Action is needed.

Join us for a rally at the State Office Building at 11 a.m. on Tuesday. Tell state legislators and Governor Mark Dayton that a 5 percent rate increase can’t wait.

With only six weeks of session left, it is critical that legislators hear from us and see the people that their decisions will affect in person. We encourage you ask your co-workers, people you support, friends, and family members to attend this important event. We must have a strong and visible presence to remind legislators about the 99,000 caregivers/DSPs and staff and the 110,000 people with disabilities and older adults who are counting on them.

Gather at 11 a.m. by the front steps of the State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd, St. Paul, MN, 55155.

At 11:30 a.m., Hand deliver letters to your state representative and state senator. All offices are located in the State Office Building or in the nearby Senate Office Building. To make things easier, please find your legislators’ office locations in advance. You can find their office locations online.

You can request an appointment with your legislators in advance, or stop by their office on Tuesday and say you would like to meet with them. To set up a meeting ahead of time, find out who represents you, then call or email them. Say that you live in their district and want to meet about why a 5 percent rate increase for home and community-based services can’t wait. Go online to find out who represents you.

Complete the new legislator hand-out with your story, and bring two copies. Hand deliver them to your senator and representative at their offices. You can drop off your hand-outs with or without an appointment. It has key points you can share with your legislators if you meet with them.

Bring signs to hold up during the rally on the steps of the State Office Building.

Wear your Best Life Alliance button, or pick one up at the rally.

We will be holding this event rain or shine. For questions, please contact Best Life Alliance Field Team co-chair Sara Grafstrom at 651-291-1086, extension 8 or sgrafstrom@arrm.org. We hope to see you Tuesday.

 Jamey Helgeson is the Program Director at The Arc Mower County and can be reached at jamey@thearcmc.org or by calling 507-433-8994, Extension 102. You can also visit our website (www.thearcmc.org) and follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/thearcmc).