Dear Oregon FFA,
Below is information that we collected from spending the day at the Capitol yesterday. I hope this is not doubling up on something that you have already received, but there is some pretty good stuff within this. Also, if you could put on the web page the State Officers contact information (which is listed below) that would be great. Any one of us would me more than willing to discuss our current situation and would love to help with any questions.
Oregon FFA State President - Sam Palacio - from Bend
Email: samuelvpalacio@hotmail.com
Cell: (541) 598-5113
Oregon FFA State Vice-President - Nick West - from Imbler
Email: nwest20@hotmail.com
Cell: (541) 910-4523
Oregon FFA State Secretary - Tyson Snider - from Klamath Falls
Email: bostonty5@charter.net
Cell: (541) 810-2745
Oregon FFA State Treasurer - Derek Burbank - from Dallas
Email: drkburbank@aol.com
Cell: (503) 910-7713
Oregon FFA State Reporter - Jana Schiely - from Scio
Email: jschiely@gmail.com
Cell: (541) 619-7409
Oregon FFA State Sentinel - Jordyn Coon - from Santiam Christian
Email: justjordee@gmail.com
Cell: (541 760-6550
We learned that SB 5519 is dead, and should no longer be asking for support on that because it is not even a possibility. We are now asking to be put back in the education budget.
After meeting with several Senators and Representatives, we have created a new plan of action. Senator Whitsett gave some great advice, he recommended three other Senators who it would be in our best interest to contact; Senator Deblin, Senator Hess and Senator Walker. He also said that letters are great, but that we would be better utilizing our efforts if we had our members, parents, advisors, alumni, supporters, administration, etc. sending emails...These should be personal emails that tell each individuals' story, what the organization they are affiliated with has done for them, their school, community, etc. These SHOULD NOT be form letters so every single email is the same! This is to express the passion for those organizations housed within the SLDC. He said at least 100 emails to each Senator and Representative as well as 20-30 (WELL SCRIPTED) phone calls.
Of the nine committee members for the sub-committee of education, we have five Representatives supporting us, we are looking for at least one more to have the majority vote and preferrably, that would be a Senator.
Once we were done at the capitol, the team came back to the SLDC office to have a meeting and develop a plan for further action. We divided up our responsibilities and attached is a document showing who we need to contact. Right now we are definitely looking for quantity. Below is the contact information for the Senators and Representatitives that we will be contacting. It would be greatly appreciated if you could please pass this information along to members, parents, alumni, etc. Below is a list of the legislators who we need to contact, the ones with stars are the ones that I am focusing on and would really appreciate your help with.
*Senator Rod Monroe - Member of the Sub-Committee for Education
Representing Senate District 24 - in Mid-Multomah County
Email: sen.rodmonroe@state.or.us
Capitol Phone: (503) 986-1724
*Representative Peter Buckley - Co-Chair for the Joint Committee of Ways and Means
Representing House District 5 - in the Jackson County area
Email: rep.peterbuckley@state.or.us
Capitol Phone: (503) 986-1405
Senator Richard Devlin - Member of the Sub-Committee of Education and is the Majority Leader of the Senate
Representing Senate District 19 - including SW Portland, West Linn, Tualatin and Lake Oswego
Email: sen.richarddevlin@state.or.us
Capitol Phone: (503) 986-1719
Representative David Edwards - Member of the Sub-Committee of Education
Representing House District 3 - including Hillsboro, Forest Grove, and Banks
Email: rep.davidedwards@state.or.us
Capitol Phone: (503) 880-1872
Representative Fred Girod - Member of the Sub-Committee of Education
Representing Senate District 9 - including Clackamas, Linn and Marion Counties
Email: sen.fredgirod@state.or.us
Capitol Phone: (503) 769-4321
Representative Larry Galizio - Member of the Sub-Committee of Education
Representing House District 35 - including Washington and Multnomah Counties
Email: rep.larrygalizio@state.or.us
Capitol Phone: (503) 986-1435
Senator Margarett Carter - Co-Chair of the Joint Committee of Ways and Means
Representing Senate District 22 - including the Portland Metropolitian area
Email: sen.margaretcarter@state.or.us
Capitol Phone (503) 986-1722
Senator Mark Hass
Representing Senate District 14 - Lake Oswego, Hillsboro, Portland area
Email: sen.markhass@state.or.us
Capitol Phone: (503) 986-1714
Senator Viki Walker
Representing Senate District 7 - including Eugene, Junction City, Creswell area
Email: sen.vickiwalker@state.or.us
Capitol Phone: (503) 986-1707
As far as the emails, quality is always important, but we're looking more for quantity. This would be a good example to pass on to those who may be interested in sending emails on our behalf; members, parents, alumni, supporters, community members, administration, etc. The emails should include:
Dear the Honorable (Senator/Representative) (last name) ,
*introduce yourself, tell them your story (what FFA has done for you...If you're a freshman, what are you looking forward to accomplishing in your next three years of FFA...If you're a parent, what has it done for your children...If you're alumni, what has it done for the members you support, etc.)
*explain what FFA has done for your school and community and the importance of FFA/why it's worthy of being in the budget in this economic chrisis
***ask that the Student Leadership Development Center be put in the education budget.
Sincerely,
(your first and last name)
FFA Chapter
FarmSpace
