Sent: Friday, February 05, 2010 3:48 PM
Subject: Update
First off, I want to remind you all that you’re invited to our 3rd Annual HSAP Day at the Capitol on Tuesday, March 9th from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m.
This year we’re doing things a bit differently. Instead of setting up displays, we’ll be hosting an ice cream and cookie social for legislators in the basement. (These are very popular!) The Iowa HSAP Professionals will buy the ice cream, bowls, cups, spoons, napkins, and coffee, but we need YOU to do two things for that day:
- Show up! Legislators need to meet you and see what fantastic professionals we have in our organization.
- We need to have HSAP students from all over the state bake cookies and/or brownies, package them individually in baggies, and attach an original piece of artwork or a letter telling about how great HSAPs are. (This can be 4 year olds thru high school seniors – or even parents!)
I’ll try to provide more information as we get closer (for example, if there is a specific bill that is still pending then, we might ask families to include that in the letter they write). However, the important part for now is to have you mark your calendars, and start getting families involved in making the goodies and the artwork!
Please RSVP and let me know how many teachers will be coming, and how many goodies you will be bringing.
On Monday, KCRG TV 9 News did a story about HSAPs. You can see the story here. There were quite a few online comments about it. Unfortunately, their moderator did NOT allow all of the comments to get posted, so the discussion was limited and a bit slanted.
On Wednesday I received a draft of the bill that Rep Jodi Tymeson submitted on our behalf, which would put into Iowa Code how HSAP dollars must be spent, and leave it out of the hands of the Iowa Department of Education and their administrative rules.
- Next Friday (a week from today) is ‘funnel’ day. That means that if a bill hasn’t made it out of its committee by then, it’s dead. We need to get the education committee to take up our bill, pass it out of subcommittee, and get it passed out of committee by next Friday. That’s a TAAAAAAAALLLL order, but we’ll do our best.
- If our bills don’t survive funnel week, we’ll have to work on finding a bill to attach our issue to as an amendment, or keep working away at the education to see what other options they have.
- I know that there will be more media attention on this issue. On Tuesday (2/9) I will be on Des Moines Local Live on a show called The Main Event from 2:00 to 3:00. Chris Reed (candidate for 2nd Congressional District) will be on WMT Radio’s Bob Bruce’s show that same day from 4:00 to 5:00. I’m looking into the possibility of also being on Mickelson and/or Deace that day as well. I’ll be sure to keep you posted. PLEASE listen to these shows and call in and join the conversation!!!
Andrea K. Farrier
Home Schooling Wife and Mom
Supervising Teacher, MPHSAP
Lobbyist, Ia. HSAP Professionals
(319) 461-4346 (cell)
2 Comments
Updating on 2/15/10. My source now says that families are NOT invited to 3/6 HSAP Day. The need for artwork, cookies, etc. still exists, but the need for families presence is not. Will write a new post. — JULIA
Wow! I didn’t know you our issues were being followed on this site or that you were getting updates. Thanks for getting the word out, and I’m sorry I haven’t been in contact before now! (I happened to find this site on a web search, and just spread the word about your conference to the members of our group.)
To clarify – we were planning on doing our 3rnd Annual HSAP Day at the Capitol on March 9th a bit differently, and have it be only teachers, with students and families represented by the artwork and ‘goodies’ that they made.
Anyone who is interested in providing baked goods or artwork can certainly feel free to contact me. If we decide to change the format for the day (due to impending legislative issues, need to focus attention on our cause, etc…) I will try to let you know.
Thanks again for getting the word out, and feel free to email me directly to get on our email list!
Andrea Farrier
thefarriers@yahoo.com