“Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
We're going to try something new this week. Since we changed up last week's meeting and didn't get to our curriculum module - let's try an experiment. We're going to flip-the-classroom, a concept where the lesson stuff gets done outside the "classroom." Watch this video in which I'll cover last week and this week's curriculum module, Advocacy in Action. Do that, and we're clear out the agenda to leave more room for mock debates and sharing your possible op-ed topic (see details below). The video is about 30 minutes long. This module gets you ready for the rest of the program year (and for life!) by teaching you about the documents you'll be creating or working with others to create in the program. Have questions after watching? Ask in GroupMe or bring to the meeting next week.
Find an Op-Ed for Next Week's Meeting If you watched the video (if? of course you did), you learned about Op-Eds. Spend some time this weekend checking out the Opinion section of your favorite newspaper (you have a favorite newspaper, don't you?). Check out the Sac Bee, New York Times, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, LA Times, CalMatters, etc, and look for an op-ed that you find interesting or persuasive (or even not persuasive to you). At the next meeting, we'll share what op-eds we found and take a look at their structure and what makes them persuasive (or not!). (PS: broadcast news can feature op-eds also.)
Bill Introduction Deadline - Extended to Saturday Legislators have until Saturday, Jan 16 to introduce their bill(s). That means Advocacy Firms need to lock down a bill author to introduce their proposal, so it has a shot at making it to the Governor! Here's the process. Legislators and Advocates should read this info.
Please be aware of the following upcoming Bill Deadlines:
-January 24: Draft bill language due (via Google Classroom)
-February 1: Draft bills returned
-February 8: Final bills due (via Google Classroom)
-February 16: Committee Chairs post Feb 28 hearing agendas
-February 28: Subcommittee hearings
Bill Drafting Information
Firms are responsible for drafting bill language for their introduced bills, however, Legislative authors are *strongly encouraged* to assist with the process. For Legislator-written proposals, Legislators are responsible for drafting language. A Bill assignment to submit language is available in both the Legislator and Firm Principal Google Classrooms. View a sample bill template here.
Bill Drafting Webinar
We reviewed this information before Winter Break, but if you need a refresher on writing your actual bill language if your bill is introduced, join us on Tuesday, January 19 at 6pm for bill drafting info. Open to all delegates and advisors. This is a great opportunity to ensure Firms are on the right track to meeting their January 24 draft bill deadline with a correctly written bill. See email for link.
Pitch Session Feedback
Legislator evaluations of bill pitches are available here. Check out average criteria scores and substance and style feedback for each proposal. The proposal roster also includes Legislative Counsel feedback where needed. Use this information to improve your bill as move forward in the process.
Op-Ed Contest
Win yourself a prize by trying your hand at Op-Ed writing. Use the tips available from the Op-Ed Project to write an op-ed on a topic that's timely and important to you and you may find yourself with a sweet Starbucks card.
- Entries must be received by 11:59pm on Friday, February 19, 2021 via bit.ly/norcaloped
- Entries should be in the form of an op-ed article, of the kinds that appear in newspapers.
- The op-ed may concern any issue in California public policy or public affairs, broadly defined.
- Only current NorCal Y&G Delegates are eligible to participate
- Entries may be no longer than 750 words
- Entries must have been written after January 1, 2021 and may be simultaneous submitted for publication to newspapers
- Entries will be judged by a panel of program staff
- Top 3 finishers will be shared on the NorCal Y&G IG account
Meeting Link: We'll have our regular meeting this Wednesday. Officers at 6:15, Everyone else at 6:30p. See email for link.
REMINDERS
Program Bulletin: You should have received the post-conference program bulletin, but just in case, here you go. This bulletin will seem short because you need to click through and read that one. It has all the post-con program area info you need to read including how to reach out to Legislators/Firms about bill introductions.
January 26 Webinar: Speak Your Truth with 916 Ink: Join us on January 26 at "SPEAK YOUR TRUTH," a webinar presented by 916 Ink. Embrace creativity and your unique voice when writing or speaking about the issues most important to YOU. Learn skills to help you not just with upcoming campaign, bill presentations, or lobbying efforts, but also with college applications, job interviews, cover letters, and more! Register today!
Join Slack: All delegates have now been added to slack. Accept the invitation and come say hi to your fellow delegates. This is your virtual town-square where you can connect about bill introductions and support, chat about policy, ask questions about program area assignments, and more. But it's only useful if you're there!
Get Social: Are you on Instagram? Follow our delegation - @sacyandg - and the NorCal Y&G account - @norcalyg for all the latest on conferences and program stuff. (Follow our sister delegations, too: @eldoyandg and @goldcountrymlc) No need to join Instagram if you're not already on Instagram, of course.
Helpful Links:
Mark your calendars:
Tuesday, January 19 - Bill Drafting Webinar (optional)
Tuesday, January 26 - Speak Your Truth: Public Speaking and Creative Writing Webinar
Sunday, February 28 - Conference 4
Sunday, February 28 - Conference 4
Sat-Sun, March 6-7 - Final Conference Weekend
