A birthday present. But not just any birthday present. A 200th birthday present! The bicentennial of Emperor Norton's birth is coming up on 4 February 2018. To mark the occasion, The Emperor's Bridge Campaign is producing EMPEROR NORTON AT 200 — a series of exhibits, talks, toasts and other special events in February 2018 and throughout the bicentennial year. To see what we have planned so far, click the "Learn More" button at: http://www.EmperorNortonat200.org. And keep checking back! We'll be adding events and partners as we go forward. :: :: :: Now, about that present... For some time, The Emperor's Bridge Campaign been saying that the most fitting 200th birthday present for the Emperor would be to FINALLY add "Emperor Norton Bridge" as an honorary name for the entire San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge system. It was Emperor Norton who set out and popularized the vision for this bridge in 1872. Ultimately, it's the California State Legislature that will have to authorize the "Emperor Norton Bridge" naming. But, the first step toward persuading the Legislature that the Bay Bridge should be named after Emperor Norton in 2018 — and what the Campaign is focused on right now — is building strong support for this idea among LOCAL elected officials and other civic leaders in San Francisco. To help grassroots supporters reach out to officials and leaders at both the local and state levels, we've put together A SAMPLE LETTER and important supporting information at: http://www.EmperorsBridge.org/bridge/letter/ This letter includes all the key messages The Emperor's Bridge Campaign has been using to advocate for the imperative that "Emperor Norton Bridge" be added as a name for the Bay Bridge system. Please use the letter to reach out to San Francisco elected officials and other civic leaders. A special request: Pay as much attention to what our sample letter doesn't say as to what it does. Stay positive! For much — much! — more about The Emperor's Bridge Campaign's bridge-naming project, see: http://www.EmperorNortonBridge.org If you have contacts to those you think can be helpful in this effort... If you have information to share about your outreach to these people — whether by letter, by phone or in person... Or, if you'd like to become more involved in this important project... Please drop the Campaign a line via http://www.emperorsbridge.org/contact We hope you're having a restful, enjoyable holiday season. Thanks so much for your help! Best, JOHN LUMEA The Emperor's Bridge Campaign http://www.emperorsbridge.org