UMW Legislative Event A Success!
More than 130 United Methodist Women gathered in Austin from January 24-26, 2010 to attend the 22nd Anuual Texas United Methodist Women’s Legislative Event.
Legislative Event is a national model program that brings United Methodist Women of all ages and backgrounds together to learn about state government and how they can be informed, active citizens. Attendees hear from experts on a wide variety of policy issues, and have the opportunity to visit their senators and representatives in the Capitol to advocate for issues that are important to United Methodist Women, such as expanded CHIP and Children’s Mediciad, care for creation, and education.
This year’s speakers included the Center for Public Policy Priorities F. Scott McCown, who spoke about the projected budget shortfall; Dr. Eduardo Sanchez of BlueCross BlueShield who gave a presentation on childhood obesity and food insecurity; and Evan Smith of the Texas Tribune who painted a broad picture of the electoral landscape in 2010. For a complete list of speakers, click here.
Participants this year also had the unique opportunity to be trained on how to enroll children in CHIP and Children’s Medicaid. Women will be able to take this information back to their home churches so that they are able to enroll children who visit their food pantries, clothing shelters or who take part in ministries for “the least of these.” If you would like to sign-up your congregation to participate in an HHSC training, please email Emily at emily@texasimpact.org.
At the conclusion of the event, UMWs decide on a legislative agenda for the year. The agenda outlines priority issues that the women will advocate for throughout the year.
This year’s Legislative Agenda focuses on immigration, childhood obesity and other health issues, and education. It can be viewed here.
United Methodist Women is a national membership organization with nearly one million members whose purpose is to foster spiritual growth, develop leaders andadvocates for justice. Members raise approximately $20 million a year for programs and projects related to women, children and youth in the United States and in more than 100 countries around the world. There are about 100,000 members of United Methodist Women in Texas.
