Davis: Veteran's Day

Honoring Our Military Personnel

It was my great privilege to honor Marine Boot Camp Graduate, Steven Higgins, of the 1^st BN Delta Co Platoon with a U.S and a Missouri flag flown over the Capitol. His parents Mel and Kay Higgins and grandparents Charlene and Mel Higgins, Sr. joined in the celebration.



In Honor of Veterans on November 11 the following restaurants offer the following specials:

Eat Free at Applebee's

Military veterans and active-duty Service Members can eat free at any Applebee's on Veteran's Day, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010. There will be six entrées available from the menu. Guests will be asked to show one or more of the following as proof of service: a U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card, U.S. Uniform Services Retired Identification Card, Current Leave and Earnings Statement, Veterans Organization Card, a photograph in uniform, or wearing a uniform in person. For more information visit: Applebee's Says "Thank You" on Veterans day

Military Monday at Golden Corral

Golden Corral's 9th annual Military Appreciation Monday dinner will be held on Monday, November 15, 2010, from 5 to 9 pm at all Golden Corral restaurants nationwide. The free meal is a special "thank-you tribute" to any person who has ever served in the United States Military. If you are a veteran, retired, currently serving, or in the National Guard/Reserves, you are invited. Visit their website for more information: Golden Corral's Military Appreciation

Salute from Outback Steakhouse

As an expression of Outback Steakhouse's appreciation to our Country's veterans and active duty military, a free Bloomin' Onion and beverage of choice (one non-alcoholic drink or one draft Anheuser Busch beer except where prohibited by law) will be available to them at every Outback on Veterans Day. Please visit: Outback Salutes Veterans

Big Lots –click on photo for web-link:

Home Depot and Lowe's Military Discount

Most Home Depot and Lowe's have been known to offer a 10% holiday discount to military members and their families and in many cases veterans and retirees. The website: The Military Wallet has this and more military discount information.

What did they do in Oklahoma?

Last week, Oklahoma voters passed an amendment that prevents judges from relying on Sharia Law or international laws when deciding court cases.  This was important because there are places where Sharia Law conflicts with our laws and standards of decency.  For example, under Sharia law, it is acceptable to punish people by amputating limbs, beating your wife and stoning people to death.  Our country already has laws that deal with crimes and domestic abuse.  If our local or national legal system starts relying on what courts say in countries with opposing ethical standards, it will create confusion and allow some of our citizens to be treated differently than the rest of us.

Oklahoma adopted this as a preemptive measure because, for example, what happens in other countries is indicative of what could happen in America, if we don't define our courts' legal standards.  In Great Britain, having two sets of laws has not served their citizens well.  I have seen videos of children being maimed and having their heads cut with the permission of the government.  It should make us all sick to think about the lack of civility that could be allowed in our country after years of crafting reasonable laws on how we handle problems such as stealing and adultery.

Curiously, the law is designed to limit the judicial branch, requiring them to listen to the citizens. The judicial branch of government is now blocking the certification of the measure.  It passed by 70% of the vote.  Why don't judges understand they cannot declare something as unconstitutional when the people voted to put it into the constitution?  The very act of passing the measure makes it constitutional.

The Muslims are fighting back because Sharia law is based upon the legal system promoted by the Koran.  The first problem with basing a court case on another country's primitive legal system is that it devalues women and children.  The second problem is that Islamic extremist leaders are using this as a political movement rather than a religion.  This type of political system teaches religious intolerance and world conquest through violence.  Although we allow a variety of political philosophies in our country, we still have only one set of laws that can be modified only through one standard process.  Even the Klu Klux Klan cannot change our laws nor have judges give special treatment to their ideology.

In America, our laws are opposite from Sharia Laws regarding many foundational points because we believe in:

1. Equality for both men and women.
2. Freedom of speech.
3. Freedom of religion.

These are values we should never trade away.

