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<P class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#000000 size=3>May 5<SUP>th</SUP> marks what
would have been Timothy O’Clair’s 17<SUP>th</SUP> birthday.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Since Timothy’s suicide four years ago,
we have had great success in advancing <SPAN class=346505917-29042005>the
</SPAN>legislation named in his memory that would end the discriminatory
insurance policies that contributed to his death and continue to place undue
hardship on families throughout our state.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN
class=346505917-29042005>As Timothy's birthday approaches, we are</SPAN> working
feverishly to organize several regional events, throughout the state, that would
serve to memorialize Timothy on his birthday, next week.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>These events would also help raise
public awareness, via the media, of the need to end disparate treatment of
individuals with mental health and addiction needs in insurance policies through
passage of Timothy’s Law.<SPAN class=346505917-29042005>
T</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#000000 size=3><SPAN
class=346505917-29042005>imothy's father, Tom O'Clair, will take part
in such an event at the steps of the NYS Capitol in Albany, which we hope
will be replicated in communities throughout the state. </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=346505917-29042005></SPAN><FONT color=#000000
size=3>Given <SPAN class=346505917-29042005>the </SPAN>short
timeframe, we’<SPAN class=346505917-29042005>ve</SPAN> plann<SPAN
class=346505917-29042005>ed</SPAN> these regional events to be easy to
organize.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We have had Timothy’s Law
balloons created and can make them available to any region that would like to
hold an event (which must then be filled with helium), on which Timothy’s Law
supporters can write ‘Messages to Timothy,’ which will then be released.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In addition to supplying the balloons,
we <SPAN class=346505917-29042005>can supply Timothy's Law button and we
</SPAN>will work to get members of the l<SPAN
class=346505917-29042005>o</SPAN>cal press to attend <SPAN
class=346505917-29042005>each regional </SPAN>event.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#000000 size=3><U>HOW CAN YOU
HELP?</U></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN
class=346505917-29042005>W</SPAN>e need someone to help organize <SPAN
class=346505917-29042005>this </SPAN>event in your region (find a location,
secure a permit if necessary) and get the word out as far and wide as
possible.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Members of the Timothy’s
Law Campaign in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Albany</st1:City></st1:place> are ready to help <SPAN
class=346505917-29042005>you </SPAN>coordinate and publicize your local
event<SPAN class=346505917-29042005>.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=3><STRONG>Would you be willing
to organize a ‘Messages to Timothy’ event on May 5<SUP>th</SUP> in your
area?</STRONG><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> <SPAN
class=346505917-29042005><STRONG> </STRONG></SPAN>It's really quite easy<SPAN
class=346505917-29042005>.</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#000000><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"><SPAN class=346505917-29042005></SPAN> </SPAN>If
so, please contact Michael Seereiter, at the Mental Health Association in
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">New York</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> at </FONT></FONT><A
href="mailto:mseereiter@mhanys.org"><FONT color=#000000
size=3>mseereiter@mhanys.org</FONT></A><FONT color=#000000 size=3> or
518-434-0439 x21.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#000000 size=3>Working together, we are sure to
see Timothy’s Law become just that this year – a law!</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#000000 size=3></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=346505917-29042005><FONT color=#000000 size=3>If
you know someone who you think might want to join <BR></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
class=346505917-29042005><FONT color=#000000 size=3>Timothy's Team for periodic
e-mail updates on Timothy's <BR>Law, direct them to the newly designed Timothy's
Law <BR>website at </FONT><A href="http://www.timothyslaw.org"><FONT
color=#000000 size=3>www.timothyslaw.org</FONT></A><FONT color=#000000
size=3>.</FONT></SPAN></P>
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