1. Introduction to Advocacy
Fourth District Advocacy Training September 15, 2017
Vivien Moreno, VP Advocacy and Kathleen Fay, Sacramento Safari

2. PTA advocacy speaks up for all children
“Let us have no more croaking as to what cannot be done; let us see what can be done, and above all, see that it is done.”
Alice McLellan Birney, 1897
“Those who show up, make the decisions.”
Celia Jaffe, CAPTA President–elect, January, 2017

3. PTA Authority to take action
National Position
California State PTA
Local Advocacy
Convention Resolutions
Position Statements
Legislative platforms and policies approved at convention
Issue related guidelines
State Legislation Issues and Ballot Measures
State Resolutions
Organizational positions
Determine if CAPTA has taken a position on an issue before acting locally
If not:
President appoints a committee to study the issue and present it to the voting body. If PTA approved that is your authority to act.
*Do not go against an official CAPTA position

4. Are PTA Advocates Lobbyists? … NO
Nonpartisan
Volunteer
Nonprofit
Champion securing adequate laws for the care and protection of children
Partisan
Paid to represent a particular POV

5. Where Do You Advocate?
Make sure you are on every unit and council meeting’s agenda and provide a report. (Use The Communicator and the Talking Points to get started.)
Write an article concerning a PTA issue relevant to your school and get it in the e-newsletter or newsletter (Advocacy vs. Information: be careful about material you send home with children.)
Consider attending a school board meeting. It is a great way to learn about the big picture in public education.

6. When do you Advocate?
Unit meetings, Council Meetings, School Board Meetings
Stay informed and be ready to answer questions any time
With State Legislators during Sacramento Safari and at localoffices when they are back home.

7. How Do We Advocate? Report at units and council meetings
Share Legislation Alerts and PTA calls to action
Host Voter Registration drives
Attend Sacramento Safari
Start a written report that can be ed to all unit presidents to share with their unit members. *Use the Bcc function to keep e- mail addresses confidential

8. Advocacy Resources
CA PTA toolkit Legislative Advocacy Chairman Job Description
Fourth District Advocacy Resource Notebook
Advocacy Communicator- sign up
Legislative action alerts- sign up at website
Ed100
Fourth District PTA
California PTA

9. Questions? – We get Answers!
Think of a question later?
us at
Thank you for Advocating for our children and attending our training session!