From bomalley at mhanys.org Mon Nov 8 17:12:19 2004 From: bomalley at mhanys.org (Bryan O'Malley) Date: Mon, 8 Nov 2004 17:12:19 -0500 Subject: [Timothy's Team] Updated information on November 18 rally - and the walk from Orange County to Albany Message-ID: Well, the elections are over, and we are moving closer to the return of the Senate on November 18th. Of course, the return of the Senate means only one thing, the Timothy's Law Rally in Albany is almost upon us. In the last update, we told you about the rally, with preliminary details. I now have many more details about the rally, as well as Alexandra Zimmerman and her walk from Warwick, NY (in Orange County) to Albany and the steps of the Capitol. The Walk Alexandra Zimmerman will be walking from Warwick High School in Warwick (Orange County) to Albany in memory of her dear friend, Robin Desrats, who completed suicide while Alexandra and she were students there. * She will be starting her walk on Saturday, November 13 at noon at Warwick H.S. and proceed on Route 94 to Chester, where she will take a short break, then proceed on to Washingtonville for the night. * On Sunday, Nov. 14 she will leave Washingtonville and head out via Toleman Rd. to Little Briton Rd. She will then head into Newburgh via Route 17K for a break. After the break, Alexandra will pick up Route 9W and head to Middle Hope for the night. * On Monday, Alexandra will proceed out of Middle Hope and follow 9W North to Highland, where she will take a break. From Highland, she will stay on 9W until she reaches the Town of Esopus, where she will spend the night. * On Tuesday, Alexandra's route takes her to a rest stop in Saugerties, before she changes course onto Route 23A (via Ulster Ave. and Route 32) and breaks for the evening in Kiskatom. * On Wednesday, the walkers head north again to Catskill, then get back onto 9W to head out to Coxsackie for the evening's end point. * Finally, on Thursday, the big day, the day of the huge Timothy's Law Rally in Albany, Alexandra and her walking friends will enter Albany County and meet up with Rally participants at the Capitol. As you can tell, this is a massive undertaking, and Alexandra and her friends need all the support they can get. If you can, try to get out along the way. Stop at the stop points to show support. Maybe you want to walk a little ways with them. Maybe you just want to cheer as they go by. No matter what, anything will help. If you would like to walk, volunteer to drive a support van, or host a lunch for Alexandra, please call 518-432-0333. You can meet Alexandra at the corner of Swan and Morton in Albany at 12:30 on Thursday to walk the last few blocks to the Capitol. A flyer for the Rally, and the walk, is attached. You may also view both, and find out more information, on our website, www.timothyslaw.org. The Rally While Alexandra is walking 122 miles to get to the rally, you can take the easier route of getting on a bus, or taking a car. The rally is slated to begin at 1:00 at the South end of the Plaza (near the NYS Museum). We are then going to walk across the Plaza, en masse, to the steps of the Capitol. Alexandra will join us, and we have several speakers lined up. The rally is crucial for continuing to build support, and we hope that you will be able to make it. With the elections over, those Senators who just won reelection will need a reminder that Timothy's Law needs to get done. The larger the group we can bring to town, the better the message that we will send. If we want to carry the momentum that we have built forward, we need to show those who are opposed to Timothy's Law that we are not only not going away, but that we are getting stronger every day. Please try to take a day to show up here in town for this vital event. Bus information is as follows. New York City, Brooklyn, Harlem - Contact Jessica Whalen at (212) 684-3365 Bronx - Contact Pauline Magnetti at (718) 862-3347 or bpcarcinc at aol.com Westchester - Contact Eva Dech at (914) 682 -3926 Car pools are also being arranged on the Timothy's Law Message Board, which can be found at the Timothy's Law website at www.timothyslaw.org. We appreciate all of your continued support for this legislation, and know that even if for some reason you cannot be at the rally, you will be there with us in spirit. Timothy's Law continues to move forward, even as it seems we have exhausted all of our options, and this movement is solely because of people such as yourself, and the energy and commitment that you bring to this vital issue. Thank you for your continued commitment. This is a true grassroots movement. Please take a moment to forward this message on to your friends, colleagues, and relatives. Remember, 1 in 5 people is living with a mental illness, which means an even greater number are touched in some way. Timothy's Law would effect so many that we can not begin to dream might normally be interested, and by forwarding it to them, you help to grow our movement and increase the likelihood that Timothy's Law passes this year. Refer A Friend Friend's Name: Friend's Email: Your Name: Your Email: -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: TLC Rally Nov '04.doc Type: application/msword Size: 2087424 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Walk flyer.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 109748 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Walk map.