UPDATE: School Board proposal to close peninsula pools

Kristin Fry

Dear Kachemak Swim Club families,

I apologize for another email, I know you have been receiving alot of emails from us this week (especially swim team members as we are about to start our annual Swim-a-Thon fundrasier). Our fight to save the pools on the peninsula is not over. At the meeting on Tuesday night, there were great speeches from swimmers, coaches, and businesses who use the peninsula pools. Our next step is reaching out to our local and state representatives. A swim coach from Soldotna has put together all the information below to help us all navigate who we should reach out to and how we can reach out, to express our concern over the possible loss of the pools on the peninsula. Please help to save our pools on the peninsula, for our kids, seniors, and community!

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Hello all,

Below is a list of tools which can be used to quickly and directly communicate with our local and state representatives. These tools are mainly to pressure state legislators, however I do believe pressure needs to be kept up on the Assembly members as well. Each tool will have a brief description, and when applicable, a link to a system, website, or document. Please reach out with any questions.

  1. Letter – The most traditional way to get voices heard, emailing or mailing a letter to representatives is a solid first step in applying pressure. Click here for an instructional document.
    1. Contact info for representatives at the AKLEG. Click here.
  2. Utilizing legislative Information Offices - The LIOs distribute a wide range of data on legislative records, documents, schedules and events. In Alaska's smaller communities, the LIOs also serve as resource centers for information on the executive and judicial branches and the federal government. During regular sessions of the legislature, which begin in January and run for 90 days, the LIOs are staffed and equipped to provide Alaskans with up-to-the-minute information on the status of bills, as well as the particulars of committee and floor activities. In addition to having access to the information.
    1. Homer LIO - 270 West Pioneer Ave. Suite B.  
      (907) 235-7878       [email protected]
    2. Kenai LIO - 145 Main Street Loop, Suite 217.
      (907) 283-2030       [email protected]
    3. Seward LIO - PO Box 1769, 302 Railway Ste. 119. (907) 224-5066
      [email protected]
    4. Each day during session, the Juneau LIO distributes copies of bills, journals, weekly status reports, etc., to all LIOs. Additionally, much of the information is now available immediately via BASIS on the Legislature's web site.
    5. If you want to regularly receive bill status books, all bills and/or all journals for the entire legislative session, a subscription service is available. Subscription forms are available online, at your LIO or you may write Legislative Affairs Agency, State Capitol Room 3, Juneau, AK 99801-1182 or call (907) 465-3763.
  3. Public Opinion Messages - are brief communications sent from citizens to legislators via the Legislative computer system. The POM program is not intended to replace other forms of communication such as personal letters, but is designed to provide Alaskans with a timely forum for expressing their views on legislative issues. POMs are taken and sent only during legislative sessions.
    1. If you wish to send an online POM go to https://www.akleg.gov/poms/. To send an online POM you will need to input your personal information as it appears on your voter registration card. Or you may mail, fax or hand deliver your signed message to any LIO, or call an LIO to have it transcribed. POMs may not exceed 50 words. They must include the sender's name, address, telephone number and the name of the receiving legislator(s). They may not contain vulgar or obscene language.
  4. Resist Bot - Text RESIST to 50409. Or, talk to the bot on Apple Messages, Telegram, WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger or Twitter. Answer the questions the bot texts you, and in two minutes you’ll have sent a letter to your elected officials, like your members of Congress or state legislators. There are dozens of other keywords that can check your voting registration, find your polling place & more!
    1. Use the following keywords depending on who you want it communicated to
      1. LEGISLATURE - Contact all your state legislators
      2. STATE - Contact your Governor and/or state legislators
      3. UPPER - Contact your state senator(s)
      4. OFFCIALs - List your officials and their phone numbers
      5. GOV – Contact your governor
  5. We should consider making videos, to effectively communicate the emotions being felt

 

Please utilize as many of these tools as possible. Specifically, letters, POMs, and several organizers I know have had good success with Resistbot as well

Above all – it is most important that the students complete these and communicate to the legislators as well, not merely the parents, coaches, educators, and union members.