[OLPC-Chicago] The Children's Low-Cost Laptop Act - Contact your Illinois Legislators NOW!!!

[Larry Langellier]

Dear OLPC-Chicago Enthusiast,
 
Have you heard about the Children's Low-Cost Laptop Act? This bill is currently in front of the Illinois House of Representatives and is scheduled to be voted on this week. Read the attachment for additional details. You can also follow the progress of the bill (HB 5000) at http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=5000&GAID=9&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=35963&SessionID=51&GA=95. Full text of the bill can be found at http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=51&GA=95&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=5000&GAID=9&LegID=35963&SpecSess=&Session=.
 
In the spirit of One Laptop Per Child, we need to muster grassroots support for this bill. Contact your Representative and Senator. Ask your family, friends, and coworkers to support the bill also. Let's be heard in Springfield!!!
 
The information below will guide you on how to get in touch with your Representative and Senator. Feel free to add your own personal touches to this 'script'. The more personal you make your note, the more effective it will be. Consider calling, faxing, or mailing also!
 
Spread the word quickly!
 
Thanks,Larry Langellier
 
First -- find your Representative and/or Senator at http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/SelectSearchType.aspx
All of them have 2 offices -- one in their home district and one in Springfield. You can call and write both of them. For a phone call, just find your Representative or Senator's phone number, call the office and tell them in a few sentences that you hope they will support House Bill 5000 (The Children's Low Cost Laptop Act). For a letter or email, feel free to use the script below: ***PERSONALIZE THE BLANKS AND THE STUFF IN ALL CAPS***  Dear ____________________________,  I believe that laptop computers can help improve, and maybe even transform, elementary school education in Illinois. When you have the chace to vote on the Illinois Children's Low-cost Laptop Act (House Bill 5000), I hope you will think about the kids in our community, whose future social, economic and educational opportunities will be tied to their command of technology. The Children's Low Cost Laptop Act calls on the Illinois State Board of Education to administer a pilot project that would allow up to 300 elementary schools in Illinois to receive grant funding for low-cost (under $400) laptops. Support for professional development (teacher training), school infrastructure readiness and laptop repair are accounted for in the bill. Elementary schools like ______________________________ in our community could benefit if this bill becomes law. But make no mistake. I know that laptops alone will not fix all the problems in our schools. The fundamentals -- reading, writing, math, history, science, art and music, too -- can all be reinforced with computer technology. We must make it a priority in Illinois to produce a generation of young people who can outperform kids in other states and other parts of the globe. House Bill 5000 is a real step in this direction. Thank you for considering my letter, and for your work on behalf of the people of ________________. PERSONAL STORY AND/OR CLOSING COMMENT. Sincerely, YOUR NAME
_________________________________________________________________
Use video conversation to talk face-to-face with Windows Live Messenger.
http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/connect_your_way.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_messenger_video_042008
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.laptop.org/pipermail/olpc-chicago/attachments/20080401/438075cd/attachment-0001.htm 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Childrens_Low_Cost_Laptop_Act_Overview.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 122367 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.laptop.org/pipermail/olpc-chicago/attachments/20080401/438075cd/attachment-0001.pdf