Apple Pie Day at the Capitol

On May 3-9, Oregon will celebrate Home Education Week. There are many
things you can do to help promote Home Education Week, the most
important of which is to make plans to attend "Apple Pie Day" at the
Capitol--an event sponsored by the Oregon Christian Home Education
Association Network (OCEANetwork).

Apple Pie Day--May 7, 2009--will be full of exciting opportunities for
the whole family. Additionally, each legislator and the governor will
be given a home-baked apple pie and a packet of information promoting
home education.

Apple Pie Day is extremely important for homeschoolers across the
state as it provides an opportunity for Oregon legislators to meet
home-educated students and their parents. Over the years, HSLDA has
seen how well-attended homeschool events at the state Capitol can have
a major impact in preserving and protecting homeschool freedom.
Whenever a homeschool issue comes up before the legislature, many of
these elected officials will remember the personal contact they have
had with bright and well-behaved homeschool families.

Apple Pie Day will be full of activities that you don't want to miss.
The day's events will begin with families dropping off apple pies in
the Hospitality Room, HR 50, in the basement of the Capitol between 8
a.m. and 10 a.m. A Home Education Freedoms 101 class will take place
at 9 a.m.; the Home Education Rally will start at noon on the front
steps of the Capitol building, the Court Street side.

This year, HSLDA will be sending Staff Attorney Thomas (Tj) Schmidt to
participate in several activities throughout the day.

Your children will also have several activities they can take part in,
including the Apple Pie Day photo contest, serving as honorary pages
(12 and up), performing at the Capitol (sample recording and other
information must be submitted by April 1), or singing with the
Statewide Homeschool Choir.

For more information about these activities and how you can
participate please go to: http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=6327 .

If you can, you are encouraged to schedule an appointment in advance
to visit your legislators that day. You should set up a 10- to
15-minute appointment and let OCEANetwork know about it. To determine
who your legislators are, go to HSLDA's legislative toolbox at:
http://www.hslda.org/toolbox .

Please plan now to attend to attend Apple Pie Day with your whole
family. Your attendance at the Capitol can help ensure a great turnout
and protect homeschooling freedom in Oregon.

If you are not currently a member, please consider joining to help
support homeschool freedom in Oregon and across the country. If you
want to "try" HSLDA membership out, feel free sign up for a
three-month trial membership at
http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=6328.

Sincerely,

Thomas J. (Tj) Schmidt
HSLDA Staff Attorney