Brianna Drevlow: 3-31-2011 On the floor of the Minnesota House of Representatives

About two weeks ago I contacted the office of my State Representative, Mr. Dan Fabian, to discuss the potential of meeting with Rep. Fabian and several other legislators to share my platform message, "Explore Your Backyard: Visit Your Minnesota State Parks and Trails." He was enthusiastic. His office reported that he would arrange a visit to the Floor of the State House of Representatives where he would personally introduce me to many legislators while the House was in session debating various budget bills. This would allow me to have more time with each legislator and share my message with many of them at the same time. The date for my visit was set. March 31, 2011.

While driving to Minneapolis with my family on 3-30-2011, I read the following article from the Minneapolis Star Tribune: Minneapolis Star Tribune 3-30-2011 "GOP plans may mean mothballing some state parks" which discusses potential impacts of budget cuts on our Minnesota State Parks and Trails. What perfect timing for my visit! Of course, I wasn't planning to have any budget talks with legislators. My plans were simply to share my message with them and underscore the importance of getting teens and their families to visit our state parks, cuts or not. After all, Minnesota's state parks offer teens and their families wonderful opportunities for family "staycations" in a tough economy. But even more importantly, the parks teach our State's history, area culture, geology, and more. The parks also offer lots of outdoors recreation such as hunting, fishing, hiking, geocaching, Junior Naturalist programs, camping, and more! It is also important to note that since there is a Minnesota state park within 50 miles of every Minnesota city, visitors to the parks provide needed tourism dollars for many local economies.

Upon arrival at the Capitol, I was greated by Jordan Hanson, Rep. Fabian's legislative aide. He was our liason for this visit and had arranged the Floor passes with Rep. Fabian for my entourage, which included my father; my brothers Brett, Brayden, Brock, and Brigham; my sister Brielle, and my cousin, Laura Rivera Sierra. Mr. Hanson walked us through the Capitol tunnel to the House chamber. There I met Arlen Restad, one of the House guards. It turns out my dad knew his brother, Clayton, a former school teacher in my home town of Thief River Falls! It is such a small world! Since I had arrived fairly early I was able to greet many of the Representatives as they arrived for the Session. Mr. Restad found Rep. Fabian for us and we were brought to the House floor and seated to the side of the Speaker of the House, Rep. Kurt Zellers. Mr. Fabian arranged for me to open the daily session from the Speaker's podium. I sounded the gavel three times calling the session to order. I then lead the House for the Pledge of Allegiance. What an inspiring experience! But thats just where the fun began. Rep. Fabian had arranged numerous visits with legislators. He skillfully moved around the floor handpicking legislators for me and brough them to the the meeting room behind the Speak'er's Podium which gave me the opportunity to share my message individually and in groups with other legislators who were meeting and eating lunch. After about 4 hours of visits, Rep. Fabian went to the Floor and introduced me to the entire assembly at which point I received a standing ovation and applause from the entire Minnesota House of Representatives! I also found it intriguing on how many things were happening at the same time in the Chamber. While some legislators were on the floor debating, others would be negotiating with each other in the aisles or meeting room. Even more, many Representatives had visitors or family members coming through to experience the Floor of the Chamber, too. I even got to share my platform with one of the Representative's spouse and children! When I was finished with my day on the Floor, I went back to Rep. Fabian's office to get my coat and passed one of the office complex' meeting rooms where I was able to give a brief address to those in attendance! What a neat way to wrap up my visit!

Dan Fabian 1A