SOS Rally Day – April 21, 2010
On April 21, 2010 we will be holding our SOS Lobby Day at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. The Responsible Budget Coalition is a group of diverse organizations that have come together to support comprehensive tax reform and a revenue increase to support school funding, among other things. This is our opportunity to display our collective strength and to voice our concerns about the issues we care about directly to our legislators.
To generate member participation in the SOS Rally Day in Springfield, IPACE is providing funding and logistical assistance to locals and regions that desire to travel via bus. Each regional office will have an office contact by March 1st who will help locals and regions secure transportation to and from Springfield.
Requests for buses must be funneled through these individuals by calling the appropriate IEA Regional office and asking for the Rally Day Office Contacts, or by directly contacting Donna Proefrock at 217-544-0706 ext. 2232.
To ensure the best possible coordination and efficiency, please reach out to the regional office contact.
SOS Rally Day Goal:
We hope each region can bring a minimum of 30 members. A region or local wishing to bring more will be accommodated. The goal is to have 3,000 – 5,000 IEA members attend. Having more members than that would be welcomed!
Bus information can be found here. We hope that locals and regions will consolidate to fill buses. Coordination through the Lobby Day Office Contacts will assist with this.
Logistics:
Due to the higher-than-average attendance expected at this year’s SOS Rally Day, some logistical details are still being arranged. Information regarding parking and bus routes will be updated here soon.
The tentative schedule of events for the day is:
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Buses arrive at IEA Headquarters
11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Walk to rally staging point at 2nd and Capitol
11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. SOS rally speakers at 2nd and Capitol
12:15 p.m. Beginning of march
1:00 p.m. Visit legislators (time permitting)
(Lunch will be available at Noon, and members may eat at their leisure)
Issue information:
This will be disseminated closer to the actual SOS Rally Day, as legislative issues continue to change during the legislative process. Bill information will be provided soon. Currently, issues like school funding, pension funding, the threat of two-tier pensions, and others that are proceeding through the legislature. For legislative updates, please go to the IEA website to sign up for the Capitol Report.
Build Local Relationships:
Building the local relationship with your legislator is a key to success on Lobby Day. To find your legislator, please look at your voter registration card, or input your home address on the IEA website to find your legislators. To be connected to your legislators’ Springfield Office, please call 217/782-2000 (Legislative Switchboard) and ask to be connected to your legislator’s office.
- Members should try to meet with their legislators in their regional areas before coming to Springfield.
- Members need to set up their SOS Rally Day meetings with their legislators at that initial regional meeting and before they leave to come to Springfield. This will aid in their effectiveness with their elected officials as they start to develop a relationship with their Senator or Representative.
We need IEA members to stress to these decision makers that their votes in Springfield impact just about every aspect of our career.
Substitutes:
IEA locals can use their local IPACE rebate money to pay for substitutes. Instructions on how local presidents can request their local’s IPACE rebate can be found under the IPACE section of the IEA website.
Resources
- Lobby Day Office Contacts
- Lobbying Decision Makers
- Ten Golden Rules of Lobbying
- IPACE Bus Request Form-2010 Lobby Day
- What is a Lobby Day video