Rally against RSA cuts in DC Thursday, May 26

RSA: Rehabilitation Services Administration. Bush** wants to close all of its regional offices; a sizable chunk of the positions lost are held by people with disabilities.

Dear Colleagues:

Your 34 organizations have now joined with the National Federation of the Blind to cosponsor this rally. (See Quick List attached.) Television, radio, newspapersthe mediahave been contacted; 500 rally signs have been printed up; and plans for the day have been worked out. We are expecting 1,000 people at the rally on May 26 and we are counting on you to be in this number!

Please distribute the following information to your members.

THE HOTEL: Holiday Inn Capitol: 550 C Street, Southwest, Washington, DC 20024

THE RALLY SITE: In front of the Department of Education (north side), 400 Maryland Avenue, Southwest, Washington, DC 20202

ARRIVAL: Buses and vans can be unloaded in front of the hotel or at the rally site.

PARKING: Large vans and buses can be parked at Union Station. See
attachment: Directions between hotel and Union Station. Vehicles under 6'6" can park in the Holiday Inn parking garage entrance on 6th Street Southwest (maximum fee $15).

RALLY MARSHALS: We will designate rally marshals to give directions and be of assistance. They will be wearing National Federation of the Blind badges.

SCHEDULE:

9:30 a.m.: Go to the Discovery Room in the hotel. Signs will be
distributed to participants, along with rally information. Next, proceed straight to the rally. Rally marshals will direct the traffic.

10:30 a.m.: Rally begins. Proceed with chants, songs, and sign waving.

Noon: Rally program begins. We prepared a large banner which lists the cosponsors to hang behind the stage.

VERY IMPORTANT: Each cosponsoring organization needs to send
one representative to the stage by 12 oclock. Each representative will have one minute to announce the name of the group and say one or two sentences to the crowd. With 34 cosponsors, this part of the program needs to move quickly.

Introduction of former RSA Commissioners.

Introduction of Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National
Federation of the Blind, and Rally Coordinator.

Special presentation.

1:30 p.m.: Dismissal of participants.

Um, I hate to make a cheap blind joke, but "they (rally marshals) will be wearing National Federation of the Blind badges"? Egads!