If you don't believe it could happen here, read what already happened in Great Britain: Sharia Law in Great Britain

Here is a link to a story about why Oklahoma passed this amendment: Oklahoma's Ban of Sharia Law

Dialoging with you is important, so please let me know what you think about preventing Missouri judges from using Sharia Law to determine court case. You can send me your opinion by clicking here: Cynthia Davis

A Little Bit of Humor

Today's Inspirational Lesson:

Never irritate a woman who can operate a backhoe!

Schupp: Spoede Parent Request

Spoede Elementary School Parents Request Your Help, Too!!

Accessible Playground

Dear Friends and Neighbors

The 82nd District parents and students are busy working to make our public schools even better!

The 82nd District State House includes parts of the public school districts of Ladue, Parkway and Pattonville (in alphabetical order, of course!)

Spoede Elementary is another worthy contestant in the Pepsi contest to help improve their school.  Please read below and see why Spoede parents have been emailing me about their efforts to build an accessible playground at Spoede. 

Spoede Elementary School Competing for $250,000 Grant to Build a New Accessible Playground
You can help!

Through participation in the Pepsi Refresh Project, Spoede Elementary School is competing to win a grant of $250,000 that will enable the school to build a new playground specially designed for all elementary school age children, including those with disabilities.

"We are fortunate to have a very diverse student population," states Principal Dr. Connie Brawley.  "Approximately 46 percent of our students are minorities, and 1 in 5 has been diagnosed with a disability.  A playground of this caliber would enhance our ability to serve each and every student's academic, emotional and physical needs."  The playground will also be available to neighborhood children outside of school hours.

Anyone interested in helping Spoede Elementary School win the grant can do so by casting votes during the month of November.  Three methods of voting are available:

1. Log on to the Pepsi Refresh Web site at www.refresheverything.com/spoedeschool
2. Text your vote to 104016 to Pepsi at 73774.
3. Vote using the Facebook application on the Pepsi Refresh Web site.
   

If you'd like a daily reminder to vote, just send an e-mail to ssaplaygroundbuzz{at}yahoo{dot}com.

So, weigh in and help one of our schools win and put into place a worthy project for our kids and our schools!

All the best,

Jill

Nance: A Veteran's Story

Pictured [at left], Mike Reeder at St. Andrews with ESPN.

"It is an honor to serve you as your state representative for the next two years. Last Wednesday, I traveled to Jefferson City to meet with fellow legislatiors and vote on leadership and discuss priorities for the next year."

A Veteran's Story

Mike Reeder, a school and church friend from Excelsior Springs will be on a spot with ESPN Sports Center at 6:00 and 10:00 CST on Thursday.

A medic in Vietnam, Mike came out of the war with an injury that changed his life.

He found his life changed by a command detonated "booby trap" on April 2, 1970. His legs were amputated just below the knees. Mike can hit a ball 200 yards from his chair, and chips and putts on his knees.  His U.S.G.A. handicap is 9. Please go to www.ForeWheelGolf.com for more information.

In the District

Veteran's Day is Thursday and I look forward to speaking at the Ray County Courthouse. Hope to see you there.

Click here for a flyer for the Ray County Senior Center.

Rupp: Honoring the Heroes and Remembering the Lost

We live in a wonderful country where we have the freedom of speech, religion, and many other liberties that some across the world do not. All our rights and privileges that we possess today, however, have come at a cost and should not be taken for granted. Throughout Missouri, we have close to 550,000 veterans. These men and women have sacrificed so much for our country, and they deserve to be honored this Veterans Day on Nov. 11.

Veterans Day was first observed in Nov. 1919 when President Wilson elected Nov. 11 as the date for the national holiday, saying, "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

To pay tribute and aide our state's veterans and their families, the Missouri Veterans Commission, then the State Federal Soldier's Home, was founded in 1896 and was then deeded to the State of Missouri in 1897. The organization's first objective was to assist the aging Union soldiers that served during the Civil War.

