Mike Donnelly recently joined Home School Legal Defense Association after nearly 10 years of corporate and private legal practice. Before his legal career, Mike served in the United States Army including combat service as a cavalry officer in the first Persian Gulf war. Mike attended law school at Boston University where he graduated with honors and was recognized for being in the top 10 in his class. Mike is a member of the New Hampshire and Massachusetts Bar Associations.

     Mike’s previous experience includes founding a top-30 Internet marketing and advertising firm where he served as chief operating officer and general counsel followed by a private business consulting and law practice.

     Mike serves on the board of CheNH (Christian Home Educators of New Hampshire) and the Marketplace Network, a Boston-based ministry that is dedicated to helping Christian workers integrate their faith and work.

     Mike and his wife Patty consider it a privilege and blessing to serve their fellow homeschoolers and now reside in Leesburg, Virginia where they homeschool their five children.

     Mike's speaking schedule at the 2007 Greater St. Louis Area Home Educator's Expo:

FRIDAY, Mar. 30, 2007

     11:00 am to 12:00 noon
Auditorium--Mike Donnelly, attorney with Home School Legal Defense Association
Defending the Freedom to Homeschool
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, but forces are still at work to capture our children’s minds, bodies, and souls. These forces seek to erode our current freedoms and our will to preserve them. What can we do to ensure that the blessings and freedom we have to homeschool are secured for posterity? Come hear HSLDA Attorney and homeschooling father Michael Donnelly answer that question.

     4:30 to 5:30 pm
Auditorium--Mike Donnelly, attorney with Home School Legal Defense Association
Why Home School?
Homeschooling works. Studies show that homeschooled children perform 20–30 points higher than their peers on standardized tests, and that homeschoolers are more civic-minded and socially prepared to deal with the “real world.”  Homeschooling also protects children from negative cultural influences rampant in public schools.  These are all valid reasons to homeschool, but there is one reason more important than any of them. Come hear more in this talk by HSLDA Attorney and homeschooling father Michael Donnelly.

SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 2007

     11:00 am to 12:00 noon
Auditorium--Mike Donnelly, attorney with Home School Legal Defense Association
Parents Rights--A Crisis Is Coming
In 1923, the United States Supreme Court ruled that parents have the fundamental right to direct the education and upbringing of their children. So why are parental rights suddenly endangered? Come hear HSLDA Attorney and homeschooling father Michael Donnelly discuss the next biggest threat to homeschool freedom and what you can do about it.

     4:30 to 5:30 pm
Auditorium--Mike Donnelly, attorney with Home School Legal Defense Association
For You Dad--Leading Your Home School Family
In most homeschooling families, Mom carries the biggest burden. How can Dad pull a share of the load when he is gone all day earning a living? There are so many other good works dads are asked to do—how can we influence our families as God calls us to do? Come listen to HSLDA Attorney and homeschooling father Michael Donnelly, as he discusses Kingdom priorities in homeschooling and practical ideas to balance the increasing demands on your time and resources.

LETTER FROM HSLDA PRESIDENT
February 27, 2006

Missouri--Announcing the 2007 Annual Greater St. Louis Area Home Educators Expo

Dear HSLDA members and friends:

     The 2007 Annual Greater St. Louis Area Home Educators Expo is coming to your area on March 29-31, 2007. This event will be held at the West County Assembly of God, 13431 North Outer Forty Road, Chesterfield, Missouri 63017.

     HSLDA Staff Attorney Michael P. Donnelly will be speaking on "Defending the Freedom to Homeschool," "Why Homeschool," "Parent's Rights--A Crisis is Coming," and "For you Dad--Leading Your Homeschool Family."

     We encourage you to attend and take advantage of our special offers below. Our staff would love to meet you. We count it a privilege to serve you, and appreciate your partnership with us to defend homeschool freedoms.

     This year, we have two special offers for members:

     > If you join or renew your membership at the conference for one year, you'll receive a $10 coupon that you can use toward your membership (at the conference only) or for purchasing our materials. Or...

     > Renew or join for two years and receive either a $25 coupon that you can use toward your membership (at the conference only) or the Drive  Thru History America DVD and student workbook, retailed at $50.00, FREE. Please visit http://www.hslda.org/join/offers.asp for more information. (This offer does not include the $10 gift certificate.)

     If you are not yet an HSLDA member or know someone else who might be interested in joining, these same offers are available for families who join at the conference.

     Additionally, if you bring someone to our table who joins at the conference, we'll give you another $10 coupon for your recommendation--which you can also apply toward membership (at the conference only) or HSLDA products.

     Please note that these offers are only valid at the conference. For more information about the 2007 Annual Greater St. Louis Area Home Educators Expo, please contact Cathy Mullians at: ekcjmullins@aol.com , or http://www.stlhomeschoolexpo.com/index.html .

     We are keenly aware that our parental and homeschool freedoms are best preserved when we all stand together to defend them. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Sincerely,

J. Michael Smith

HSLDA President

     For more information about the Expo, visit http://www.stlhomeschoolexpo.com ; for more information about Home School Legal Defense Association, visit http://www.hslda.org .