Advocacy Award
Deadline: June 1
PURPOSE:
The Oklahoma Reading Association annually recognizes influences in education in Oklahoma by a local council significantly involved with advocacy for literacy.
ELIGIBILITY:
Any local council that has made major contributions to advocacy in Oklahoma in three of the following areas is eligible to apply for this award:
CRITERIA:
The following shall serve as the criteria for the presentation of this award. Councils must do items 1-7 and two of the remaining optional items, in addition to meeting the two major prerequisites on the nomination form.
PREREQUISITES:
The completion of two prerequisites listed below is necessary to apply for this award, in addition to the required and optional criteria:
REQUIRED ITEMS:
OPTIONAL ITEMS:
Award:
A council representative such as the president or legislative representative will be honored at the annual ORA Leadership Conference held in July.
Procedures:
The Oklahoma Reading Association annually recognizes influences in education in Oklahoma by a local council significantly involved with advocacy for literacy.
ELIGIBILITY:
Any local council that has made major contributions to advocacy in Oklahoma in three of the following areas is eligible to apply for this award:
- Educating members about advocacy skills and legislative issues.
- Creating an action plan and council network to advocate for educational and legislative issues.
- Activating efforts to influence and respond to state public policy.
CRITERIA:
The following shall serve as the criteria for the presentation of this award. Councils must do items 1-7 and two of the remaining optional items, in addition to meeting the two major prerequisites on the nomination form.
PREREQUISITES:
The completion of two prerequisites listed below is necessary to apply for this award, in addition to the required and optional criteria:
- A council must have an active legislative representative on file with ORA's legislative network.
- The legislative representative must have attended the annual ORA Leadership Conference.
REQUIRED ITEMS:
- At least five of the local council's members must be members of the International Reading Association LAT association--refer to Advocacy Manual for form.
- Develop an action plan to reach specific advocacy goals; for example, what are your steps for spreading advocacy information to your council members?
- Show evidence of participating in ORA calls to action, such as a copy of a letter to a legislator.
- Send e-mail or newsletter updates on advocacy issues and alerts to council members, such as the ones that we send you.
- Keep a person within your council who will be kept informed regarding contact with the State Advocacy Chairs.
- Develop and distribute resource materials on advocacy to share with members and the state chair.
- Include politicians from the council's district on the mailing list.
OPTIONAL ITEMS:
- Conduct periodic meetings with a Legislator and maintain a record of comments made by a Legislator regarding their position on concerns to ORA/educational issues, especially reading.
- Develop a council web page section on legislative issues.
- Hold advocacy skill-building workshops for members.
- Write letters to editors regarding educational and legislative concerns.
- Arrange for letter writing booths or campaigns or phone call campaigns.
- Give testimony to legislative committee or board of education.
- Invite legislators to speak at meetings or arrange a "Meet your Legislator" meeting.
- Give an honorary membership to a politician.
- Utilize media resources.
Award:
A council representative such as the president or legislative representative will be honored at the annual ORA Leadership Conference held in July.
Procedures:
- The Oklahoma Reading Association Board shall solicit nominations from the local councils of ORA.
- The Executive Committee and Legislative Committee shall -review supporting documents and make the final recommendations to the Board.
- The Oklahoma Reading Association shall approve the final selection.
- Winners shall be honored at the annual ORA Leadership Conference.
