TCs please act now.  Contact your representatives in Washington.  This is serious and could mean the end of OWP as we know and love it.  

****************************************************************
Priscilla L. Griffith
Ruth G. Hardman Chair in Education
Director of the Oklahoma Writing Project
The University of Oklahoma/The Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education
338 Cate Center Drive, Room 190
Norman, Ok 73019
TEL 405-325-3534
FAX 405-325-7841
[log in to unmask]
http://education.ou.edu/hardman/
http://owp.ou.edu

________________________________________
From: National Writing Project [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, February 19, 2010 12:30 PM
To: Griffith, Priscilla L.
Subject: Special Bulletin: NWP Needs Your Help

- NWP Site Bulletin -

NWP NEEDS YOUR HELP –– WRITE NOW!

Dear Site Leaders,

The time to advocate for NWP is now! The Administration's requested budget for FY 2011 recommends consolidating funding for NWP with that of five other organizations, which would mean no more direct funding for NWP. We expect the Dear Colleague letters to go into circulation soon, but we need you to help get the word out now about the importance of direct funding for NWP. Here is what you can do to gain support for NWP:

1. Call or email your senators and representatives to urge them to continue direct federal funding for NWP and to request their signatures on the soon-to-be-released NWP Dear Colleague letters.
* Tell your legislators how the writing project has affected you and made an impact on your teaching.
* Give examples from your own experience.

2. Tweet, blog, and post to Facebook about the threat posed to NWP by this new funding strategy.

3. Contact your local newspaper or other media outlets about this issue. Write an op-ed piece or ask them to write an article about what is at risk by consolidating funding for NWP.

4. Encourage parents, administrators, and other interested individuals to write letters in support of NWP to their legislators. You can refer parents and others to the website "NWP Works!" for information about the status of NWP in the Administration's budget and how they can help. You can also include a link to this website in blogs, announcements, or other communications for the general public: http://www.nwpworks.ning.com

We know many of you have already reached out to your senators and representatives, and we greatly appreciate your advocacy work. Please help us keep the momentum going and do all we can to draw attention to the importance of continued direct federal funding for NWP.

If you have questions, need contact information, or are confused in any way, please contact [log in to unmask]

Thank you!

Best regards,

Sharon J. Washington
Executive Director