TXUUJM Legislative Action Day Signup - February 15, 2017

Do you want to make a meaningful impact on the deliberations of the Texas Legislature this session? Are you ready to have your UU values upheld in the halls of Texas power?  The Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry (TXUUJM) is sponsoring a Legislative Action Day in Austin on February 15, 2017, and you're invited.

Formed in 2012, TXUUJM works statewide to empower UU Texans to bring about changes in the manner in which our state is governed and treats her residents.  Legislative Action Day will feature advocacy training, interaction with Texas legislators, and small groups of UUs meeting with their state senators, representatives, and legislative staff about specific issues, as time limitations permit.

This biennium, TXUUJM will focus its work in three main areas:

   1.  Reproductive Justice,
   2.  Immigration/Refugee Justice
   3.  Economic Inequality/Justice.

We will also keep a keen eye on Human Rights, including LGBT Equality and Freedom of Religion.

Please use the form below to register to attend the 2017 TXUUJM Legislative Action Day, let us know the names of your state representative and senator, and, optionally, sign up to ride a bus from the Houston or D/FW areas.  (NOTE:  THE BUS FROM HOUSTON IS FULL, BUT DALLAS HAS OPTED TO SUPPORT A SECOND BUS FROM THE NORTH TEXAS AREA.)

Don't know your current state senator or representative?  Give us your full physical home address, and we'll look them up for you and let you know.

The Dallas and Houston buses will leave early the morning of the 15th (DARK THIRTY...) and return to their points of departure that evening, time depending upon traffic.  UPDATE 2017-01-25: The Houston Bus is FULL!

Even if you're getting to Austin on your own, please register below so we can form the groups of 3-5 for each visit notwithstanding the strange bedfellows gerrymandering makes of representation in Texas.

There is no limit on the number of reservations for TXUUJM Legislative Action Day in Austin, and the larger the number the more clearly our UU voices will be heard.  However, seats on the buses from Houston and D/FW are limited to no more than 55 each. Once they're filled, you're on your own for travel!  If you register after February 8th, you'll still make your voice heard, although we may not be able to work you into a speaking role at that late date.  

Once you register, you'll be contacted about coordinating visits to the offices of various state representatives and senators, both before, during and after February 15th. You'll also receive information about parking and access to the room in the Capital building where we will meet, debrief, update agendas and schedules, etc. Expect to begin receiving updates during the first full week in February.

Can't make it on February 15th?  You may also use the form below to request information about other upcoming UU advocacy opportunities and training.

** Please complete this form separately for each individual attendee.  All information will be kept confidential and not shared with anyone outside of TXUUJM, NTUUC, and the clergy and staff of your UU congregation.
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Your Full Name: *
Please enter your full name.  This is how your name tag and other printed materials will be prepared.
Preferred Email Address: *
Please enter your preferred email address. This should be a reliable means of contacting you about changes in the schedule and to send you relevant materials for and about the Legislative Action Day.
Email confirmation: *
Please confirm your preferred email by entering it again below.
UU Congregation: *
Please choose your congregational affiliation below.  This will assist us in coordinating visiting groups from each congregation.
Mobile Phone Number: *
Please enter your mobile phone number.  This is how we will stay in touch during the event or reach you about questions we may have in making appointments with your state legislators. We'll be visiting in small groups with senators and representative, or, in some cases, with their staff members, and the capitol building is a large space.  We need to stay in touch throughout the day and all get back to the buses before they roll out.
Ride the Bus? *
Would you like to reserve a seat on a bus that will travel to Austin and return on February 15th? You could travel to Austin on your own, or carpool with others, but then you'd miss the opportunity to get to know many other UUs from neighboring congregations on the drive to Austin and back. The number of seats on each bus is limited, so make your reservations early. Once they are filled, that's all.    ***  FROM D/FW:  Depending upon the number of signups and their geographic concentrations around north Texas, one or more buses will leave from centralized Dallas and/or Ft. Worth locations at 6:15 am on the 15th. NTUUC is helping to underwrite the cost of the bus, and a $10 love offering is suggested - more if you'd like, less if you need. You may pay via credit card through the link below or bring a check payable to NTUUC.  For D/FW bus questions, contact Alan Lummus, alan@bkmts.com or 214-926-4148.    ***  FROM HOUSTON:  AS OF 2017-01-24 THE HOUSTON BUS IS FULLY BOOKED AND NO MORE RESERVATIONS ARE AVAILABLE. A 55 seat bus will depart from Emerson UU Church on Wedneday, February 15 at 6 am SHARP.  The fee for each rider is $30, and includes round trip transportation, coffee, breakfast pastries, and snacks for the trip. Make checks payable to Emerson UU Church, with "Get on the Bus!" noted on the memo line. Mail to Emerson UU Church, 1900 Bering Dr, Houston, TX  77057, to arrive no later than Thursday, January 26th, as Emerson must pay for the bus on that date.  Refunds must be requested BEFORE January 26, 2017 by notifying Kenny Jones, uuv4jhoutx@gmail.com or 832-654-1779.
Your State Representative: *
Please enter the full name of your state representative and the district they represent, separated by a comma. This will help as we set appointments, making sure at least some of the groups that visit each representative or senator are constituents.  Don't know who your state representative is?  Simply visit http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/
Your State Senator: *
Please enter the full name of your state senator and the district they represent, separated by a comma. This will help as we set appointments, making sure at least some member(s) of the group that visits each representative or senator are their constituents. Don't know who they are, simply visit http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/ (It will open in a new browser window),enter your address information there, then return here to enter the information.
Physical Home Address: *
Please enter your complete physical home address. This will be helpful for our records, but is not required unless you'd like us to look up your state senator and representative. If you do want us to look them up for you, please enter your complete physical home address, including ZIP+4 code.
Upcoming UU Advocacy Opportunities *
Please indicated if you'd like to be kept updated via email about other upcoming UU advocacy opportunities. Your privacy is a high priority with us.  You may rest assured your contact information will not be shared with anyone outside TXUUJM, NTUUC, and the clergy and staff or your congregation.
Austin Area UU Hospitality *
Austin area UUs have offered to make accommodations, up to 12 bedrooms with a variety of queen and single beds, available in their homes for UUs traveling to Austin for the TXUUJM Legislative Action Day.  Please let us know you'd like to avail yourself of their offer and we'll contact you to coordinate with your potential Austin hosts. Like the buses, once they fill up, that's it.
Capitol Building Tour *
Please indicate whether or not you'd like to be included in a tour of the capitol building scheduled for 7 pm the evening prior to TXUUJM Legislative Action Day.
Advocacy Training & Experience *
Please let us know if you'd had training or experience in advocacy work with elected officials at any level of government, such as working with IAF, PICO or other organizing efforts.  If "none", just enter that.
Other Personal Relationships with Lawmakers or their Staff Members:
If you know any state legislator or any member of their staff  personally, whether or not they represent you, please provide us any helpful details you'd be willing share with event organizers.  We more we know and understand the pre-existing relationships we already have, the easier it is to build and strengthen the relationships we need to be most effective.
Comments/Suggestions:
Use this field to tell us anything you'd like the organizers to know or take into consideration.  We value your input.
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