NYSPAC Fall Conference

1. NYSPAC Fall Conference October 23, 2010

2. Agenda • Welcome and Introductions • NYSPAC Update • Spring Conference 2010 Highlights • Advocacy 101 • Issues Presentations • Guest Speaker: “State of the State” • Delegate Votes • Roles & Responsibilities / Next Steps

3. Welcome & Introductions • NYSPAC Board of Directors • Member League Introductions

4. NYSPAC Update • Who We Are & What We Do • Treasurer’s Report

5. Who We Are & What We Do • Comprised of 18 Junior Leagues, representing more than 8,000 women from New York state.  • NYSPAC takes action on select state and national issues that support its focus areas: • Women & Health • Children & Families • NYSPAC educates League members on issues selected for support, facilitates communication among the member leagues, provides training in advocacy skills and strategies, and acts as the representative body of the member Leagues at the state and national level. • Recent advocacy efforts include: • Securing healthier food and beverage options for children in NY schools • Improving the lives of victims of domestic violence • Addressing foster care issues for “ageing out” youth • Securing anti-human trafficking

6. Current NYSPAC Member Leagues

7. Spring Conference 2010 Jill Bryson, Women & Health Task Force and Tara Regan, Children & Families Task Force

8. Spring Conference 2010 Highlights • One Voice. . . • 9 Leagues • 27 Delegates • More than 40 Legislative Appointments • One Bill Per Focus Area. . . • Women & Health • Domestic Violence • Children & Families • Childhood Nutrition

9. Spring Conference 2010 – Domestic Violence • Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (DVJSA) • Draft legislation that would allow for judicial discretion with respect to the sentencing of domestic violence victims convicted of crimes that are a direct result of their abuse • As the proposed bill was still in development, NYSPAC supported the issue by educating Legislators and increasing their awareness of the need for legislation to address this critical population • NYSPAC continued its ongoing partnership with the Women in Prison Project (WIPP) on the development of this proposed bill • Next steps: • Expect bill to be formally introduced in January 2011 and legislative hearing to be scheduled in early January • WIPP expects the DVSJA to move quickly through committee review and anticipates a floor vote during the spring 2011 Legislative Session.

10. Spring Conference 2010 - Childhood Nutrition • NYSPAC supported three bills addressing childhood nutrition: • The Healthy Schools Act (Ass. Member Nolan, Sen. Oppenheimer) • To establish a wide range of health initiatives to prevent childhood obesity, including healthy nutritional standards for food and beverages served in public schools • Status: no votes for this bill in current legislative session • A7124/S1446 (Ass. Member Galef, Sen. LaValle) • To amend public law regarding the sale, availability, and distribution of healthy foods and beverages on school property and at school functions • Status: no votes for this bill in current legislative session • The School Nutrition Act (Sen. Oppenheimer) • To provide for the development and implementation of statewide standards and a review of school wellness projects • Status: no votes for this bill in current legislative session

11. Advocacy 101 Fiona Grant, Lisa Hofflich & Denise Murphy McGraw

12. Agenda • Definition: Advocacy • How and Why NYSPAC Advocates • Overview of NY State Structure • How a Bill Becomes a Law • NY State Government Timeline • NYSPAC Legislative Wins

13. What is Advocacy? • Advocacy (noun): • dates from the 15th century • The act of pleading or arguing in favor of something, such as a cause, idea, or policy; active support of a cause or course of action.

14. Why Junior Leagues Advocate • “Advocacy demonstrates the belief that democracy works – that your voice can make a difference. When Junior League volunteers advocate on the behalf of the women and children that we serve, we not only give that community a voice, but a vibrant, passionate and articulate voice.” • Saundra Smith, Past Communications Vice President New York Junior League

15. NYSPAC Advocacy: What, How? • What • Serves as the body that researches, vets, selects and sets NYSPAC’s annual legislative advocacy agenda • Ensures that the annual legislative advocacy agenda is in line with NYSPAC Member League priorities • How • NYSPAC looks to Member Leagues and their community partners, State-wide community organizations, Legislators and Government agencies for ideas on which legislation to publicly support each year • NYSPAC typically supports at least one to two bills each year, developing NYSPAC Member-approved position statements for each bill and directly lobbying elected officials for their support

