Gold Country MLC Bulletin #5

At last week's meeting, we chose our sweatshirt design, a sunflower with an earth center, drawn in black. Congratulations to this year's winning artist, Mia McKnight! We also reviewed your bill ideas. This week, your bill group needs to bring in its one bill idea that you'll work on throughout October and present at Bill Hearing Night on Monday, October 28. Try GroupMe if you need to get in touch with your group members.

At the next meeting: We're going to do a bunch of bill work so come armed with your idea and some research!  

What's due: Your bill group's bill idea for this year.

Now Officially Overdue: Elected and Appointed Leadership Applications (Reggo). 

Here's what you need to know this week:

1.) Bills, Bills, Bills: 

Remember, a bill is a proposed law. Laws are how we set expectations for others in our society, show our values, solve problems, or make life better for all citizens. When you're coming up with a bill idea, think about it in terms of what problem you'd like to solve. Your bill groups are:

• Environment: Anni, Sabine, Zayo
• Food Waste Reduction: Mia, Nalasia
• Homelessness: Ethan, Jihada, Skyler

Please make sure you've reviewed these resources in advance of next week. Your group should come to the meeting with a topic chosen and at least some of the answers to the Bill Worksheet questions drafted.

• Here's what a finished bill looks like, so you know what you're making. 
• Watch this video about how to start the bill idea and bill research process. 
• Watch this video about the 4 basic kinds of legislation our State Legislature can consider. 
• Review this Bill Worksheet - these are the basic questions you'll need to answer about your bill by Bill Hearing Night. (Those questions should sound familiar after last week's presentation!) 
• Want to know all the current laws? Here they are! (Get to know this site, it's a bill author's best friend!) 

This week you'll also be choosing your bill group role (if you haven't yet). Each bill group needs someone fulfilling one of the following roles (obviously there will be overlap). If you'd like, you may recruit people from other bill groups to fulfill the Lobbyist roles at Bill Hearing Night.

1. Bill Sponsor - introduces the bill and gives the opening and closing speeches on the bill
2. Lobbyist For - speaks in favor of the bill
3. Lobbyist Against - speaks against the bill
4. Legislative Analyst - gives an objective analysis of what the bill does, how much it costs, it's benefits or potential negative consequences. 

Note: The Bill Author - the person who writes the bill and is in charge of that draft language, is usually the same person as the Bill Sponsor but not always. That's up to your group to decide.

2.) S'morefest Volunteers: We still need a few more volunteers for the event itself (the evening shift from 4p-10p). Here is a list of who has signed up so far. If you need to change your attendance status or want to add/change shifts, please let me know ASAP.

Non-delegate volunteers are welcome if you vouch for their dependability and trustworthiness!

3.) S'moresfest Training: For those who will be volunteering on October 12 at S'mores fest, please plan to stay an extra 15 minutes after the meeting for a quick training session on the various tasks that take place at the event.

4.) Bill Meetings Overview: We have a very busy next couple of weeks. Please make sure you're at each meeting from here till Bill Hearing Night! Here's a real quick overview:

• Oct 10 - Focusing your idea, finding a home in the code
• Oct 17 - Drafting the bill language
• Oct 24 - Final bill language and bill worksheets due, Practice Bill Hearing Night
• Oct 28 - BILL HEARING NIGHT!

REMINDERS

If you haven't yet, take a moment to listen to this interview with retiring Assembly Chief Clerk Dotson Wilson. (the whole interview is very interesting, but make sure to listen from the 15-20 minute marks) 

Leadership Opportunities: There are lots of elected and appointed leadership opportunities in Y&G, both statewide and within various program.  Everyone is qualified for multiple opportunities - check this chart to see what you can run or apply for!. Check out this information on elected/appointed positions. We HIGHLY encourage everyone to take a chance and apply or run for offices available to you! Applications are already available in Reggo (click here for info on how to access applications). Leadership apps are now overdue! If there is a T&E-1 position you want to run/apply for, do it now!

Family Corner: 

Bill Hearing Night is Monday, October 28 and You're Invited! Make sure to save October 28, 6:30-8pm, for Bill Hearing Night. This annual event is a chance for delegates to show off to friends, family, and special guests all of their hard work so far this year. You won't want to miss it! We have two experienced leaders, both with legislative experience, confirmed as judges, and I'm working on a third.

S'moresfest Tickets Are Still Available!! Sponsor opportunities are still available, too. As a thank you to our families for their support - you can use the promo code THANKYOU2019 to get tickets at the early bird price!

As always, thank you for reading and I will see you on Thursday!

MaryJane Huenergardt

Lead Advisor, Gold Country Delegation

Helpful Links:

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Need to make a payment?

Looking for forms or handouts?

Mark your calendars:

October 12 - S'moresfest 2019 YMCA Fundraising Gala (sign up here)

October 18 - Second Payment Due

Oct 23 - Practice Bill Hearing Night

October 28 (Monday) - Mandatory Bill Hearing Night, 6:30-8pm (GV City Hall)

November 9-11 - Training & Elections Conference I (bus to Fresno)

Nov. 15, 2019 - Third Payment Due

December 13, 2019 - Fourth and Final Payment Due

January 18-20, 2020 -Training and Elections 2 Conference (bus to Fresno)
February 13-17, 2020 -72nd Model Legislature & Court (Sacramento)

We are committed to equal program access for all and are dedicated to ensuring the benefits of Y&G are available to every student in our community without regard to financial need. No delegate should ever drop out or refrain from joining because of financial concerns. If you want to do this program, we want you to do this program.