February6,2013
SKILLSUSADAYATTHE
STATE CAPITOL
SkillsUSADayattheStateCapitol| ChapterGuide
BeanAdvocateforSkillsUSAandCTAE
February6, 2013isSkillsUSADayat the StateCapitol.Thisgivesmembersandadvisorsan opportunityto visittheStateCapitolwhiletheGeneralAssemblyis insession.It is ourbestopportunityto informlegislatorsofthevalueof SkillsUSAandCareer,Technicaland AgriculturalEducation.Legislators relyheavilyonthe viewpointsexpressedbytheir localconstituentswhentheymakeimportantdecisions regardingeducationalissues.Adayspentactivelyparticipatingandengagedwithourlegislators
providesaneffectivevoiceforourorganization.A visittotheGeorgiaCapitolalsooffersstudentsan opportunityto viewfirst-handstategovernmentin actionandto learnaboutthejudicialandlawmaking processes.
xTentativeScheduleofEvents
Thescheduleis largelyleftupto the individualchapterstoorganizeandarrange. Belowis asuggestedschedule:
8:30–9:00a.m.Arriveat theCapitolandproceedthroughsecurity
9:00–noonSchedulepagingopportunities,visitswithlegislators,galleryviewingand toursifdesired.If readingof aSkillsUSADayProclamationis arranged thenchapterswillbenotifiedof thetimeandgallerybeforehand.Ifa grouppicture withtheGovernoris arrangedthenchapterswillbenotified beforehandof thetimeandshouldmeetontherotundasteps.
NoonLunchwithchaptermembers
1:00p.m.Travelbacktoschoolorcontinuewithvisits,etc.iftimeallows.
xContactYourLegislatorsInAdvance
Contactyourlegislatorsin earlyJanuarytosetup appointmentstotalk withthem inpersonon February6.Byschedulingappointmentsin advance,membersandadvisorsaremorelikelytoreceiveat leastafewminutesof undividedattentionfrom locallegislators.SenatorsandRepresentativesare usuallymorethanhappyto accommodateconstituents,especiallystudentgroups.Atthe veryleast,he
orshewillprobablymaketimeforanofficialphotographwith yourchapter.Itis probablybesttomake theinitialcontactbyphone.Contactinformationforrepresentatives’andsenators’officesis availableon the internetat made,itis nicetofollowupwithaletteror emailaswell.Studentsmayalsowishtoserveaspages.Legislatorsareallowedalimitednumberof pageslots,so itis importanttomakethesecontactsearly.
xDress
Allattendeesshouldplanto weartheirofficialuniformorSkillsUSApoloshirts.
xDirections
Mapsanddirectionsto theStateCapitolarefoundon thewebsiteof theOfficeof theGeorgia
Secretaryof Stateat
Allowplentyof timetoarrive,asAtlantatrafficwillbeheavy.Ifyouhavealongdistancetotravel, youmaywanttospendthenightinAtlanta.
xParking/Transportation
Busesand vansmaydropoff passengersonWashingtonStreetin frontof theCapitolbutparking thereis notallowed.Busesand vansmayparknearTurnerField.Pleasecoordinatepickuptimewith yourbusdriver.
Automobileparkingis availableinthefollowinglotsforasmallfee.
ƒStevePolk PlazaLocatedon MartinLutherKingJr.DrivebesidetheWorldof Coca-Cola
ƒUndergroundAtlantaPublicLotLocatedon MartinLutherKingJr.Drive
ƒArchivesParkingLotLocatedon CapitolAvenue
MARTAisalsoanoptionfortransportationtotheCapitol.MARTAexitslocatednearesttheCapitolare theGeorgiaStateStation(directlyacrossfrom theCapitolinthe SloppyFloyd/TwinTowerscomplex)or theFivePointsStation(twoblockswestof theCapitolatUndergroundAtlanta).
xEntrancetotheCapitol/Security
Fortheprotectionof stateofficialsandthesecurityof staterecordsandproperty,securitybooths arelocatedat eachentrancetotheCapitol.SchoolgroupsusuallyentertheCapitolattheWashington Streetentranceandwillgo throughmetaldetectors.Yourgroupshouldregisterat thesecuritybooth insidethedoor.Adultchaperonesmustshowphotoidentification.WhileoutsidetheCapitol,students mustnotclimbonstatuesor walkthroughthegrassorflowerbeds.