Today, the association provides many services to Missouri veterans and their families. Some of those services include possible disability, educational assistance, work-study, vocational rehabilitation and counseling, insurance, home loan, burial, survivor and employment benefits.

Many of the veterans who have not applied for benefits are the women who have served our country. The organization estimates that out of more than 36,600 female Missouri veterans, 30 to 40 percent have not applied for veteran's services. Medical support is included in these services, assisting women with disease prevention, maternity and infertility issues, and long-term care.

When a veteran has reached senior age, they may apply to reside at a Missouri Veterans Home, which provides nursing and physician assistance; physical, speech and occupational therapy; and dietary care to these admirable men and women.

I would like to thank the veterans of Missouri for protecting our freedoms and fighting for our country. I appreciate your service and dedication. I would like to show my gratitude to your families as well, for they represent our country by standing tall and proud on our home front.

Please take Nov. 11 to thank a veteran for his or her service, and always remember our soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep our homeland safe and protected. For more information on the Missouri Veterans Commission, please visit www.mvc.dps.mo.gov.

If you have any questions regarding this matter or any other issues within state government, please visit my website at www.senate.mo.gov/rupp.  You can also e-mail me or call my office toll-free at (866) 271-2844.

Roorda: Tuesday's Set-Back

Greetings!

I suffered a set-back last Tuesday night in what has otherwise been a rewarding and successful career in public service.  I was one of 15 incumbents in Missouri who were not re-elected in a trend that could be seen nationwide.  I was among Eleven state House members, two state Senators, a long-time Congressman and the first non-gubernatorial statewide officeholder to lose since 1968.

We live in difficult, volatile times.  For three straight national elections there have been sweeping electoral shifts that have ousted record numbers of incumbents.  The message from the voters has been clear: put aside petty, divisive partisan differences and do something about job loss, government spending and the economy.

Unfortunately, many politicians at the national level have failed to hear that message.  At the State level, we got the message loud and clear.  In Missouri, we passed a major jobs bill that kept Ford Motor plants in our state, we cut $1 billion out of the state budget, and our state economy is one of the most robust in the nation.  Governor Nixon singled me out as one of the leaders responsible for these accomplishments.

Despite our successes here in Missouri, voters, angry over political gridlock, wanted to send a louder message to all incumbents.  Only incumbents in the safest of districts were spared the wrath of an understandably frustrated electorate.

I am proud of our successes here in Missouri and I only wish that we could have more effectively communicated those successes to voters battered by a dismal national economy and disappointed by political gridlock in DC.

I hold my head high today.  I have served my community for 27 years, as a volunteer firefighter, as a 911 dispatcher, as a police officer and as an elected official.  I called my opponent, Paul Weiland, and congratulated him on his victory.  I also offered to help in any way to make the transition as smooth as possible.   Although, I don't know what I will do next, I can guarantee you that I am not yet finished serving the community that I love and have worked so hard for.

I was surrounded by family and friends Tuesday night and that meant the world to me.  I am happy that this set-back means that I will have the opportunity to spend more time with my family.  After six years of splitting time between Jefferson City and home, it is a welcomed blessing.

I thank you for your friendship, your support and your words of kindness.

Yours in service, always,
Jeff Roorda

Schupp: Parkway North Students Request Your Help

Student-Lead Solar Initiative

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

Parkway North students are asking for our help to make the Parkway School District the first "completely solar school district" in the Midwest.

Wendy Low is one of the dedicated students at Parkway North High School who is part of the group "Envirothon."  Wendy and her peers have been using technology, including the telephone, to convince people including you and me to help support their vision of making a difference in their school, the community and the environment.

I agreed to help by getting the word out to you.   Why?  I am excited about supporting our students as they work hard, take risks and follow through on their dreams.  This particular project is designed to support a cleaner environment, make use of alternative energy sources, and save the taxpayers money.

It is a commercially-run contest.  Pepsi is challenging our students to make something positive happen in our schools.  Pepsi will provide the seed money...a quarter million dollars!