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 245888 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bomalley at mhanys.org Mon Nov 15 12:40:20 2004 From: bomalley at mhanys.org (Bryan O'Malley) Date: Mon, 15 Nov 2004 12:40:20 -0500 Subject: [Timothy's Team] "Who's ready for a Walk?" Message-ID: Alexandra Zimmerman and supporters of Timothy's Law will approach the halfway point of their walk to Albany tonight, having started mile 42 of the 122 mile walk earlier today. For those of you who have missed it, Alexandra started her journey on Saturday, at Warwick H.S. in Orange County. Ali made some brief remarks to inform those gathered as to why she was walking, and to thank the parents of Robin Desrats, who have been so helpful in helping her plan the event, and without whose permission and grace she could not have moved forward. She finished her remarks in the incredibly humble manner in which she has taken on this entire task, by asking, "Who's ready for a walk?" Ali has also been posting her thoughts about each day on the Timothy's Law message board. Here are some of her own words, as printed on the Timothy's Law massage board at www.timothyslaw.org http://www.timothyslaw.org. "At the kick-off yesterday, The O'Clair family, the Desrats family, and my family, the Zimmerman family, released balloons. Each bunch had one purple balloon representing Timothy, a blue balloon representing Robin, a purple balloon representing hope for those with mental illnesses and a green balloon representing a livable cure for mental illnesses. It is important that we continue to understand mental illness is an illness just like any other - we should continue to have hope the stigma will be lifted and that a mental illness is NOT a death sentence. With proper treatment, we can treat a mental illness just the same as a physical illness. These balloons, which were filled with helium, and hope symbolically, were released over Warwick Valley High School- they will not stay there, however, and eventually, the hope will be spread across our state, and the whole world. The hope will be there in the sky, ready to be called upon by anyone who may need it. So, next time you need a little extra hope, just look upward- it will be there for you to latch onto, whenever, and wherever you may need it." Ali will continue to publish little bits about each day, so be sure to keep up with her as she moves along towards Albany. One woman has already demonstrated the great media attention we are receiving, with the following post: "I heard about your walk this morning, Sunday, on WAMC, Northeast Public Radio and when I went out to go food shopping I passed you guys on Toleman Rd. just north of the tunnel. I saw 2 smiling faces. Good for you! Congratulations!!!" We are not sure of all the media attention we have received, but to this point, we know that Ali's efforts have gotten Timothy's Law coverage on TV in Syracuse and Albany, as well as WROW, WAMC, and WCBS on the radio. If you know of additional coverage in your area, please let us know, as we cannot track what is going on throughout the state without you. If you are along the walk route, please, try to take a few minutes to show your support to Ali and those walking with her. Take a moment to think how you would feel after walking 41 miles, knowing you have 80 more to go. Now that you've partaken in that little exercise, it is probably easy to realize how much the support of each one of you means to her, and helps her along the way. If you drive by and see the walkers, honk to show your support. Give a wave. It is just that easy. Then, on Thursday, try to take some time and come to Albany. Hear firsthand from Alexandra about her trip, and be one of hundreds to call for immediate passage of Timothy's Law on the steps of the State Capitol on the day the Senate comes back to Albany. Every body we can assembly will be of tremendous importance that day, and we hope you can make it. Again, busses are coming from New York City and Westchester. The information is below; but hurry, they are filling up quickly. New York City, Brooklyn, Harlem - Contact Jessica Whalen at (212) 684-3365 Bronx - Contact Pauline Magnetti at (718) 862-3347 or bpcarcinc at aol.com Westchester - Contact Eva Dech at (914) 682 -3926 Also, if you need a ride, or have room in your car, please let people know via the Timothy's Law Message Board. This is a valuable resource that can allow our community to work together to create as large a presence in the state capital as possible. If you can't make it, let your Senator know you wanted to be in Albany, but couldn't make it due to other obligations. Take 5 minutes to place a phone call to tell them that you support those in Albany calling for passage of Timothy's Law, and that you wish you could be there with them. Visit http://map01.elections.state.ny.us/boe/main.asp to find out who your Senator is. You can reach them in Albany by calling the Senate switchboard at (518) 455-2800 and asking to be connected. It is the next best thing to being here in person. As always, thanks for your continued support. I hope that you will take a few minutes to read Alexandra's thoughts on the Timothy's Law message board, as they are truly inspiring. I also hope that you will be able to get to Albany on Thursday to call for the passage of this vital legislation. As always, thank you to all of you. This movement is built upon your commitment to the concept of parity, and we would not be where we are today without every last one of you. I know that if you can not make it to Albany, that you will be with us in spirit (and making phone calls). Please take a moment to grow our movement by passing this message on to your friends, family and co-workers. Also, if you have questions or comments, please do not reply to this message. You can direct correspondence to Bryan O'Malley at bomalley at mhanys.org. As always, thank you. Refer A Friend Friend's Name: Friend's Email: Your Name: Your Email: -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: P1010144.JPG Type: image/jpeg Size: 884311 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: clip_image002.