| DICK SLAGLE SPEAKS ON ISSUE 7 |
| Tuesday, October 7, 2003 12:38:52 PM - Middletown Ohio |
The purpose of this letter is to ask for your support and help with the Middletown School District Bond Issue, shown on the ballot as Issue # 7. This election on November 4, 2003 and this tax issue for the renovation or building of new elementary school buildings will directly impact the long-term economic health and welfare of our community. Several hundred Middletown businesses and citizens have been very much involved in the development of this plan to bring to the voters. The Business Education Collaborative Committees have examined and reexamined the needs over the past 8 years. They recommended and the Board approved and strongly endorsed this Bond issue for renovation and new buildings.
Issue 7 is about Middletown's future as appealing places to live, work, and raise a family. It's about maintaining property values and keeping quality families and businesses from leaving our city. Without a strong school system, with up-to-date facilities, Middletown will never be able to compete on a level playing field with surrounding communities. Our children will not be able to compete, nor will our future workforce.
Middletown's aging school buildings need extensive, costly renovations - they do not meet state standards for education and were not built for the technological and educational demands of THIS century. Replacing some of the buildings rather than renovation is more cost-effective for taxpayers, and better educationally. A lot of time, effort and research have gone into the planning of Issue 7. This bond issue's vote may be our last real chance to provide our teachers and children with modern schools instead of the substandard schools currently in use. If Issue 7 does not pass next month, we are not assured next time that we will receive the 26% in state financing available as we do today. Our children can't wait any longer. Middletown can't wait any longer. The time is now.
The best way for you and your employees to become involved is by participating in the campaign's "Mine + 9" grassroots effort. With Mine + 9, you will join hundreds of other volunteers who will have the opportunity to choose the names of nine friends and make sure that they vote for Issue 7 on
Election Day. This task is not a time-consuming commitment and will
require less than two hours of your time between now and November 4. Yet, the success of this grassroots effort to turn out 4,500 supporters who will vote for Issue 7 on Election Day is the best way to ensure the issue will pass.
Please call the Chamber at 422-4551 for more information on how to become involved in the Mine + 9 campaign effort. Or, feel free to drop in for a few minutes to the scheduled Mine + 9 event on Thursday, October 9 between 4 PM and 8 PM at the Middletown Public Library. Volunteers will be there to assist you. You should be there no longer than it takes to pick the names of nine friends.
Also call the Chamber if you would like information on helping with yard signs, literature distribution, phone banks or other campaign coordination efforts.
We need to reinvest in our community, in our schools and in our children NOW. Please consider becoming a Mine + 9 volunteer. If this is not possible, please explain the importance of this bond issue to your employees who live in Middletown and encourage them to vote for Issue 7 on November 4.
It's up to us - no one will do it for us.
Sincerely,
Dick Slagle
Interim President
Mid-Miami Valley Chamber
513.422.4551
Looking for a chamber member business, want to make reservations for a chamber event or program, want to learn about a chamber committee? Visit the Mid-Miami Valley Chamber web site at www.mmvchamber.org |
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