you to those who volunteered to participate in the Deliberative Democracy sessions! However, I want these to be “legit”, so the participants will be selected randomly by a polling firm, so there is a better cross-section of the district. In other words, these sessions won’t be “stacked” with people that agree with me… Although I would love for all of you to agree with me, I know that’s just not possible on every issue. If we all agreed all of the time, what is the point of learning, experiences, and individuality? Boring!

Where’s Waldo

All over the world (six countries in 30 days)!!!

· Please find the pictures from my legislative exchange to Indonesia, August 19-28, 2005. The trip took me from KC to Chicago to Hong Kong to Jakarta to East Timor to Bali. The return trip was even crazier – Bali-Jakarta-Bangkok-Tokyo-Chicago-KC. You’ll see some pictures of our makeshift KOA at the Bangkok airport during a 4-hour overnight layover!

Unfortunately, I accidentally deleted a handful of pictures from the start of the conference, and am awaiting pictures from colleagues to replace the ones I lost!

· Rep. Ed O’Malley fundraiser

Disclaimer

Be sure not to miss the Sharp Record Disclaimer, it will tell you all about my newsletter and let you know what to expect from me, and what I hope to expect from you!

Resources

September 27^th election information

Application for Advance Voting Ballot (by mail)

View your sample ballot - This is a pretty cool tool, by the way!

Essay Contest for Kansas Kids

“Write an essay describing a profession that interests you. Explain the steps you should take in your life to prepare for this profession.”

Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins is offering seventh and eighth graders the opportunity to win investment accounts ($1000 and $500 for each grade level) – just write the best essay! Essays are due September 30^th, 2005. An entry form is available at: www.learningquest.com/essay.

Hurricane Katrina Opportunities to Help:

United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR)

www.methodistrelief.org

Hurricane Housing

http://www.hurricanehousing.org/index.html

American Red Cross

http://www.redcross.org

1-800-435-7669 or 1-800-HELP-NOW

Salvation Army

http://salvationarmyusa.org/

America's Second Harvest

http://www.secondharvest.org/