If you are willing to support Parkway North students' efforts on behalf of the entire Parkway District, then use one of the various methods of voting...and in this case, go ahead and vote early and often!

From the Students: 

David and Calvin, students at Parkway North Senior High, began thinking about Envirothon's efforts two years ago.  They see this contest, put on by Pepsi, as an opportunity to support their school, and the entire district, by installing solar panels, saving energy, helping the environment and cutting costs to the taxpayers.

They envision this opportunity as one that might serve as a model for the rest of the country. Assuming they win the contest, the district plans to measure its savings on heat and air conditioning as solar panels are installed.

Currently in 11th place, the students feel that they have a real possibility of winning the contest.

"We need you to help us by voting, and if you feel this is important, forward this on to anyone you think would also like to vote for a plan that grows, cleans the environment, increases investment in home grown energy generation, and saves taxpayers money. All you need to do to vote for our $250,000.00 proposal in the Pepsi Refresh Project is: (you may use any or all of the following)

• You can vote by texting 104078 to PEPSI (73774) We are told no additional charges apply
• You can vote using Facebook
  • You must add the Pepsi Refresh Voting App
  • Next you go to RefreshEverything.com
  • Then, at the bottom of the page, you click "Sign In" and "Login with Facebook"
    
  • Finally, you find this project and click VOTE
• The final voting option is to creat a Pepsi username and VOTE by going onto http://www.refresheverything.com/solarforparkway
  • Click on vote for this idea
  • Sign in or create an account and vote

Granted, there are some very interesting and heart-wrenching projects in the running. So what sets ours apart? Our project is asking for the seed money from which we will seek matching grants and donations. With this money, we would invest 100% of it into solar power panels, interface systems, and monitoring hardware.

The Parkway District has agreed to take the money saved and allow it to be used to gain additional matching grants and donations year after year and reinvest it in further solar expansion until the district is completely solar and geothermal. This means that Parkway tax payers would conceivably eliminate the energy bill for their school without spending a dime of their own tax money.

The district has also agreed to be very transparent about this process so the public can see where all of the money is coming from and where mistakes and successes occur so surrounding school districts can follow the same process for the benefit of their own students and taxpayers.

Vote for our project today and everyday in November. You can vote once each day using each method listed above for a total of three votes per day and in the process, turn a student-driven dream into a reality that sets the stage for solar adoption across the Midwest. Solar technology has now matured to the point that it is viable. Why not put it to work creating jobs, clean energy, and revenue?"

Thank you

Parkway North Envirothon

Contact Russ Barton at rbarton{at}pkwy{dot}k12{dot}mo{dot}us with any questions or see our website http://www.parkwaysolar.org

Schupp: Missouri Veterans History Project Kick Off

New Missouri Veterans History Project Preserves Oral Histories and Unites Generations
State Rep Spearheads Program after Budget Cuts in Veterans Videos Funding

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - With an idea, a connection and a heartfelt desire to preserve history and honor our veterans, state Rep. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur, is the driving force behind the new Missouri Veterans Video project, set to unveil this Veterans Day at the University of Missouri in Columbia.

Cutting a program's state funding and then finding alternative means to fund it is not the usual way things get done in Jefferson City. Aware that hundreds of thousands of dollars in the state budget earmarked for veterans' videos had to go, and knowing that the University of Missouri, just a half hour away from Jefferson City in Columbia boasts one of the nation's finest schools of journalism, Schupp focused on finding a way for the university and veterans to work together to keep the project alive and bring it to fruition.

With the support of University of Missouri governmental relations liaison, Marty Oetting, and through the collaboration of individuals with higher education institutions, veterans organizations, the Missouri Historical Society and experts in transcription, the new Missouri Veterans History Project will be unveiled on Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11. Part of the 2010 Veterans Day Observance hosted by the University of Missouri Veterans Center, the event will feature samplings from the videos of veterans' oral histories recorded to date.

