Collinsville, Oklahoma
June 8, 2011
Miscellaneous News
Press Releases: Election Changes /
Will Rogers Volunteers /
Museums Free For Military /
150% Fee Increase

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1110 W. Main, Collinsville, OK 74021

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Ted Wright -- last update 6/8/2011 (MiscJun08.html) www.cvilleok.com

Copyright 2011 -- Collinsville, Oklahoma

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http://hannahshelpinghands.org

Hannah's Helping Hands, Inc. — Our Mission
We are a non-profit 501(c)3 organization providing financial assistance to families with children battling cancer. Many families need help with the most basic needs for their families during this fight for their child’s life. Some must leave work for months and even years to care for their sick child and the financial loss can be devastating. Our goal is to help as many families being treated locally as possible. We help with basic needs such as gas & food cards, groceries, wigs, utility payments, prescriptions, medical co-payments, rent/housing as well as other expenses. Our referrals come from doctors, nurses and staff at a local children’s hospital in Tulsa as well as our local communities.

Rogers County Election Information
Good afternoon,

There are many changes that will soon be taking place concerning the voting process. I would love to have your assistance in helping educate voters in order to prepare them for the changes.

The first change is the Voter Identification law that goes into effect on July 1. Many of the other changes don’t actually take place until the end of the year. Below I have listed the changes for which we are preparing.

I hope to get on your calendar and would like to invite you to come into the Election Board to speak on these changes. There is no big hurry at this time just keep the Election Board in mind next time you need a good informational story.

Many thanks,
Julie Dermody (6/8/2011)

1. Voter identification. Every voter, even if they are a family member of the precinct worker, will be required to show identification when they vote. This change was approved by voters two years ago.

2. We are getting new voting machines. They will be optical readers as in the past, but have much faster returns. We will have Mock Elections in November to try out the new machines and are inviting the public to participate.

3. With the passage of Let the Troops Vote Act dates of the elections are changing, with those changes filing periods change as well as dates when candidates must have the party changes.

4. Filing dates: Filing for office will be on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The protest or challenge period will end at 5 p.m. the following Tuesday. Filing for next year’s general election will be the second week in April

5. Election dates. The presidential preferential primary will now be held in March instead of February. Primary elections will be held in June.

Julie Dermody
Secretary, Election Board
Rogers County
(918) 341-2965
rdealy@rogerscounty.org

Note: I'm not sure how much of this applies to Tulsa County ... but with a portion of Collinsville in Rogers County and many familiar with Julie ... will include here for Collinsville. -- Ted

DOAK REQUESTS ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OPINION REGARDING DRIVING RECORD FEE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 7, 2011
(OKLAHOMA CITY) Insurance Commissioner John Doak has requested that the attorney general determine whether a 2010 bill increasing the costs of driving records was properly enacted by the Legislature.

“Driving records are routinely required to determine the appropriate premium rate for auto insurance,” Doak said. “Even if this higher fee is paid by a consumer’s insurer, the fee is indirectly passed on to all Oklahoma policyholders in the form of increased rates.”

The bill increased the cost of obtaining a motor vehicle report from the Department of Public Safety from $10 dollars to $25, a 150 percent increase.

“Anytime an insurance company requests the driving record of an application for motor vehicle insurance or the record of a motor vehicle policyholder, they are subject to this fee increase,” Doak explained. That concerns me greatly.”

The 2010 bill – SB 1556 – was approved by the Legislature and signed by then Gov. Brad Henry in 2010. As a candidate for office, Doak sought an injunction to prevent the bill from being implemented and asked the court to nullify the measure. Doak withdrew that petition, which he filed as a citizen, after being elected to office in Nov. 2010.

In his request for an attorney general’s opinion, Doak argues that the bill is a revenue raising measure, noting that all of the fee increase and a portion of the original fee would be allocated to the General Revenue Fund. The new fee, Doak wrote in the letter to the attorney general, “…is so wholly out of proportion to the expenses incurred by the Department of Public Safety in administering Motor Vehicle Reports that it cannot be considered anything but an attempt to raise revenue.”

Doak’s main objection is that was not properly enacted. Article 5, Section 33 of the Oklahoma Constitution requires that revenue raising measure originate in the House, may not become law without a vote of the people unless approved three-quarters of each chamber and may not be passed during the last five days of the session. The bill originated in the Senate, did not receive three-quarters approval in the House and was passed by the Senate in the last four days of the 2010 session and by the House on the final day of the session.

