Message from the Coalition for Gifted Education – January 23, 2012

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GIFTED EDUCATION DAY
IN WASHINGTON

JANUARY 23, 2012

Program 9:00 to 10:30
The Columbia Room
The Legislative Building.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

The Governor has proclaimed January 23rd as Gifted Education Day in Washington. Join us in support of this important event.

How Does Your Government Work?

HEADS UP NOTICE

We have been told that the public hearing on the gay marriage bill (SB 6239) is scheduled for January 23rd. That means parking and moving around on the campus is going to be difficult. Plan accordingly. Unless you absolutely need to be parked near the legislative building, do consider taking DASH. http://www.intercitytransit.com/traveloptions/dash/Pages/default.aspx

For those of you who are new to state level advocacy with the Legislature, we are attaching the League of Education Voters “How Does Your Government Work.”

If you want more in depth information, go to http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature/Pages/visitingthelegislature.aspx and look at the entries under Participating in the Process.  If you are coming down to Olympia, items under Coming to the Capitol might be of interest to you.

A campus map highlighting the location of the Columbia Room is also attached to this message. Please print it out and mark the office locations of legislators with whom you have appointments; bring it with you. For office locations, go to  http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rosters/Members.aspx

Building Code:   JLOB – O’Brien Building – Representatives

LEG – Legislative Building – Leadership of both Houses

INB – Newberg Building – Senators

JAC – Cherberg Building – Senators

Please look up your legislative district before you come to Olympia as we will not be able to do it for you. If you do not know it go to http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx and fill in the boxes.

You may leave jackets and other materials in the Columbia Room while you are taking tours or keeping appointments but please do not leave valuables (cell phones, iPods, iPads, computers, etc.) as we cannot accept responsibility for them.

You are welcome to eat your lunch in the Columbia Room but please be sure to clean up after your group. The Pritchard building has a sit down cafeteria where you can purchase lunch. There is a small deli with very limited seating next door to the Columbia Room where you can purchase coffee and snacks.

If you have arranged to meet your Legislator(s) in the Columbia Room, please let us know as soon as possible to we can allocate space.

We will provide:

  • Name tags;
  • Business card size contact cards to give to Legislators (write your contact information on the back);
  • Note paper and envelopes for longer messages to Legislators;
  • Note cards for short thank you messages.

In addition to your own district Legislators, you can write to members of the education committees in each chamber. See the registration desk for information. We will deliver the messages directly to the Legislators.

We are no longer permitted to provide printouts and other advocacy materials so if you plan to give something to a Legislator, please bring your own. You may wish to select from the materials we have sent you.

The Academic Booster Club of Puyallup is providing our now traditional lime green scarves to wear during the day. Please return them to the registration desk before you depart so we can use them again next year. Thank You, ABC of Puyallup!

And Thank You to Kraft Foods for the cookies.

We have several distinguished guests. To keep our program on schedule, we plan to begin just after 9 am. Please try to be signed in by then. See Heads Up Notice above!

Agenda:

8:15 to 9:00 Sign in

9:00 Welcome and Introductions

9:10 Keynote from Charlotte Akin

So What? Who Are These Kids and Why Do We Serve Them?

9:35 Supt. Randy Dorn

Introduced by Kelty Pierce, Puyallup Schools

10:00 Governor Christine Gregoire

Introduced by Charlie Hannigan, Lake Stevens Schools

10:15 Advocacy Tips with Kelly Munn

2:30 Columbia Room closes

You are free to take pictures but please do not request individual pictures with the Governor. That is the only restriction her office has placed on her visit.

Charlotte Akin is an award winning teacher of gifted students, retired director of gifted education in the Evergreen School District (Vancouver, WA), President- Elect of the Washington Association of Educators of Talented and Gifted, and a published author in multiple forms and fields including gifted education. Kelly Munn comes to us from the League of Education Voters.

We would appreciate receiving a Contact Report for each Legislator (or legislator aide) you meet. Please use the form pasted in at the end of the message and send it by email to wagifted@earthlink.net.  Thank you.

CONTACT REPORT FOR LEGISLATOR VISIT

Name and title of person contacted:

Type of contact (personal or group visit)  (email contact)  (letter)  (phone)

Issues discussed:

Is the Coalition expected to follow up with this contact?

Describe any follow-up needed:

Notes and comments; was contact supportive or enthusiastic about HCP:

Your name:

Group, if any:

Your email address or other contact information in case we need to check with you.

DON’T FORGET TO SEND A HANDWRITTEN THANK YOU! We will provide you with note cards or note paper.

We look forward to seeing you January 23rd.