"Cutting state dollars used to record veterans' oral histories was fiscally responsible, and finding creative and collaborative ways to continue to record and preserve histories is socially and historically responsible," says Schupp, who formed the Missouri Veterans History Project in May 2010 and serves as chairperson. "I saw this as an opportunity to connect veterans and students, honoring and respecting the work of each as they record and preserve veterans' oral histories to be shared with the public for generations to come."

Through the efforts of the committee members, participating organizations and volunteers, and in accordance with the rules of the Library of Congress, video interviews of 10 World War II veterans have already been produced. The project's long-term plans focus on sustainability, including adaptation for course credit in university curriculum, and broadening the program to include schools throughout the state. While the current focus is on Missouri's oldest veterans, the scope will expand to include all interested veterans, including those just returning from service.

"What has impressed me the most is how passionate and eager people and organizations are to get involved," Schupp said. "While we have certainly reached out for help, the number of amazing individuals who continue to find their way to us, willing to share their vast knowledge and resources, is truly gratifying."

The program's kick-off event on Nov. 11 is designed to highlight the pilot program started in Columbia.

"We are asking the press to help us get the word out about the program so that we can find additional volunteers to train for filming and interviewing, as well as veterans who are ready to share their stories," Schupp said. "We look forward to a more expansive commemoration next year since we are developing plans to roll out the program across Missouri. We expect Veterans Day 2011 --11/11/11 -- to be particularly poignant as we salute our veterans and thank the volunteers who will help create history."

The Missouri Veterans History Project is in the process of applying for its 501(c)(3) status. It is comprised of individuals representing the American Legion, Central Missouri Honor Flight, Columbia Veterans Administration Hospital, University of Missouri, Columbia College, Western Historical Manuscripts Collection, State Historical Society, Department of Public Safety, Missouri Veterans Commission, and the Missouri House of Representatives.

The Missouri Veterans History Project reception is free and open to the public. The event will be hosted by University of Missouri Chancellor Brady Deaton and will take place in the University's Memorial Union at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

For more information on the Missouri Veterans History Project, please call Representative Jill Schupp's office at (573) 751-9762.

Goodman Continues Senate Leadership Position

Leadership Positions for 96^th General Assembly Selected Today

JEFFERSON CITY – State Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mt. Vernon, was selected today by his peers to continue his work as the Assistant Majority Floor Leader of the Missouri Senate.

Senator Goodman was re-elected to his position in a party caucus held at the Capitol today (11/4/10). He served in this position during the 95^th General Assembly, in which he was responsible for gathering the votes on major issues, as well as resuming responsibility of the majority floor leader in his absence.  Both majority and minority parties met today to elect leadership positions for the upcoming session.

"I want to thank my colleagues for continuing to have such faith in me and elect me to serve again in this position," said Sen. Goodman. "I will continue working to reflect and promote southwest Missouri values in the Missouri Senate." Sen. Goodman also serves as chair of the General Laws Committee, vice-chair of the Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee as well as on several other legislative committees.

Also elected to Senate Majority Caucus leadership positions:

• Sen. Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, nominated as President Pro Tem
• Sen. Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, Majority Floor Leader
• Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton, Majority Caucus Chair
• Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, Majority Caucus Secretary
• Sen.-elect Mike Parson, R-Bolívar, Majority Caucus Whip

The First Regular Session of the 96th General Assembly will convene in Jefferson City on Jan. 5, 2011.

Rupp: The Voter Results are In

The November 2010 election is over and we have new leadership and laws to lead us in to 2011. I would first like to say thank you to all of our voters. One person's vote can truly make a difference, and I appreciate all of you who took the time out of your busy day to exercise your American right. I would also like to thank my fellow Missourians for allowing me to continue to serve you. I am very grateful and look forward to my upcoming term in the Senate.

