Invitation to Quaker Lobby Day February 9

Dear Supporters of the Friends Committee on Washington Public Policy,

Friends have been a leading voice for prison reform for over 350 years. But our voice has never been needed more than it is today, when our nation has a higher reported rate of imprisonment than any other country in the world. So we invite you to attendour first Quaker Lobby Day, which will focus on criminal justice issues. It will be held in Olympia on Monday, February 9, from 8:30 am through 3:30 pm.

The day will begin at the Olympia Friends Meeting House, where we will receive tips on the best practices in working with our representatives; learn about our key legislative priorities (post- secondary education, sentencing reform, and voting rights for ex-felons) from guest experts and organizers; and share a lunch together before we go over to the Capitol Building to meet with our individual legislators. At the end of the day we’ll gather to compare notes.

Don’t be shy! If you’re hesitant about lobbying because you’re unfamiliar with the issues, Quaker Lobby Day is the place to learn. If you’ve never made a lobbying visit to your legislator—or if you’re not even sure who your legislators are—you are not alone! We’ll help you figure that out, and we’ll pair you with an experienced group for your legislative visits if you’d like. Best of all, there is no cost to participate in Quaker Lobby Day.

Please come to Olympia on February 9! This work is critically important to thousands of people who cannot speak effectively for themselves. And consider inviting others from your meeting to join you. Below is a brief registration form. Please fill it in and copy and paste it into an email to FCWPP Secretary Sandy Harold at . We’ll respond with detailed directions to the meeting house, the schedule for the day, and how to contact your legislators to make appointments. If you have questions, please feel free to contact Carol Estes (), Tom Ewell (, 360-341-1457) or Sam Merrill (, 360-866-8839).

Again, thank you all for interest and support for the Friends Committee on Washington Public Policy.

Looking forward to seeing you on February 9!

Sincerely,

Tom Ewell

Tom Ewell, Clerk, and

Carol Estes

Carol Estes, Legislative AdvocateFriends Committee on Washington Public Policy

PS: Faith Advocacy Day is on March 17 this year. FCWPP will continue to be an active part of this event, which is planned and sponsored by our alliesin the faith community. FCWPP will again be offering a workshop on criminal justice reform. This gathering gives Friends an opportunity to seek the support of our ecumenical allies in the area of criminal justice reform while we, in turn, offer our support for the wider spectrum of legislative issues where our ecumenical partners are taking the lead, such as healthcare, immigration, and homelessness.

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TO REGISTER FOR QUAKER LOBBY DAY: Please send the following information to FCWPP Secretary Sandy Harold at

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Name (s): Street Address: Phone Number: Friends Meeting, if applicable: Have you lobbied before?

Thank you! We’ll see you on February 9!