Staff report

GALLIPOLIS - The 10th annual “Meet Your Legislators” event, scheduled on Friday morning, June 9, will be held in the Ariel Theatre in downtown Gallipolis, preceded by a breakfast in the Ariel-Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts Centre, on the second floor above the theatre, according to Lorie Neal, executive director of the Gallia County Chamber of Commerce.

The breakfast will be served at 8 a.m.

Following breakfast, those attending will go downstairs to the Ariel Theatre for the program, where legislators on the federal, state and local level, or their representatives, will participate.

“This is a unique opportunity for the general public to attend, listen to brief presentations by their elected officials, and ask questions about issues specifically affecting Gallia County,” Neal said. “Having the Ariel for his event means we have no worries about inclement weather, as in the past.”

Each legislator who participates will have five minutes to update the audience on current projects, nationally, state wide and locally. After each presentation, an open forum will include questions from the audience.

Joining the chamber in sponsoring this year's event will be SBC/AT&T Communications, which has been an ongoing supporter of “Meet Your Legislators” over the past few years.

“We are thrilled to have the support of SBC/AT&T and the Ariel -Ann Carson Dater Performing Arts Centre,” said Ryan Smith, chair of the legislative event.

Cost for the breakfast, catered by Black Tie to Barbeque and served at 8 a.m. in the second floor of the Ariel, is $5. Reservations should be made in advance, with checks made payable to the Gallia County Chamber of Commerce. If you should not want to attend the breakfast, but do want to participate in the meeting in the Ariel, starting at 9 a.m., you may do so, meet and network with your elected officials.

“The success of the ‘Meet Your Legislators' event depends greatly upon the interest shown by the residents of our area. Their attendance, questions and comments during the meeting in the Ariel, indicate to our elected officials who represent them, the importance of legislative action, which impacts all of our citizens, no matter their age.”

Those planning to attend the breakfast are asked to call the chamber office at 446-0596 by noon Wednesday, June 7, so proper plans may be confirmed for the Friday, June 9 event.