Studentsandchaperonesarerequiredtopassthroughametaldetectorinasinglefileline.Anx-
raymachinewillexamineallbackpacks,purses,andpackages.Studentsshouldnotbringradios, headphones,knivesoranysharpobjectsintotheCapitol.
xAppointmentswithLegislators
Itmaybenecessaryforyouto notifythe legislatorofyourarrivalbysendingamessagetothe houseorsenatefloor.Officialsat thedeskoutsideeachchambercanhelpyou. Whenmeetingin chaptergroupswithalegislator,rememberthefollowing.
xBeOnTime–Membersofthe legislatureareverybusy,so don’tbelateforascheduled appointment.
xRemainCalm– Putyourleadershipskillsto work.Speakclearlyandestablisheyecontact during your visit.
xBe Prepared–Tell your legislativeleaderwhyyouare in AtlantaandwhatSkillsUSAand
CTAEprogramareallabout.
xBeReasonablyBrief–Remembertostateyourthoughtsasconciselyaspossible.
xRemembertoSayThankYou–Thank yourlegislativeleaderforhisorhertimeand considerationof the importantissues.
xViewingintheGalleries
Teacherswho wishto visitthe viewinggalleryof theHouseorSenatechambersshouldinform thestaffoutsidethegalleriesandnotifythem of thenumberofstudentsintheirgroup.Itmaybe necessarytowait10-15minutestoobservelawmakersinaction.
Studentsshouldberemindedthat importantstatebusinessis beingconductedin eachchamber. Allvisitorstothegalleriesmustremainseatedandquietandmaynotapplaud.Studentsarenotallowed
toleanonthegalleryrailingfrom thefirstrow.Applause,hissesorothernoisesin theHouseGalleryor
inthe lobbiesduringanyspeechorlegislativeproceedingshallbe promptlysuppressed.
xCamerasinsidetheCapitol
Photographyis prohibitedintheHouseandSenategallerieswhilethelegislatureis insession. Videocamerasarealsoprohibitedduringthe legislativesession.IftheGeneralAssemblyis not in session,flashphotographyis permittedasitis throughoutthepublicareasof theCapitol.
xCapitolTours
An interpretivetour providedbytheOfficeof theSecretaryof Stateprovidesstudentsan overviewof Georgiahistorywithvisualemphasisoncurrentevents,portraits,flags,statuesandthe Capitolbuilding.
GeorgiaStateCapitolToursbeginat theCapitoltourdesk(locatedneartheWashingtonStreet entrance)andconsistof abriefoverviewof Capitolhistoryandthe lawmakingprocess;avisitto the publicgalleriesof theHouseof RepresentativesandSenate;andconcludewithavisittotheGeorgia
CapitolMuseum.Visitorsarealsoencouragedto visitthe"Hallof Valor,"whichhousesGeorgia’s
pricelesscollectionof historicflags.
ToursaregivenMondaythroughFriday,excludingholidays.Toursareapproximately45minutes indurationandgroupsizesarelimitedto 50. Thesetoursbeginat thefollowingtimes:
9:30AM10:30AM1:00PM2:00PM
Toursshouldbescheduledin advance.Toscheduleaguidedtour of theCapitol,schoolgroups andothervisitorsshouldaccess tourstaffintheofficeof theSecretaryof Statebyphoneat(404)656-2844orviaemailat .
xDiningFacilities
Severaldiningoptionsareavailableforschoolgroupsatlunchtime. Ifthegroupbringslunch, studentsmayeatontheupperlevelofPlazaPark,neartheCapitolEducationCenteranddirectly acrossfromthewesternentranceoftheCapitol.ThereisalsoacafeteriaintheSloppyFloyd/Twin TowerscomplexlocatedacrossfromtheCapitol.ThefoodcourtatUndergroundAtlantais alsonearby.
xRestrooms
PublicrestroomsintheCapitolarelocatedon thefirstandthirdfloors.
xFinalThoughts
ƒThesessionsgenerallyendbyearlyafternoon,but it variesfrom daytoday.Eatagood
breakfasttosustain youuntilthedayends.
ƒTofinishyourday, youmaywantto visitUndergroundAtlantaforlunchandshopping.
ƒNetworkwithothermembersfrom acrossthestateasmuchasyoucanduringtheday.
xLocalPR
ƒDuplicatethisinformationforyouradministratorstolet themknowaboutthisexcitingday.Also
duplicateandsharethe SkillsUSADayattheCapitolChapterGuidewith yourstudents.
ƒSendthankyounotesto legislatorsfortakingthetimetotalk with youandyourstudents.
ƒSendapictureandarticleto yourlocalnewspaper.
ƒSendpictureandarticleto orpostingon the SkillsUSAGeorgia
website.
xFreeEvent
xPleasenotethatthisis afreeeventforourmembers.
Register yourChapter’sAttendance
Directions: .
SchoolName:AdvisorName:
Address:
City, State,Zip:
SchoolPhone:
AdvisorCell:
AdvisorEmail:
Number of AdvisorsAttending:
Number of StudentsAttending:
Arrivingby: / ƑCar
ƑVan
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