Onward to the Legislature!

I suppose I have been a bit lax in updating my blog the past month and a half or so. Oops. But I had a lovely visit home for Christmas seeing family and friends, and then a hectic few weeks at work. Most of what we have been up to has been preparing for the Utah state legislative session that starts tomorrow. (Tomorrow?? Aack!) This past week, I don’t think I spent more than maybe 2 hours at my desk. Just enough time to make sure I didn’t have really urgent emails or what have you to answer.

This past Tuesday was a lot of fun, mostly because my coworker and I went over to the soup kitchen to interview the line of folks about homelessness and employment (to promote and gather information for a bill we are supporting to have a tax credit for employers who hire homeless people), and I have to say, it was a very neat experience. Not to mention, talking to the people whom the bill could help if it were passed made it make all the more sense to me. Why not have an incentive for people to hire those who most need work but who might not appear to be prime candidates? And, ok, it might have been a bit of a boost for the old self-esteem when the first fellow I interviewed thanked me for gracing them with my beauty when I thanked him for participating in the survey.

Then, Tuesday evening, we had our Anti Hunger Action Committee meeting where we discussed our Super Schmoozer Contest that will be held this Tuesday. (Permit me to brag for a moment, but I did suggest the term Schmoozer. And then my coworker did the rest. I still giggle at it, though). The contest is both an individual contest and between groups (Anti-Hunger Action Committee, Homeless Opportunity and Rights Network, and the Disabled Rights Action Committee). I mean, who wouldn’t want the chance to win a Schmoozie? We have flyers that we will hand out with the rules and all of the legislators’ names and tiny pictures on them and point values assigned according to what committees they are on and various leadership positions. Hopefully this will prevent any instances of “It’s the committee chair! We’ll get seven points! Get him!!!” Also, it will be a lot of fun watching the legislators and the Average People meet each other. Especially since we had our Regular People Lobbyist Training the other day, and I have to say, a good time was had by all.

Anyways, that’s about it for now. It’s an exciting few weeks coming up. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate more than it did yesterday. “Winter Mix” is just plain nasty weather. But thank goodness the sun is back!