Capitol Day 2009 Re-Cap

THANK YOU!

You made this year's Capitol Day a huge success! We had families drive from every corner of the state to try to have every district represented! Thank-you to EVERYONE who made an effort to be the face of homeschooling to your legislators. This was the largest turn-out in Capitol Day history and our voices were heard.

Capitol Day 2009: Just the Facts

45 – Capitol Day Volunteers

107 – Students who participated in Future Statesmen

472 – Home Educators pre-registered for Capitol Day

487 – On-site registrations

1,111+ - Home Educators at the State Capitol

2,640 – Cookies delivered to Oklahoma legislators (220 dozen!)

Out of 48 Senate districts, 43 were represented by home educators on site; 73 out of 101 House districts were represented. We haven’t yet calculated all of the records set at this year’s event, but early indications are that many prayers have been answered, many contacts were made and the voices of Christian home educators were heard loud and clear.

Before 9:00 AM, the first floor rotunda began to fill with excited families, Future Statesmen and Capitol Day volunteers. By lunchtime, homeschooling families and their elected officials were getting to know each other and the enthusiasm was palpable. At 1:00 PM, as the Senate was called into session, Senator Sykes acknowledged the home educators that had filled the gallery, thanking us for our presence, our prayers and for trusting them to represent us in state government. He particularly recognized the winners of the 2009 OCHEC Capitol Day Essay Contest, Gabrielle Hawthorne, Hannah Waytt, and Matthew Pallett.

While the parents were being briefed in the Track I Legislative Impact Session by Senator Todd Lamb, HSLDA attorney TJ Schmidt and Rick Williamson, OCHEC Legislative Liason, the Future Statesmen students were putting their preparation into action debating bills on the Senate floor. As parents lunched with legislators, the students were joined for lunch by representatives from the offices of US Congressman Lucas, US Senator Coburn, US Congresswoman Fallin, Oklahoma Family Policy Council, Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee, Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, Senate President Pro Tempore, Homeschool Legal Defense Association and lobbyist Kirk Shelley.

The sight of so many people dedicated to the best interests of Oklahoma families was inspiring . To God alone be the glory.

Some pictoral highlights of the day.

Legislative Luncheon