Children's Week Statewide Minutes
Tuesday,December 14th at 10 a.m.
Participants on the call: Amber Dame, Anne Hoyt, Karla Higgenbotham, Pete Pazer, Ginny Kirkland, Stacey Finkel, Dee Wilson, Bob Rooks, Mary Beth Salamone, Bobbie Mathews, Vivianne Trehorne, Debbie Brown, Tameka Thomas, Lillie Blackshear, Tammy Fisher, Jim Adams, Pat Houston, Ted Granger, Jason Zaborske and Brittany Smith
Ted Granger (United Way of Florida - President) - Significant increase in student population which will affect the budget during 2011 session. 70-80% of the budget comprises education and human services. Cuts will be coming to those areas in 2011. State is facing about a $3 Billion shortfall, revenue estimating conference is meeting today, and will put out more precise figures. There has been discussion about a tax payer bill of rights (TABOR), which would prohibit increasing annual state revenues by more than population growth + inflation + 1%, or about 3%-4% in the foreseeable future. The average in past years, before the recession, was about 6%-8%. Background screening has caused a tremendous amount of problems, UWOF is working with DCF and other providers to address some of these issues.
Ted is following up with a letter to the new Governor, inviting him to all of our events, but especially to speak at the dinner. Comments were that this would be a good place for advocates to meet with him and get to know who we are and get on his radar. Ted said legislative session schedules are tight, and he encouraged participants to e-mail the Governor through his website, and provide him with suggestions and introduce themselves.
The schedule of events is up on the website. Local events are being planned and are getting posted, they will take place in February, March and April.
Committee Updates - Committees meet once a month to give updates.
Local Events Committee
Next call - Jan.4th at 10am
Posted all events we have received on the website. If you want to organize something let us know and we can post that up. Must request pedometers and t-shirt by January 1st, we will ship them out to you mid February. Need all event information by January 1st to start running Radio and TV ads; will have a 20 sec PSA that is statewide and a 30 sec PSA that includes local event information. Last year was the first year we had the full statewide push, and will do it again this year. There is a form you can submit local events to or you can email your events to us. In the process of working on a local events sponsorship package. We have secured a travel partner; Astro Travel and Tours. Astro will provide discounted coach line to any Children's Week group that will be traveling to Tallahassee. They have WIFI on all the buses and have one of the best safety records in Florida.
Media Committee
Next call - Jan 6th at 2:30pm
TV and radio ads will be ready to go in January. Social Media - Facebook and Twitter - will start to take off after the first of the year, working with a consultant to help make it better. The Children's Week flyer will be posted mid January. AIV (hanging of the hands partner) is doing a Video preview that you can share with your network and supporters. February 1st - 10am conference call - low cost no cost ways to get media promotions with George Sheldon. Pearson is doing a new program called We Give Books. Last year they were our literacy sponsor that did the reading corner, they are coming back and will do it all again for 2011. They are having a literacy tour in Florida, starting in Jacksonville going down the state and coming back up to culminate at Children's Week.
Children's Activities at the Capitol
Looking for entertainment, if you know any children's group or anyone performs for children please let us know. We are still waiting on speakers. The Teens Only Town Hall Meeting is a little different this year; the 12 person student youth panel will also be a youth cabinet and attend year round meetings around the state. Capitol Steps for Kids - pedometer challenge - waiting to see if Nemours is going to sponsor again, if not we will still be doing the challenge we will just have to get the pedometers ourselves. Hanging of the Hands is Sunday from 1-4. The Youth advocacy training will be on the Tuesday after the Town Hall Meeting. We are still working on a partner for the luncheon, taking reservations now. Guided tours times are posted on the website and you can also rsvp for that.
Awards Luncheon
Application is posted - highlighting successful initiatives and selecting four winner. February 1st is the deadline to nominate. Partners will receive tickets and then they will be open to the public at the price of $25. The menu is a trio salad with chicken salad, tuna salad and pasta salad.
Dinner
Partners will get tickets and then they will be open to the public at the price of $50. Performers are Javacya and Creative Pre School. The keynote speaker is Chief Justice Charles Canady. The menu is a chicken and filet duet.
Advocacy training is being moved to a conference call, instead of doing it between the lunch and the dinner. Will be better since people that are not in Tallahassee can join. It will take place on Thursday, March 24th 12-1 pm or 7-8 pm
Chiles Award
January 17th is the new deadline for nominations.
Partnership
Trying to get all partners in by the end of the year. We have some great new partners for 2011 that are going to make CW bigger and better!
*Next call scheduled for January 11th at 10am