Legislators, Business People Prepare to Gather for 2011 Legislative Reception

On Thursday evening, businessmen and businesswomen will gather to hear state representatives and senators from across the North County region at the 2011 Legislative Reception.

, Regional Development Association, one of the sponsoring organizations, expects more than 200 guests to fill in Christian Hospital’s Detrick Building, said Rebecca Zoll, executive director of North County Inc. , Maryland Heights Chamber of Commerce and the Northwest Chamber of Commerce are also sponsors of the event.

Ann Brand of St. Louis Community College will serve as moderator and will present the legislative agenda for North County, which all of the sponsoring organizations prepared together. The agenda covers a range of topics, including economic development, education, healthcare, transportation and general issues.

 All of the above mentioned chambers as well as North County Inc. have sponsored the Legislative Reception together for the past four years.

 “When we speak as one strong voice, it makes a difference,” Zoll said. She also said that one of the goals of the program is to communicate concerns of the area to legislators and vice versa.

Missouri representatives and senators expected to attend the reception, include:

• Senator Jane Cunningham, District 7
• Senator Tim Green, District 13
• Senator John Lamping, District 24
• Representative Bert Atkins, District 75
• Representative Eileen McGeoghegan, District 77
• Representative Margo McNeil, District 78
• Representative Mary Nichols, District 79
• Representative Sharon Pace, District 70
• Representative Tommie Pierson, District 69
• Representative Clem Smith, District 71
• Representative Sylvester Taylor, District 80
• Representative Rochelle Walton Gray, District 81
• Representative Steve Webb, District 74
• Representative Jake Zimmerman, District 83 

The reception begins at 6 p.m. For those unable to attend, Gateway Television News Network will broadcast the recorded and televise the evening shortly following it.