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Brownies canvass for vote vows Photo by Jim Craven Talent Brownies, from left, Meghan Wilson, Rachel Lawson, Kailee Parks and Gaby Chavez gather signatures at a Talent apartment building last week as part of Pony Express 2000, an effort to get adults to promise to vote. Go door to door to raise local turnout May 16 By JOANNA COLLINS Cookies aren't the only reasons these Brownie Girl Scouts knock on doors. Six members of Talent Brownie Troop 287 went door-to-door last week as part of a local effort to get voters to participate in the May 16 primary election. Brownie Rachel Lawson, 8, said the three signatures she gathered were important. "Because if some people don't vote, our country won't agree with the president," she said. Rachel and her fellow troop members learning the fundamentals of civics are among 2,000 Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, students, and Campfire and 4-H members helping increase voter turnout by participating in Pony Express 2000. The program has youths throughout the county asking registered voters to commit to turning in their ballots. In the 1998 primary election, only 34 percent of registered Jackson County voters cast their ballots -- a record low for a primary. The Talent Brownie troop has been asking friends, relatives and neighbors to sign their voter pledge sheets. Leader Carrie Prechtel says through this community service the girls will learn more about the idea of voting and democracy. "The nice thing is that it's a no-pressure thing," says Brownie leader Carrie Prechtel. "We're not telling them who to vote for, we're just asking them to please remember to turn in their ballots." Pat Ashley of Eagle Point and seven other local women are the originators of Pony Express 2000. The women met at the Medford Library while working on the library bond measure that will be decided in May, Ashley said. During a discussion, the women realized they were "appalled" by voter turnout in Jackson County. In a brainstorming session, they combined the ideas of a "vote-a-thon" and having children spread the message. "This seemed to me such an important thing because people aren't voting," says Ashley. She also sees it as a good way to teach civic responsibility to children. The eight women took the program to the League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women. "Everybody just kind of dropped into line," Ashley said. The women have worked since November organizing sponsors, donations and volunteers to direct the kids. Bob Wolcott's sixth-grade class at Wilson Elementary School is one of many participating. "It's a great way to present the voting responsibility to students," says Wolcott. "It's a great opportunity to teach them how much a single vote matters." For local Girl Scouts, asking people to vote helps them earn patches in civics. Cindy Bright, director of program services for the Winema Girl Scout Council, says there hasn't been much opportunity for area scouts to earn patches like this before. "This is a real education to them because they are able to connect with people who care about voting," says Bright. Children will gather at least 12 signatures on their Pony Express 2000 pledge sheets to be part of the program. On May 7, a celebration recognizing the children will be held in Medford's Alba Park for participants and their families. The 1 to 4 p.m. celebration will include treats, old-fashioned games, "Pony Express riders," jazz bands and an appearance by KTMT disc jockey Leslie Haze. For more information about the Pony Express voter drive, call Gayle Clason of the AAUW, 773-8846. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA