CapCo Delegation Bulletin: Get ready for Conference!

 An All-CapCo Bulletin this week. CapCoooooooo! See bottom for links to Caucus Meetings (including some that start SOON!)

NEW BUSINESS

MEETING DETERMINATION MADE MONDAY: We'll let you know Monday whether we will meet virtually or in person this week. Either way - you have the same stuff to do.

CONFERENCE REMINDER - SATURDAY, JANUARY 29: Our next conference is Saturday, January 29. We'll convene at 9:30am and should wrap up at around 3:15pm. You'll receive an email the night before with links to your program area zooms. Do not share those links on social media. Help us stay zoom-bomber free. 

LEGISLATOR PRE-CON TASKS:

• Review the Pitch Session Evaluation Criteria so you know what to listen for during the bill pitches you hear on Jan 29. 
• When you're listening to pitches, make a note of bills you find interesting and might want to introduce. 

ADVOCATE PRE-CON TASKS: 

• Final bill language and bill fact sheets are over-due. The following Firms need to get their stuff in ASAP:
• EDO-1, EDO-4, GCY-1, SAC-1, SAC-2
• Work together in your Firms to prepare your pitch for Jan 29. 
• Each Firm has 7 minutes to present their bill to a Legislative Committee. How you spend your 7 minutes is up to you. We recommend you reserve some time for questions/discussion. 
• Here is the pitch session script - check it out so you know the flow of the session. 
• You should also review the evaluation criteria so you can make your pitch the strongest it can be. 
• You will likely need to zoom/facetime/meet between this week and next week's meeting to prepare for Jan 29.
• If you need contact info for your fellow Firm members, check your email for the prior email I sent to each firm with all of the firm members' emails included. 
• At next week's delegation meeting, Firms should be prepared to present their pitch to the delegation so the delegation can help you fine tune your presentation for conference. 
• Remember, pitches are your chance to SELL your bill as the Best Thing Ever. If no legislator wants to introduce your bill, it dies and that would be sad. 
• Pitch session timeslots will be provided next week on the Public Roster. You can check now to see which committee your bill is likely to be heard in (which Legislature - Gold, Serpentine, or Benitoite; and which Policy Committee (ER, HL, TF, or PS) on the Public Roster. You can also check out the platforms of legislators in those committees (Public Roster>Roster Tab> legislator views). 

Questions? Ask!

CHIEF JUSTICE Q&A: Our keynote speaker is California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye. Want to ask her a question? Fill out this form: https://bit.ly/cjkeynote 

GOVERNOR CANDIDATE Q&A: Want to ask the candidates a question? Fill out this form: https://bit.ly/mtcquestions22 

DELEGATE-LED CAUCUS MEETINGS - Friday-Sunday: Y&G has special delegate-led groups called Caucuses that focus on a variety of interests. These are 100% Delegate created and delegate led. All have meetings this tonight through Sunday. SEE EMAIL FOR ZOOM LINK

Friday, January 21	FLIP Caucus Meeting: 5 PM-6:15 PM Conservative Caucus Meeting: 6:30 PM-8 PM
Saturday, January 22	Socialist Caucus Meeting: 11 AM-12:15 PM  Queer Delegates Caucus Meeting: 12:30 PM-1:45 PM
Sunday January 23	Small Delegations Meeting: 11:45 AM-1 PM  Delegates of Color Meeting: 1:15 PM-2:30 PM

REMINDERS

SCUSD California State Seal of Civic Engagement: (Sac City School Students) The Sac City Unified School District has unveiled plans to participate in the State Seal of Civic Engagement Program. From reading about it, sure sounds like Y&G participation would qualify you for this shiny mark of accomplishment. Learn more about the program here and ask your schools how to participate. We've reached out to the District as well and if we learn more, we'll let you know. 

Be an Informed Voter: Y&G Statewide Candidate information is available on the Public Roster. Take time to learn about the delegates running for office. You can find info on the Public Roster>Roster Tab>Candidates for Elected Office view. 

Media Assignments and Policy Areas: All Media delegates have been assigned to a sub-program area (journalism or communications) and a policy topic. This information is visible on the Public Roster>Roster Tab>All Media view. Delegates who submitted their preferences received their first-choice sub-program area and their first or second choice policy topic. All others were randomly assigned.

 

Analyst Policy Areas: All Analysts delegates have been assigned to a policy area. This information is visible on the Public Roster>Roster Tab>All Analysts view. Delegates who submitted their preferences received their first-choice policy topic. All others were randomly assigned.