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 29090 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bomalley at mhanys.org Thu Nov 18 17:33:41 2004 From: bomalley at mhanys.org (Bryan O'Malley) Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2004 17:33:41 -0500 Subject: [Timothy's Team] Rally Edition Message-ID: Seeing as how you are the reason this campaign has been so successful, we wanted to get you the first information about just how much of a success the rally today was. About 500 of you came to Albany today to greet Alexandra Zimmerman as she came to town to finish her walk from Warwick, NY in Orange County. We then sent a powerful message as the entire collective moved across the Empire State Plaza to the Capitol en masse, in a line that stretched across about three quarters of the quarter-mile Plaza (think about that for a moment). While a more detailed description will be forthcoming in the next few days, due to exhaustion on the part fo those of us in Albany, we are going to cheat a little on today's rendition. Attached below is the press release that was issued by the Timothy's Law Campaign, as well as a couple of pictures from teh rally itself. For those of you who could not make it, but still made a phone call to your Senator, we thank you too. This rally was felt on numerous levels, and we definitely sent a strong message that it is time for, as you shouted walking across the plaza, "Timothy's Law Now!" As always, if you would like to respond to this message, to follow up, ask a question, or for any reason, please do not hit "reply" Send responses to bomalley at mhanys.org. Sincerely, Bryan O'Malley PRESS RELEASE HUNDREDS CALL FOR ENACTMENT OF 'TIMOTHY'S LAW NOW' Group gathers in Albany to end discriminatory health insurance policies Hundreds of people gathered in Albany today to call on the New York State Senate to pass Timothy's Law, legislation that will end the discrimination faced by New Yorkers in need of mental health and chemical dependency treatment. The rally began at the New York State Museum, where participants were led to the Capitol by Alexandra Zimmerman, a young woman from Orange County who walked 122 miles from Warwick, NY in memory of high school classmate Robin Desrats, who completed suicide while the two were in school together. Alexandra talks with rally participantsAfter arriving at the East steps of the New York State Capitol, Alexandra Zimmerman, holding balloons representing Timothy O'Clair, Robin Desrats, the hope for a livable cure, and hope for those living with mental illness, began the rally by recounting her six day journey to Albany. Zimmerman said of her journey, "It is due to the spirit and support of Robin and Timothy that I was able to make this journey, and today we all gather in their memory, to ensure that nobody else has to endure what they did." She continued, "I congratulate all of you here today, as we all have journeyed, in numerous ways, to continue to spread hope to those living with mental illness. As we move forward, keep in mind, I am not special, this is a movement led by all of us. You don't need to walk 120 miles to have an impact, all you need to do is contribute whatever you can." The rally also introduced Small Businesses for Timothy's Law, a coalition formed by Susan Wheeler of Binghamton, NY, that will serve as a voice for small businesses who support mental health parity. Ms. Wheeler is the owner and proprietor of the Star Group in Binghamton, which serves as an employment services agency for those living with disabilities. In announcing the group, Wheeler responded to arguments posed by those purporting to represent her and other small businesses in Albany by stating, "It's not a matter of 'can we afford to?' It's a matter of 'can we afford not to?'" She continued by arguing, "As small businesses, we are more dramatically effected by mental health issues. Issues such as lost worker productivity and absenteeism have a much more dramatic effect on us, because we do not have a sea of workers to call upon that can pick up the slack. In a marketplace geared toward larger corporations, any policy that does not provide small businesses with parity-based benefits only serves to place us at a competitive disadvantage." The emcee for the rally was Thomas O'Clair, father of Timothy O'Clair, in whose memory Timothy's Law is named. In his remarks, Mr. O'Clair noted that it was time for the Senate to pass Timothy's Law, noting that Timothy's Law is the perfect example of the gridlock that has come to symbolize Albany. "For two years, I have been told time and time again why Timothy's Law cannot be passed. What I have never been told is what is necessary to pass it, to end the anguish that so many New Yorkers face because they cannot get the services they need and deserve. Timothy's Law is supported by 80% of New Yorkers and represents the perfect opportunity for all sides to come together and begin to end the years of legislative gridlock that have existed in this state." Paige Macdonald of Families Together of New York State, and Co-chair of the Timothy's Law Campaign with Tom O'Clair, stated, "This discrimination has gone on long enough. It is time for New York to take the next step to ensure no more families in this state are forced to endure what the O'Clairs and so many others have already had to face. It is time to pass Timothy's Law." Refer A Friend Friend's Name: Friend's Email: Your Name: Your Email: -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: P1010209.JPG Type: image/jpeg Size: 871542 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: P1010203.JPG Type: image/jpeg Size: 904102 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: P1010227.JPG Type: image/jpeg Size: 907345 bytes Desc: not available URL: