Washington update for July

Hello All!

• Are you a PTA member? Can you help us between 10-3pm on Saturday, July 12? Please? We have submitted a legislative proposal to the Washington State PTA, and are due to testify on its behalf tomorrow, 7/12. We realized Wednesday that Bethan hadn't paid her PTA dues for the 2007/2008 school year, and now we need someone to present the proposal for her! This proposal would increase the penalties for predatory crimes committed against kids within a school zone, defined as 1000 feet around schools, and 100 feet around bus stops.



• Huzzah to Wash-CAP - we made 'partner' with the Take 25 program from NCMEC, reaching more than 30,000 people with the prevention education message during late May and early June. We're still at it, too. If you live in White Center, you'll find Take 25 materials presented by the Kiwanis at the Jubilee, and various farmers markets around the Puget Sound area will have Take 25 materials, as available, during the Summer and Fall.



• Our Education work now dwarfs our legislative work, so we're filing for (c)(3) status. Soon, your donations will be tax deductible. In the meantime, we still need donations! Right now we're raising money to buy ID kits for the kids at Stanley Elementary in Tacoma. Representatives from state and federal agencies will fingerprint and photograph, and each kid leaves with a very functional ID kit in case the worst happens and a child goes missing.
  
  Very few children are kidnapped and 'disappear' each year, but the consequences are tremendous, and these ID kits have assisted in the return of many children. During ID events, preventative education is also provided to the community, families, and children. Please send in a donation to help this happen. There are approximately 325 kids, and each ID kit costs a dollar. We accept donations via checks, cash, and paypal.



• We need your skills! Grant writers, executive level project managers, fundraisers - if you'd like to do some resume-worthy non-profit work, contact us. We're working on some truly fantastic projects this year, and are only limited by dollars in the bank and hours in the day.



• What do you think?
  
  -Should there be a statute of limitations on child sexual assault cases?
  -Do you agree with the Supreme Court Ruling that the death penalty may not be applied even in the most severe cases of child sexual assault?
  
  Send us back your answers and will post them on our site.