NEWS RELEASE

							                             NEWS RELEASE
for more information contact:                                        for immediate release
Gerald Lewy                                                          January 25, 2008
Communications Director
House District 9 – Amerson
471 Cloudland Road
Dahlonega, Georgia 30533
phone/fax: 706/864-4613
e-mail: lewy@alltel.net

   Vietnam vets to be honored by Resolution & Proclamation
    I want to invite Vietnam Veterans and their families to the House of Representatives
Chamber in the Capitol on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 for public recognition and my
introduction of a House Resolution in honor of “Vietnam Veterans Day in Georgia.”
Anyone planning to attend this part of that day’s legislative session should arrive no later
than 9:40 a.m. for balcony seating. The session is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. I will be
introducing Vietnam veterans, Rev. Jim Blair, Hiawassee United Methodist Church, as
House Chaplain of the Day, and Dr. Larry Anderson, Dawsonville, as Doctor of the Day.

    On Wednesday, February 13, 2008, at 10:30 a.m., inside the State Capitol, Governor
Sonny Perdue is scheduled to sign the Proclamation proclaiming March 29th as “Vietnam
Veterans Day in Georgia.” There will also be a photo opportunity with the Governor and
all attendees on the steps of the North Wing of the Rotunda.

  As your State Representative, former career U.S. Army Officer and Vietnam veteran, I
am pleased to sponsor this Resolution and have the Governor sign the Proclamation
honoring Vietnam veterans.

  The announcement of these events has been made to state and national media.
Members of the following veterans’ organizations have been encouraged to attend:

      Military Officers of America Association (Georgia)
      Georgia Federal/Military Retiree Coalition
      American Legion
      VFW
      Disabled American Veterans
      AMVETS
      Military Order of the Purple Heart
      Georgia Alliance of Vietnam Veterans

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   I am a member of Dawson County Chapter #970 Vietnam Veterans of America. We
meet the second Monday of each month in Dawsonville at Ryan’s on Georgia 400 at 7
p.m. For more information contact Wayne Watkins at 706/265-8501 or e-mail
wcwatkins200@windstream.net. Since the Chapter was formed in November of 2005,
we have adopted NOA and provided Christmas gifts to both NOA and Dawson County’s
Kare Kids. Vietnam veterans are active in the Dawson County Veterans Affairs
Committee. We assist the Etowah Lodge in putting up Flags and Markers around the city
on veterans holidays, Memorial Day, and Flag Day.

   Our Chapter is active in the ongoing effort to upgrade and improve Veterans
Memorial Park. We have assisted DFACS with getting meals to needy families and
considering we are only two years old, have made a name for ourselves in Dawson
County as one of the most active veterans groups. With the help of Pam Hamalainen at
the Chamber of Commerce, Dawson County is now a recognized National Veterans Day
Parade site.

   Last week, Governor Sonny Perdue was honored by Georgia Trend Magazine as the
2008 Georgian of the Year. I want to add my congratulations to the Governor for being
awarded this significant and well-deserved recognition.

   Even though my News Release last week featured prospective local legislation for
Lumpkin County, it ran in newspapers reaching Dawson and Forsyth counties as well. I
have received calls from several folks in Dawson County who didn’t know that much
about its ad valorem tax exemption programs and were interested in learning more. I
have encouraged them to contact Linda Townley, Dawson County Tax Commissioner,
for more information. Linda can be reached at 706/344-3520, fax 706/344-3522 and e-
mail ltownley@dawsoncounty.org. Linda was very helpful to my staff in explaining the
Dawson County programs and how they compared to Lumpkin County.

   During the Governor’s State of the State Address last week, he made special mention
of his FY 2009 budget recommendation of $5 million for Lanier Technical College for
design and construction of a new campus expansion. This will help Dawson County and
the entire House District 9 area. As a member of the House Higher Education
Committee, I will continue to monitor this program and keep you advised of its progress.

   I will be available during the Session for breakfast on Saturday mornings. On
February 2, I will be in Dawson County at Ryan’s Steak House at 8 a.m. On February 9
and 16, I will be at the Wagon Wheel Restaurant in Dahlonega at 8 a.m. I’ll let you know
about the rest of the Saturday morning schedule as the Session progresses.

                                         -more-
   Keep in touch with me. During the Session I can be reached at 401 State Capitol,
Atlanta, Georgia 30334, 404/657-8534, fax 404/463-2044, e-mail
amos.amerson@house.ga.gov. Or call Gerald Lewy, my Communications Director, at
706/344-7788. He’ll know how to get your message to me. You can also re-read some
of my articles on tax reform and education by going to my web site
www.amosamerson.com. The web site has a bio and my committee schedules as well.
Remember, the secret of good government is a well-informed electorate.

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