<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Untitled Document</TITLE>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1458" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY>
<DIV><SPAN class=961500622-18112004><FONT face=Arial size=2>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).</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=961500622-18112004><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=961500622-18112004><FONT face=Arial size=2>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. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=961500622-18112004><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=961500622-18112004><FONT face=Arial size=2>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!"</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=961500622-18112004><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=961500622-18112004><FONT face=Arial size=2>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 <A
href="mailto:bomalley@mhanys.org">bomalley@mhanys.org</A>.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=961500622-18112004><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=961500622-18112004><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Sincerely,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=961500622-18112004><FONT face=Arial size=2>Bryan
O'Malley</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=961500622-18112004><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 28pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">PRESS
RELEASE<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: right"
align=right><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">HUNDREDS CALL FOR ENACTMENT
OF <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">‘TIMOTHY’S LAW
NOW’<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Group gathers in
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
/><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Albany</st1:place></st1:City> to end
discriminatory health insurance policies<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><IMG style="WIDTH: 530px; HEIGHT: 443px"
height=1444 alt="" hspace=0 src="cid:961500622@18112004-2B2B" width=1763
align=baseline border=0>Hundreds of people gathered in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Albany</st1:City></st1:place> 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.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>The rally began at the <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">New York</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Museum</st1:PlaceType>,
where participants were led to the Capitol by Alexandra Zimmerman, a young woman
from <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Orange</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType> who walked 122 miles from <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Warwick</st1:City>, <st1:State
w:st="on">NY</st1:State></st1:place> in memory of high school classmate Robin
Desrats, who completed suicide while the two were in school together.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><IMG style="WIDTH: 335px; HEIGHT: 294px"
height=1394 alt="Alexandra talks with rally participants" hspace=0
src="cid:961500622@18112004-2B32" width=1740 align=baseline border=0>After
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 <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Albany</st1:place></st1:City>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>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.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>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.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As we move forward, keep
in mind, I am not special, this is a movement led by all of us.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You don’t need to walk 120 miles to have
an impact, all you need to do is contribute whatever you can.”<IMG
style="WIDTH: 530px; HEIGHT: 421px" height=1463 alt="" hspace=0
src="cid:961500622@18112004-2B39" width=1679 align=baseline border=0></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>The rally also introduced <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Small Businesses for Timothy’s Law</I>, a
coalition formed by Susan Wheeler of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Binghamton</st1:City>, <st1:State
w:st="on">NY</st1:State></st1:place>, that will serve as a voice for small
businesses who support mental health parity.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ms. Wheeler is the owner and proprietor
of the Star Group in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Binghamton</st1:place></st1:City>, which serves as an employment
services agency for those living with disabilities.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">In announcing the group, Wheeler responded
to arguments posed by those purporting to represent her and other small
businesses in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Albany</st1:City></st1:place> by stating, “It’s not a matter of ‘can
we afford to?’ It’s a matter of ‘can we afford not to?’”<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>She continued by arguing, “As small businesses, we
are more dramatically effected by mental health issues.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>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.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>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.”</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">The emcee for the rally was Thomas O’Clair,
father of Timothy O’Clair, in whose memory Timothy’s Law is named.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>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 <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Albany</st1:place></st1:City>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>“For two years, I have been told time and time
again why Timothy’s Law cannot be passed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>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.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>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.”</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>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.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is time for <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:State> 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.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is time to pass Timothy’s
Law.”</FONT></P></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=961500622-18112004><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<FORM name=form1 action=http://www.kilakwa.net/cgi-bin/cgiemail/tt.txt
method=post>
<TABLE width=350 border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD colSpan=2><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Refer A
Friend</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Friend's Name: </FONT></TD>
<TD><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><INPUT id=fname name=fname>
</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Friend's Email: </FONT></TD>
<TD><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><INPUT id=femail2
name=femail> </FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Your Name: </FONT></TD>
<TD><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><INPUT id=name2 name=name>
</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Your Email:</FONT></TD>
<TD><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><INPUT id=email2 name=email>
</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD>
<DIV align=right><FONT
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"></FONT></DIV></TD>
<TD><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><INPUT type=submit value=Submit name=Submit>
</FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P> </P>
<P> </P></FORM>
<P> </P></BODY></HTML>