Press Release (1/29/2006): COMMUNITY DISCUSSION WITH HURRICANE VOLUNTEERS Regional residents will hold a tri-county public discussion on their experiences with disaster relief on Wednesday, February 8 at 7PM in the Tenborg Community Center in Rushford.  Many area citizens served after the Katrina, Rita and Wilma hurricanes with local Red Cross chapters, humanitarian aid organizations, church groups or as independent volunteers.  The community discussion wil be facilitated by Linda Griggs, a Houston teacher at Western Wisconsin Technical College and Sharon Ropes, a Winona Red Cross nurse and Minnesota Senate candidate.  Discussion will address volunteer experiences, poverty issues, state and federal responses to disaster, implications for Minnesota and other topics from attendees.  The public is invited to participate. For more information, please contact 507-864-2632. ************ On Tuesday evening, January 17th, Sharon Ropes, President of the Minnesota State PTA, participated in a legislative forum on education, at Winona State University.  The forum title was "Public Education in Minnesota - Preschool through College", and it was sponsored by the Winona State Young Democrats.  Other panelists were: Representative Gene Pelowski (Winona), whose committees include the House Education Policy and Reform committee, and the House Higher Education Finance committee.  He is also on the faculties of Winona High School and Winona State University Senator Sandy Pappas (St. Paul), Chair of the Senate Finance-Higher Education Budget Division Senator John Hottinger (Mankato), Chair of the Senate Finance-Early Childhood Policy and Budget Division Click here to link to the story! ************ Sharon is mentioned in the Association of Metropolitan School Districts January '06 newsletter.   She participated in a legislative advocacy training day with two Minnesota State Representatives and other state leaders. Click here to link to the story!

Sharon in the Press