According to the Missouri Secretary of State's office, our statewide voter turnout was 46.8 percent and many counties had a turnout above 50 percent. In the 2^nd Senatorial District, there was a 51.2 percent turnout in St. Charles County, and a 46.9 percent turnout in Lincoln County.

Among the issues voters had to decide were Proposition A, which was approved by a large 68.4 percent of voters. This amends Missouri law to repeal the authority of certain cities to use earnings taxes to fund their budgets.  The amendment further requires voters in cities that currently have an earnings tax, St. Louis and Kansas City, to approve continuation of such tax at the next general municipal election and at an election held every five years or to phase out the tax over a period of ten years. This measure will impact taxes by removing the ability of cities to fund their budgets through earnings taxes.  The only exception is that voters in cities that currently have an earnings tax may vote to continue such taxes.

Proposition B, which was approved by 51.6 percent of voters, amends Missouri law to require large-scale dog breeding operations to provide each dog under their care with sufficient food, clean water, housing and space; necessary veterinary care; and regular exercise and adequate rest between breeding cycles. The amendment further prohibits any breeder from having more than 50 breeding dogs for the purpose of selling their puppies as pets.

The election also brought Republican legislators across our nation and state to a high majority. In the Missouri House of Representatives, Republicans will hold 106 seats and Democrats will hold 57 seats. In the Missouri Senate, we will have 26 Republicans in service, the most our great state has ever had. I would like to welcome Reps. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown; Brian Nieves, R-Union; Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph; Dan Brown, R-Rolla; Jay Wasson, R-Nixa; Ron Richard, R-Joplin; Mike Parson, R-Bolivar; and Bob Dixon, R-Springfield; and Mike Kehoe; R-Jefferson City, to the Senate. I look forward to serving with all the new and returning members in the upcoming legislative session.

For more information about the election results, visit www.sos.mo.gov.

If you have any questions regarding this matter or any other issues within state government, please visit my website at www.senate.mo.gov/rupp.  You can also e-mail me or call my office toll-free at (866) 271-2844.

Joe Smith: Thank You District 14 and Good Luck to Kathie Conway!

Serving the people of my district and of this great state as a Representative was truly a great experience. I will always cherish and appreciate the people of Missouri House District 14 for sending me to the State Capitol to serve them for the last 8 years.  I look forward watching my replacement Kathie Conway as she represents the people of Missouri House District 14.  I am confident in her abilities to represent you and your values in Jefferson City.

God Bless everyone for this opportunity.  May God watch over Representative Kathie Conway as she represents the great People of Missouri!

Davis: Tuesday's Election

Paws and Relax Pet Spa, owners Jessica and Matthew Uzzetta (to my left), offers stress-free, cage-free play time and a large private fenced yard among other services. The recent ribbon cutting was held at their 1330 Sunburst Drive location in O'Fallon.

What Happened Tuesday?

Last Tuesday appears to have been a surprise to everyone.  The Missouri House has never had 106 Republican members since its inception.  It takes 109 votes to override a veto, so the majority is positively remarkable.  Additionally, this election produced a historic record of 41 women for the Missouri legislature. The previous high was 40 in 1999. For most of the eight years I served, there were eight other women Republican House Members.  Yesterday, I counted 17 women Republican House Members.

Having attended many women legislators meetings, it is common to hear speakers say, "If only we had more women in the legislature."  I wish they knew how sexist that sounds.  One can no more judge the benefit of a woman legislator by her gender, than by her hair or skin color.  We don't need more women; we need more principled legislators who are educated about our constitutional rights, the purpose of government and the importance of traditional marriage as the bedrock for every community and civilization.

Several of my constituents asked me about the judges.  Until yesterday, it was hard to have any hope for correcting the judicial branch of government because even though you see plenty of judges on the ballot, it is nearly unheard of for a judge to lose a retention vote. The judges don't campaign like other candidates do because they don't want voters to speculate on whether they are prejudiced about upcoming cases. Therefore, we are relegated to voting for people who appear to be "nice", rather than scrutinizing over whether they have a deep understanding of our laws, constitutions and the scope and purpose of the judicial branch of government.

