Thank you for signing our petition. We have a long way to go with SB 60. The opposition is tough, and I hope you will take an active part in seeing this through the Legislators and Governor. I have enclosed a Legislative Alert for your review. Please check our website frequently for updates. I will try to get them posted as soon as I can.

It is important to continue calling our Legislators and Governor in support of a “shared parenting” bill until it is signed into law. I am not happy with the amendments, which basically gutted the “shared parenting” part of the bill, and I have let them know. If you are a supporter as much as I am, you are not happy with this change either. We need to let the Senate Judicial Committee, our Legislator and Governor know.

I have also enclosed a brochure of our organization. We have a lot to do over the next few years and we need your help. Recently, in the Senate Judiciary Committee, I was asked, “how many members do you have”. I stated, we had 15 members and continue to grow. I expect the same question again in the House Judiciary Committee and I hope to say 50 members. Not only that but a lot of people together can accomplish so much in this area. There is “change in numbers” and I want all concerned people to be a part of this positive change for South Dakota children and parents. In fact, we are now considering a gathering on the Capitol in the near future, depending on how the bill travels, to convey our message in a peaceful way (possibly Tuesday, February 11, 2003). We hope you will join us then and when the bill goes to the House Judiciary Committee. Please let me know.

As you can see from our Website, we are a non-profit, grass-roots organization with a full and active Board of Directors. We have serious goals for now and the future. We cannot do it alone. Currently, we do not have a budget for what we are doing. The money used to cover our copying, travel, phone expenses, computer use, etc. comes out of our personal pockets. We need your help to continue to bring this message to our communities and government.

I have enclosed a membership form for you to complete and return. The cost of membership is $20 per year per person. I also want you to know that if your issue with this bill is primarily financial, please do not support or contact us. We are here to facilitate a change in current family law that provides a child with substantially equal time with both parents.

I encourage you to become a member, or at the least, send me your E-mail address so I can put you in the Shared Parenting loop. I encourage you to contact other people to become members and call their legislators and the Governor soon. Write an editorial in your local paper. Donate your time or financial resources. Our brochure is on our website and can be copied for others.