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Posted April 17:
“Please Don't Leave Our Children Behind Day” Organizers:
There are just 2 days left before “Please Don’t Leave Our Children Behind Day!” Please see http://geco.hinsdaleinfo.net/springfield for previous updates.
I would like to outline final logistics for gathering.
There will be approximately 540 people attending our event, so it is vital that groups follow the timetable and rules set forth.
Review of Our Schedule: a.m. Morning activities organized by individual groups, or time used for traveling to Springfield 11:30 Meet at the Howlett Building. Please look for me (Newenka DuMont) or Terry Mohaupt – one of us will be at each door. Please be certain to register with us when you arrive. We will be there from 11 O’clock onwards. Please remember that we will all need to pass through security to enter the building. Check in and then proceed to your assigned location. Each group will have been designated as either HEADS or TAILS.
HEADS: 11:45 Picnic Lunch in the Hall of Flags. 12:15 Lecture in the Howlett Building Auditorium – Representative Tom Cross
TAILS: 11:45 Lecture in the Howlett Building Auditorium – Representative Tim Schmitz 12:15 Picnic Lunch in the Hall of Flags.
(*) Our speakers are both elected representatives, and are thus not entirely in control of their own schedules. Both have committed to speak, but should something come up on the floor of the House, they may not be able to make it! Please follow these links to learn more about our speakers: http://www.timschmitz.org/, http://www.tomcross.com/.
Heads and Tails: 12:45 p.m. Group photo, hopefully on the steps of the capitol. All legislators are welcome to join us for the photo! Unfortunately, the best places for a photo are being used by the Gross Receipts Tax Lobby Day Rally at noon. We will need to scout out another place on Wednesday. 1:15 p.m. Time in the chamber balconies watching the proceedings. As there are now over 500 of us, and the chambers only hold 90 each, this may involved some waiting. Those groups scheduled for a tour of the capitol will be taken into the balconies at another time. Families or groups of less than 16 can register for free tours on the capitol when we arrive there. These tours are conducted every 15 minutes, and will take the group into the balconies at a later time. 1:30 p.m. Afternoon activities organized by individual groups. Groups may remain in the Capitol Building, or proceed on to other organized activities. Please indicate when you register what time your tour is scheduled to resume, if you have a tour scheduled.
Rules to Follow in the Howlett Building:
There are several rules that we must follow in the Howlett Building:
1) No tape or other adhesives may be used to affix anything to the walls or other surfaces of the Howlett Building. 2) No candles, balloons, confetti or alcoholic beverages are permitted in the Howlett Building. 3) Absolutely no food or drink is allowed in the auditorium of the Howlett Building. 4) No roller skating or skate boarding is permitted on the Capitol Complex 5) No smoking is permitted in state buildings. 6) You will need to pass through a metal detector on your way into the Howlett Building as well as the Capitol Building – please plan accordingly. Wear as little metal as possible and be prepared to remove it in order to pass through the detector. Also, carry only a small bag, as bags will need to be searched.
Once you have finished eating, please pack up your garbage, and clean your space.
Making contact with legislators:
Before you leave home, jot down the names and numbers of your legislators, so you can contact them while you are in Springfield. You may have noticed that the legislature was on vacation the last two weeks. So all our lawmakers are also just heading back to Springfield now.
When you see you legislators, we have a simple 2 page document that you can share with them. These will be available on yellow paper, one per legislator, when you register. (Please be certain that you have told me the legislators with whom you have made contact, so that I will have enough documents.) On the cover page there is plenty of room for you to write a short note, or put your name and contact information, so the legislator can contact you once he or she has read it. I have attached these documents for your review.
0704 IAGC Issues Facing Gifted Education 0704 IAGC Funding for Gifted Education
Additionally, I have attached a few more documents, for you to use as background information for yourselves and the adults in your groups.
0704 IAGC Please Don’t Leave Our Gifted Children Behind 0704 IAGC Gifted Education Q&A 0704 IAGC History of Funding and the Need for Gifted Education (see Appendices II and III)
Photographs:
We are working on a way to effectively share photos. If you have a few photos you would like to share, please send an email to me, and I will tell you how to load them up. I will also let all organizers know how to access photos, in case your groups wish to print some off. These are particularly good for sending to legislators with a thank you note.
Press Release:
Terry Mohaupt has prepared a press release regarding Please Don’t Leave Our Children Behind Day, which has been sent to the following:
- Chicago
Tribune and Sun-Times and Springfield State Journal Register - Springfield TV stations SCA, WICS, WRSP - Chicago radio stations WBEZ, WGN, WRTE - Springfield radio stations WMAY, WQNA
If you would like to send a press release to a local news outlet, you can find a copy at: http://geco.hinsdaleinfo.net/press_release.htm.
Driving to Springfield
1) Parking in Springfield can be challenging. There is free parking available at the Illinois State visitors center at Pasfield and Edwards Street. (This is also where all buses must park.) Paid parking is available at Fourth and Capitol. There are many groups in Springfield Wednesday, so leave time to find parking. 2) There are several maps of Springfield available on the internet. I particularly like this one: http://map.mapnetwork.com/destination/springfield/il/
Other Groups in Springfield on April 18th:
It appears that April 18th isn’t only “Please Don’t Leave Our Children Behind Day,” but also Animal Protection Day, School Health Center Advocacy Day and Gross Receipts Tax Lobby Day. Please be sure that everyone in your group comes wearing a yellow t-shirt. (If it’s cold, which seems likely, have people wear long sleeved shirts underneath.)
T-shirt sale at Michaels!
This week t-shirts are only $1.88 at Michaels. If you are still in need of yellow t-shirts!
Weather Forecast:
Partly cloudy with a high of 46° F. Slim chance of rain. Please dress for the weather!
See you on Wednesday!
Newenka DuMont, IAGC Gifted Day in Springfield Coordinator
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