Follow the Y&G Instagram account: @cayouthgov. It’s a great place to catch the latest program info, reminders, and news!

ICYMI - Bill Writing Webinar: If you didn't have a chance to attend the Bill Writing Webinar, you can check it out here.

Join your google classroom:

• Legislators
• Analysts
  
• Courts
• Media
• DoF
• Advocates: only the Firm Principal will need to join the google classroom. You'll be deciding who your Principal is at this week's meeting.

Mark your calendars:

Saturday, January 29: Conference #3 (statewide virtual)

Saturday-Sunday, February 26-27: Final conference (statewide virtual)

 

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.

2020-21 YMCA Youth & Government Progam Update

Dear Capitol Coalition Y&G Delegation Families,

We know that you’re curious - and perhaps concerned - about the future of Y&G. We write to you today to let you know what changes we anticipate for the coming program year - and to let you know what won’t be changing at all.

What will change in the coming year:

So much has changed in our world over the past three months. Everyone has been forced to adapt; the Y and Youth & Government are no exceptions.  As a result, the structure and format of YMCA of Superior California Youth & Government programs for 2020-2021 will be changing as well.

Your Y’s primary concern is always the health, safety and well-being of our delegates, volunteers and staff.  Due to Covid-19, the traditional Y&G format of delegation meetings and large conferences is simply not feasible. Programming for the coming year will be virtual with weekly delegation meetings being held via Zoom.  As conditions change we will explore the possibility of allowing in-person meetings and conferences.

Your advisors are as heartbroken as you are by this reality. Seeing you each week is a gift and Sac Conference is the highlight of our year, too. But living our Y values of Caring and Responsibility means prioritizing your health and the health of those in our community. And CapCo lives its values; always.

But with this crisis also comes opportunity.

Covid-19 has not only impacted the physical health of communities, but their economic health as well.  As ever, we remain committed to offering accessible programming to all members of our communities and recognize that the rising cost of Y&G has become a barrier to participation for many families. 

For that reason, we, along with other YMCAs across the state, have decided to create new regional programming which can be offered at a much lower price point.  We will not be participating in the statewide program this year.

The YMCA of Superior California is partnering with other Northern California YMCAs to build a curriculum that continues to empower youth to be changemakers in their community through instruction in civic engagement and development of leadership skills. Just as we always have, we’ll continue to focus on civic knowledge, civic awareness, and civic action - each guided by our YMCA values.

We envision weekly meetings that feature more guest speakers who are experts in their field, more leaders sharing their road to leadership, the same kinds of delegation and family-group interaction, and, most importantly, the same kinds of leadership provided by your delegation’s elected and appointed officers.

We’ll still write bills. We’ll still learn about the courts. We’ll still end the year in a better position to save the world than when we started. There will be culminating conferences - most likely virtual - at which you’ll raise your hand and your voice, advocate for policies you believe in, and get to know delegates from other delegations.

Along with these changes in format and program, we anticipate a dramatic reduction in program costs that reflects the lack of transportation, hotel, and staffing expenses. While we cannot yet provide an estimated fee, know that we take seriously this opportunity to serve those who may have seen our prior fee as a barrier to participation, especially at a time of economic hardship for so many.

What will not change:

For over 175 years, the YMCA has stood for healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility. For YMCAs in California, Youth & Government has been our way of ensuring that democracy is learned by each generation.

Your advisors and your YMCA staff remain 100% committed to our delegates - current and future. While we may not be able to be together in person on the same schedule we’re used to, we can remain together virtually and in spirit, united by our core values and motivated by a shared commitment to make this world a better place through civic engagement.

To put it bluntly, especially for our rising seniors and delegation elected and appointed leadership: we know this coming year isn’t what you signed up for. But as leaders, you must take the world as it exists and work to change it. There has perhaps never been a more critical moment to examine our public policy and our power to influence it. These times are hard and scary, frustrating and sad, but they are also powerful, instructive, and important.

We want you to stay with us. We are the Capitol Coalition of Y&G Distinguished Delegations. We are made for this challenge. The things we do matter. We are not anonymous.

What Comes Next:

Your advisors and staff will continue to work towards a new calendar and new structure for the coming year. As soon as we have information regarding dates and details, including fees, we will let you know.

You are invited to join us at 7:00pm on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 for a CapCo Townhall where advisors and staff will be available to answer questions. 

Stay safe, be well, your advisors love you,