When three activist judges in Iowa tried to legislate from the bench, they lost their seats last Tuesday.  The message is clear:  If judges want to act like legislators, they will lose their elections like legislators.  We should all be encouraged to know that even though it is very difficult, it is possible. Here is a link to two news stories about how voters took action to correct the problem of the renegade judges in Iowa: Iowa State Daily and New York Times.

In other good news, the voters of District 19 elected a very qualified replacement for me. I will be introducing you to Kurt Bahr in future Capitol Reports.

Dialoging with you is good, so please let me know what you think about Tuesday's election. You can send me your opinion by clicking here: Cynthia Davis

A Little Bit of Humor

A man walked into a bar with a shotgun in one hand and pulling a bull with the other. He ordered a drink, downed it, turned around and shot the bull -blowing his guts all over the place- then left. The next day, he came in again with the shotgun and another bull. He ordered a drink, downed it, turned around, and shot the bull, blowing his guts all over the place. While walking out the bartender grabbed him and asked, "What are you doing"? The man replied. "I'm practicing to be a politician. I come in here, party with a few drinks, shoot the bull and leave the mess for someone else to clean up!"

Goodman Announces 2nd Annual "Season of Hope"

Mt Vernon, MO – Senator Jack Goodman (R-29) today announced the kick off of the 2^nd Annual Season of Hope Food Drive. He hopes to again coordinate a food drive in the 29^th Senate district designed to help provide families in need with all the groceries needed to prepare a traditional Christmas dinner.

The idea of helping to host a food drive originated during a meeting Senator Goodman attended in Branson in 2009. During that meeting a constituent pointed out the need and asked Goodman if he would be interested in helping in a food drive.  This challenge motivated Goodman to try and do something during the Christmas Season to help address hunger in his Senate district.

"Not only as a public servant, but as a Christian and a neighbor, I feel called to try and meet this need," Goodman said. He added, "The government is not the solution to every problem and I am grateful to the neighbors throughout the 29^th District who have joined with me in addressing this need in our communities."

By most standards, last year's food drive was a success. To help facilitate the collection of donated food items, 42 food donation boxes were placed at businesses, chambers of commerce, and courthouses around the 29th Senatorial District. In addition, the effort partnered with a number of hunger-relief organizations throughout the 29th Senate District that helped to collect groceries, identify families in need of assistance, and coordinate distribution days. As part of Season of Hope, every family received either ½ of a turkey, a whole chicken or a 6lb bag of chicken filets, a box of stuffing, a 15 lb bag of potatoes or boxed mashed potatoes, canned sweet potatoes, canned vegetables, boxed macaroni and cheese, and a variety of other groceries. Overall the effort provided Christmas meals to approximately 2,000 people in the 29th Senate District. Total food donations or food purchased with donations was in excess of 17,000 lbs.

"The success of last year's Season of Hope Food Drive was the result of great collaboration and I look forward to our team helping even more of our neighbors this year," Goodman commented.

Last year, Season of Hope benefitted from the guidance and work of a dynamic steering committee composed of community leaders in every county of the 29th Senate district. Senator Goodman is pleased to announce that Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley has again agreed to Chair the steering committee assembled to help coordinate this year's activities.

"It's far too common for hunger to go unaddressed because it simply goes unnoticed. I was pleased when Senator Goodman took this project on last year, and excited that he asked me to help coordinate the effort as Chairperson " said Mayor Presley. "Last year Season of Hope was very successful, and we are already working hard to make sure this year's food drive can help meet needs across the 29th Senate District"

Goodman hopes to have Season of Hope fully organized within the next couple of weeks. Like last year, Season of Hope will distribute food at multiple drop points throughout the district about one week before Christmas. Those interested in donating, volunteering, or receiving assistance should contact Senator Goodman's Office at (573) 751-2234 or (417) 466-7937.