Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/85441
WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTION By Sherry Posnick-Goodwin YES ON 30, NO ON 32 . Madeline Shapiro repeats this phrase to educate others about the upcoming election. "At my 88-year-old mother's birthday celebration, I told my family 'Yes on 30, No on 32.' At the airport, I talked to a fellow passenger who literally wrote a note to himself, 'Yes on 30, No on 32.' At the doctor's office, I spoke to the doctor and his staff. unteering to work on the campaign full time this fall. But you don't need a full-time commitment to make a difference, says Shapiro, an East Whittier Education Association member and a member of CTA's Political Involvement Committee and the CTA/ABC Commit- tee (Association for Better Citizenship, CTA's political action committee). "There is so much CTA members can do, and Shapiro is among hundreds of CTA members vol- " sition 32), which can be done at the CTA website, www.cta.org/ campaign2012." Voters are influenced by friends, family and com- munity groups. Lawn signs, public opinion polls, and even a conversation in the next restaurant booth affect how people cast their ballot in an election, according to a recent UC Davis study. "People still respect and admire the teachers tion Act (Proposition 30) and the Special Exemptions Act (Propo- Madeline Shapiro every little bit helps," says Shapiro. "To start, take the time to become familiar with the Schools and Local Public Safety Protec- spreading the message: YES on 30, NO on 32. in their own community, despite the anti-public school propaganda in the media," says Shapiro. "You have a powerful and valued voice within your circle of family, friends, students and their parents, and in the organizations that you belong to. Use your voice to spread the message wherever you go." Here are ideas from some other CTA members for ANDY MERRIFIELD, California Faculty Association vice president for Northern California and CSU Sonoma chapter president INDIVIDUALS: Contact your chapter leaders and ask who is working on the campaign. Or contact central labor councils in your part of the state. Volunteer to work at a phone bank or walk precincts. Write op-ed pieces to local newspapers. Write letters to the editor. CHAPTERS: Reach out to local association members and community members with e-mail, texting and robo calls to remind people to vote, solicit help in the campaign and recommend how to vote. If locals don't have their own phone banks, they can work with other labor groups. THERE'S NO TIME? Your colleagues they will have less time in their lives if we are unsuccessful. Their workload might go through the roof because others will lose their jobs. Or they might have lots of time be- cause they may be looking for a new job themselves. YEN NGUYEN, Student CTA communications chair, UC Davis USE TECHNOLOGY: Tweet, post on Facebook, and use whatever form of social media you're familiar with to inform, educate and inspire your members and followers to vote. Post facts about the propositions as your status updates, write on your friends' walls to see how they're voting, and share different pages and groups so that everyone you're friends with will be able to read up on the facts. If you come across blogs with anti- union sentiments, post a response! GET OUT THE VOTE: Hold voter registration drives. It's easy and fast. Follow up with those you register to make sure they vote. Appeal to young people: In 2010, only 45 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds who were eligible to vote registered. SEEK OUT STUDENTS: Get Student CTA members nearby involved. Help us help you! SEE RESOURCES PAGE 22 38 California Educator October 2012