Greetings:
It’s almost here. SOS Rally day is tomorrow! We expect Springfield to be flooded with 15,000 members of the Responsible Budget Coalition. It will be hard for the governor and legislators to ignore the unified voice of so many.
If you are coming to Springfield, it will be a very different day than most IEA Lobby Days. Here are some things to be aware of:
Wear comfortable shoes. The march route is approximately one mile, so comfortable walking and standing shoes are a must. Wear pink clothing, if possible, to support fellow members who have received pink slips.
Be sure you have all your “stuff” before getting off the bus. Visors and rally towels will be distributed as you leave your bus.
The parking lots at IEA headquarters will be where you receive refreshments.
You will be given a visor on the bus. Keep the visor with you because that will ensure you get a meal at the IEA building. Hotdogs, chips, a cookie and a drink will be available starting at noon and being served for several hours.
Below are some links to other information you likely are to find helpful as your planning your day:
Rally Day page on the website with all you need to know
Have your talking points ready if you have appointments to see your legislators.
We support the 1 percent income tax increase for education, but it isn’t enough.
Support House Bill 174, or similar legislation that provides adequate funds to fix
the problem. We understand a combination of increased revenue and budget
cuts are needed.
Be sure to tell legislators your stories. Let them know how budget cuts are affecting your schools and the impact these cuts will have on your communities.
If you can’t be here for Rally Day, please take a moment to visit the IEA website where you will see a large red-white-and-blue rectangle that says “E-mail Your Legislator.” Please click on it and you will have the opportunity to send your lawmakers either an already prepared letter, or feel free to write them your own, urging them to save education jobs and find a solution to the education funding problem.
Also, if you have not yet found us on facebook or twitter, Rally Day would provide the perfect opportunity to do so. In fact, if you’re on twitter, do a search for the hashtag “#SOSRally” and you will find tweets from others from IEA who are here and tweeting from the event. Feel free to add your own messages and stick the hashtag in at the end.
You can also follow the live stream of the rally on the IEA website. We will be tweeting and updating our facebook page throughout the day. Be part of the action, even if you can’t be in Springfield.
Fairfield school featured in USA Weekend
Fairfield High School lost a treasured member of their staff last fall when Dana Hungerford died suddenly of a heart attack. A teacher at the school for more than 30 years, his love of his family, his community and his sense of humor were treasured by those who knew him.
In his honor, the staff and students of the school decided to raise money to build a playground at a local park. Their efforts were recognized by their own community, who stepped out in force with open wallets, the local park district, which found some grant money, and USA Weekend, which chose the school as one of the 10 featured “Make A Difference Day” winners.
The school was featured in the Sunday magazine. Also included to the right of the story are ways that you or your school can get involved with Make a Difference Day.
As a result, the money raised will now go to fund three separate play structures around Fairfield, a small, financially-struggling town in southern Illinois.
Watch the IEA website and the May Advocate for a story about the school, its students and its staff coming soon.