Some groups write letters to their elected officials but the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce takes a bus full of people to Columbus each year to make sure that southern Ohio is not forgotten.

Chamber leader's hope to make that voice a little louder by filling a few

vacant seats for the 11th annual Legislative Day on Thursday that will include between 50 and 100 community members.

The trip is open to the public. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis for a cost of $45 per person. People are also encouraged to drive themselves and join the group at the statehouse. Anyone interested in going can call 377-4550 by Monday.

"The trip is a time of sharing, a time those who travel from Lawrence County can discuss their needs, concerns and the many good things happening in the county with state officials," said Dr. Bill Dingus, executive director of the Greater Lawrence County Area Chamber of Commerce and the Lawrence Economic Development Corporation.

"State officials can share things that are going on at the state level that may affect Lawrence County."

The bus departs from the Ironton Hills Plaza at 6:30 a.m. Thursday for the three-hour drive.

Following a short tour of the statehouse, the group will split up and go to three concurrent meetings that focus on issues key to the southern Ohio: transportation, economic development and natural resources.

The unique opportunity of communication and networking, "truly links the community with the central leadership in Columbus, which I think is so very important," Dingus said.

John Hagen, Ohio Department of Transportation District 9 deputy director, and Jim Seney, executive director of the Ohio Rail Development Commission, will anchor the transportation session.

The economic development meeting will be conducted by Jean Carter Ryan of the Ohio Department of Development.

Glen Alexander, of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, will head up the natural resources meeting.

Ohio Senate President Doug White (R-14th), Sen. John Carey, Jr. (R-17th), Rep. Clyde Evans (R-87th), Rep. Todd Book (D-89th) and U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland (D-6th) will join the group for lunch.

The group will return to Ironton by 5 p.m.