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Advocating from the heart at Indiana State House

Washington Times-Herald - 3/11/2017

March 09--Their trip to the Indiana State House may have been last month, but members of the Four Rivers Resources Services Self-Advocates group, called the FRRS Gang, are still talking about it.

"It was a great trip," said Becky McKenzie, a member of the self-advocates group. "We got to meet a lot of state representatives, the lieutenant governor and a bunch of other people too."

Sherri Tredway, Four Rivers development director, said each year, on Valentine's Day, ARC of Indiana and the Self-Advocates of Indiana come to the state house.

"They get a chance to tour the facility, meet with a lot of the state legislators that represent the counties Four Rivers covers and give out some Valentines," said Tredway. This year, the group met with Senator Eric Bassler and Senator Jeff Ellington as well as State Representative Bruce Borders, Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and Kylee Hope, Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services director, among others.

The FFRS Gang presented Valentines to Governor Eric Holcomb, Crouch, Secretary of State Connie Lawson, State Treasurer Kelly Mitchell, Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick, Family and Social Services Administration Secretary Dr. Jennifer Wathall and Hope.

McKenzie said in addition the legislators and others, they also had a chance to check out the Indiana House and Senate chambers, eat lunch in the cafeteria and take several photos. Steve Stacksteder, executive directors of Four Rivers, treated the group to lunch.

Many of the FFRS Gang members were also impressed with large chandeliers and other decor in the government buildings.

"The chandelier was huge," said Kelsey Elliott, still grinning ear-to-ear as she talked about the trip.

During the event, the Self-Advocates of Indiana also held its state-wide meeting. It featured Crouch as one of the speakers.

According to a release from Self-Advocates of Indiana, the goal of Valentine's Day at the Indiana State House is to make legislators feel special and remind them that people with development disabilities, and their families throughout the state, are real people, with real dreams.

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