16. NYSPAC Advocacy: Goals • Build Relationships • Educate • Advocate

17. NYSPAC Advocacy: Tools • Advocacy Day • State-wide representation • Power of one voice at legislative meetings • Partnerships • Teaming up with like-minded coalitions, grass roots organizations and advocacy groups • JL Community Action • Issue forums • Relationship building • Postcard and letter writing campaigns

18. NY State Structure

19. How a Bill becomes a Law Committee Comprised of specialists who are members of Standing Committees who evaluate bills and decide whether to "report" them (send them) to the Senate floor for a final decision by the full membership. Passage After explanation, discussion or debate, a vote is taken. If a majority of the Senators approves, the bill is sent to the Assembly. If bill is approved in the Assembly without amendment, it goes on to the Governor. The reverse procedure is followed if the Assembly first passes a bill. Governor has 10 days (not counting Sundays) to sign or veto bills passed by both houses/ Idea Starting point in the process - the first point at which the citizen has a chance to have a say in the writing or rewriting of law. Drafting Put idea into bill form - usually done by the staff of the Legislative Bill Drafting Commission. Bill Bills can be introduced only by legislators or by standing committees of the Senate and Assembly.

20. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. Jun. Jul. Aug. New York State Government Timeline 21-Day Amendments Enacted Budget Due: April 1st Executive Budget 1-house budgets Elections State of the State Speech Budget Negotiations Program Bills Summer! Legislative Committee Hearings Executive Budget Making Governor signs or vetoes program bills (continues through September) Start of Fiscal Year Legislative Session (mid Jan.-late June)

21. Recent NYSPAC Legislative Wins • Mental Parity – Timothy’s Law • Supported by NYSPAC for 3 years • Governor Pataki signed into law in December 2006 • Combating Human Trafficking • Passed same year NYSPAC supported legislation • Governor Spitzer signed into law in May 2007 • Funding for Women’s Shelter Services Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking • Passed same year NYSPAC supported legislation • Governor Spitzer signed into law in September 2008

22. NYSPAC Timeline: 2010 – 2011 Advocacy Year 2011Legislative Session Ends Task Forces Begin Scheduling Legislative Appointments for Advocacy Day Task Force Chairs lead Fall Conference prep to educate delegates on issues research and how to present an issue at Fall Conference New York State Legislature’s 2011 Legislative Session Opens Task Forces Finalize Position Statements; Draft Key Talking Points Task Forces Finalize Talking Points and Legislative Appointment Schedule Election Day (11/2); Task Forces Begin In-Depth Issues Research Legislators Introduce New Legislation; Committee Agendas Set Follow-up Letters Sent to Legislators Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan May Feb Mar Apr Jun NYSPAC Leagues Begin Issues Research (Connect with community partners on key issues) Task Forces Begin Drafting Position Statement(s) NYSPAC Spring Conference & Advocacy Day (TBD) Task Forces Continue Issues Research & Community Outreach Continue on NYSPAC Advocacy Agenda NYSPAC Concludes Advocacy for 2010 - 2011 Task Forces Reach Out to Legislators; Identify Bills that Fit with NYSPAC Advocacy Agenda Task Forces Reconvene on Advocacy Agenda (review action items from Legislative appointments and discuss next steps needed on advocacy outreach) NYSPAC Fall Conference (10/23) -Delegates Vote to Select 2010 – 2011 Advocacy Agenda Final Position Statements Sent to NYSPAC Leagues for Approval

23. A Last Thought… • “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has!” - Margaret Mead, Anthropologist

24. Issues Presentations and Open Q&A NYSPAC Delegates

25. “State of the State” Barbara BartolettiLegislative Director League of Women Voters

26. 2010 – 2011 Delegate Vote • NYSPAC Member Leagues to vote on: • 2010-2011 advocacy agenda – up to two policy issues, with one runner-up issue • Date for Spring Conference 2011 • April 4th & 5th • April 11th & 12th • Voting Procedure: • One vote per League only • Board Members are not eligible to vote*(*unless designated as their League’s voting delegate)

27. Roles & Responsibilities / Next Steps • Task Forces • Issues research and prep calls • Drafting of position statement(s); talking points/key messages • NYSPAC Members • Position statement approvals • Spring Conference & Advocacy Day • Issues training & guest speakers • Legislative appointments • Press conference

28. Thank you for a fun and productive Fall Conference – we look forward to seeing you at Spring Conference next April !