“This fee increase impacts everyone and I believe it was not properly implemented,” Doak said. “Hopefully, the attorney general will reach the same conclusion.”

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ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA INSURANCE DEPARTMENT

The Oklahoma Insurance Department, an agency of the State of Oklahoma, is responsible for the education and protection of the insurance-buying public and for oversight of the insurance industry in the state.

For more information contact: Shawn Ashley
(405) 521-4525
(405) 568-6004
e-mail: shawn.ashley@oid.ok.gov

Call for Volunteers -
Will Rogers Docent Training
For immediate release

Spend few hours a month with an opportunity to meet people from all over the world and at the same time share the life, wisdom and humor of Will Rogers.

A new class of Ropers (docent volunteers) will begin training Thursday, Sept 1. Classes will meet from 10 am. to 3 p.m. each Thursday through Dec. 1 — except for the weeks of Will Rogers Days (Nov. 3-5) and Thanksgiving (Nov. 24) when they will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 1 and Nov. 22.

Ropers welcome visitors, introduce them to the Will Rogers Memorial Museum and Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch, point out places of interest, answer questions about exhibits and Will Rogers and give directions for touring and experiencing the museums.

The 14 training sessions provide volunteers with information and resources to be a Roper. Continued training and updates allow Ropers to remain current on new exhibits and events at the Museums.

There are opportunities to serve as a guide, greeter and interpreter and/or work in areas of collections, horticulture and special events.

Since the Roper program started in 2008, four classes have graduated and volunteered almost 5,000 hours, according to Steve Gragert, Will Rogers Memorial Museums executive director.

Ropers have had an increasingly important role with the record attendance at both museums. With still a month left on the fiscal year, attendance at the Claremore Museum is at 136,527, a nine-year record. More than half the visitors are from outside Oklahoma.

While most of the Ropers are from Claremore, there are several from Pryor, Tulsa, Sperry, Owasso, Oologah, Collinsville, Adair, Pryor and Foyil.

Ropers are required to join Friends of Will Rogers support group at least at the minimum level, volunteer at least two five-hour shifts per month, read and research the life and legacy of Will Rogers and the museums’ collections and undergo a background check.

If you are interested in volunteering at the Memorial Museum or Birthplace Ranch, an application form is available on the Museum website www.willrogers.com or in the Claremore Museum store. Store hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Interested persons can also email name, address, daytime phone (and fax if available) and email address to Gragert at skgragert@willrogers.com or call him at 918-343-8118.

-- Submitted by Cara Cowan Watts (6/7/2011)
Cherokee Heritage Center to Participate In Blue Star Museums

By STAFF REPORTS

http://www.cherokeephoenix.org/Article/Index/4945

PARK HILL, Okla. – The Cherokee Heritage Center recently announced the launch of Blue Star Museums, a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families and more than 1,300 museums across America that allows the museums to offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2011.

MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families has provided leadership support. The complete list of participating museums is available at www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

“It is a privilege and honor to work with Blue Star Museums and the NEA to provide our military service members and their families with free admission to the Cherokee Heritage Center,” CHC Executive Director Carey Tilley said. “Offering them the opportunity to learn about Cherokee history and culture through this program is one small way to show our gratitude to our military personnel for their sacrifices to preserve our freedom and safeguard our country.”

The Will Rogers Memorial Museums in Claremore and Oologah are also joining in the Blue Star Museums program.

On July 8, military personnel and veterans will be honored at the performance of “Letters from the Heart: Betty and Will Rogers,” WRMM Director Steve Gragert said.

Veterans and military personnel should provide names for introduction during the July 8 show.

Playwright and actress Laurette Willis is returning to present the one-woman play on stage in the WRMM at 7 p.m. on July 8, 15, 22, 29 and Aug. 7. Veterans and military personnel will be admitted free at the July 8 performance when accompanied by a paid admission. Tickets are $10 and are available in the museum store or by calling 918-343-8115.

In addition to the special event, Julie Luna, special WRMM events coordinator and store manager, said members of the military or veterans will be allowed a 10 percent discount on items in the museum store.

Some museums, where admission is charged, are offering free admission during the Blue Star time period. Admission to WRMM is by voluntary donation.

The free admission program is available to active-duty military and their immediate family members (military ID holder and five immediate family members). Active duty military include Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and active duty National Guard and active duty Reserve members are eligible. Some special or limited-time museum exhibits may not be included in this free admission program. For questions on particular exhibits or museums, contact the museum directly.

-- Submitted by Cara Cowan Watts (6/7/2011)