Dear Iowa AEYC Members,
As your state team leader, I am proud to coordinate a group from Iowa to bring our expertise and commitment to Washington, DC. Whether you’re an experienced advocate or a brand-new educator, we welcome all of your voices and hope you will join us from February 24 – 26, 2019 in our nation’s capital.
BENEFITS OF ATTENDING
As a 2019 Public Policy Forum participant, you will have the opportunity to:
- Be part of a powerful team working to advance federal and state early childhood policy
- Hear from and network with national and state policy leaders and fellow advocates
- Share your perspective and insight by engaging with Power to the Profession
- Get the resources and experiences you need to sharpen your advocacy skills
- Learn about new tools, strategies, and tactics to try in your own state and community
- Build critical relationships on Capitol Hill with members of Congress and their staff
SCHEDULE
Beginning on Sunday, February 24 at 1:00 pm ET and continuing all day on Monday, February 25, you will participate in a range of expert policy briefings, guest speakers, and skill-building breakout sessions, providing many opportunities for networking and learning. On Tuesday, February 26, you will have the opportunity to experience an exciting and energizing Hill Day, building important relationships with your Representatives, Senators, and their staff – including lots of new members coming to Congress for the first time this year!
COST OF ATTENDANCE
The fee to attend the 2019 Public Policy Forum is $100/person, which includes all three days of the event, from the start at 1:00 pm ET on Sunday through the end of Hill Day (usually around 5:00 pm) on Tuesday! Expected cost of participation for airfare, lodging, food, and attending the Forum is approximatley $1600 per person. IAEYC is unable to pay for Forum expenses, and participants are required fund their own expenses.
REGISTRATION
As State Team Leader, I am responsible for coordinating our state team. Please contact me directly at
ljstonehocker@gmail.com to receive an online registration link. While the registration deadline is
January 25, 2019, I encourage you to reach out and reserve your spot early!
ACCOMMODATIONS
The forum will be held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia, close to the airport and Capitol Hill. We encourage you take advantage of the special event rate and book your stay at the Marriott using this
unique online link. The room rates are:
● Single/Double occupancy rooms at $219/night
● Triple occupancy rooms at $239/night
The housing registration deadline is also January 25, 2019. Please make sure you are registered for Policy Forum BEFORE your reserve your housing. Once you have confirmed your registration for the Forum itself, however, we encourage you to make your hotel reservations as soon as possible.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Please note: NAEYC nor IAEYC does not provide funding for travel or lodging expenses.
RECRUIT MORE ADVOCATES
Since this is a members-only event, we encourage you to recruit a diverse group of your friends, colleagues, and partners who work in all early childhood settings to
become NAEYC members and join you in Washington, DC. Now is the perfect time!
If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to contact me directly or email NAEYC at
advocacy@naeyc.org. Keep checking
NAEYC’s website to find more information on transportation information, recommendations for D.C. visitors, highlights from the 2018 Public Policy Forum, and more!
Every day, you work to prepare our next generation of leaders, supporting children, families, educators, and communities. We know exactly why an investment in early childhood education matters—and why early childhood educators are the key to success. And it is our job to make sure our elected officials know it too.
I look forward to working together as we head to Washington DC in February!
Sincerely,
Leslie Stonehocker, IAEYC Public Policy Chair
IAEYC Iowa State Team Lead
