Mission+and+Direction


 * Here is where we can brainstorm about our mission and directions.**


 * Here is our charge**: to offer state and section scholarships and grants to encourage professional growth and support library services in educational settings [NOTE: this could be construed as academic too...], [I added in the comma, which I think is the spirit -- otherwise, all we are allowed to do a offer scholarships and grants] and to carry out other charitable and educational activities associated with this goal as allowed by law. (posted by LF)

Additionally, through the campaign, an public relations / advocacy arm developed with donations to advocate for strong school libraries. Most of the funds now in the foundation account were contributed for this type of work.

Every school has a school library and teacher librarian.
 * Big Audacious Ideas:**

Families || Teacher librarians || Students and teachers || CSBA (and other) conf. presentations & booths Podcasts CafePress Webinars // Videos // // Student poster set // || CSLA conf. outreach day? || CSLA conf. outreach day Podcasts CafePress // Student poster set // || CSLA conf. outreach day CafePress // Student poster set // || CafePress // Student poster set // || // Bookseller kit including CafePress // || Digital literacy training (telecom. Companies) || Scholarships Demco Award || Student scholarship || Tech Award || Student posters || // NOTE: Italicized items are new efforts //
 * Basic Goal of the Foundation: ** Support and advocate for school libraries and teacher librarians.
 * Fruitful strategies: ** select a limited number of basic strategies and each year so that they could be assessed after a year.
 * ** Audience: ** || Decision-Makers: school boards, superintendents, principals || Influencers: Booksellers || Influencers:
 * ** Advocacy: ** || CSLA conf. outreach day
 * ** Support: ** ||  || Conf. booths
 * ** Recognition: ** || Administrator Award ||  ||   || Good Ideas awards


 * BIG QUESTIONS: **
 * Why should people support school libraries?**


 * Why should people support teacher librarians?**


 * Why should people support the CSL Foundation?**

Tax write-off, money, independent voice from CSLA, networking opportunities**,** We need to think about membership and benefits: love and admiration, tax writeoff, CafePress discount, thank you gifts/sticker, cards, reserved seating in CSLA events, mention in CSLA newsletter, annual party (there does need to be some social benefit), networking opps (access to lists of people?)
 * What does the CSL Foundation have to offer?**

Example from Europe: To support this joint vision and to advocate for school libraries in Europe, ENSIL was registered as an official body in the Netherlands in 2008. It is now officially known as Stichting ENSIL (ENSIL Foundation). The decision to establish a foundation, rather than an association. was based on current developments in professional associations worldwide. New communication tools, offering many the options for online collaboration and sharing have resulted in less interest in paid membership. Moreover, most ENSIL stakeholders are members of their local, regional or national association. ENSIL could act as an umbrella or hub for collaboration and cooperation without developing as an organization with multiple tasks and obligations. And there was another, maybe even more important issue: the informal, brainstorming way of making decisions and the non-hierarchical approach of the network seemed to fit better into a foundation framework.
 * Reasons for a foundation:**

ENSIL’s stakeholders are called ‘participants’: they participate into discussions on ENSIL-link, the discussion list. They share information through ENSIL’s website and Facebook page and there is regular bilateral communication between the original founders, participants and/or the ENSIL board. The board communicates via a Wiki. As most of ENSIL’s participants represent a local, regional of national school library association, ENSIL’s scope extends the range of the individuals participating in the communication mentioned above. Since the establishment of the network, its stakeholders **continue to develop** partnerships with local, regional, national and even international school library organizations.

Gathering and dispensing $ for scholarships/awards/grants, Review grant proposals Seek grants? Fund-raise? Theoretically that should be a main purpose Networking Educating the public: about what? how? Writing letters of support? Are we about putting on events?
 * What should CSL Foundation be doing?**

IRS regulations on the political activities of 501(c)(3) entities can be summarized in three simple rules: See also http://nonprofitissues.com/public/indices/byfeature/ready.html
 * Info about politicking/advocacy/lobbying:**
 * 1) You can educate the public about political issues and encourage voters to vote. You may issue position papers to the media and work with local coalitions or partnerships on issues of public importance. You can educate and register voters—so long as you do this in a non-partisan manner.
 * 2) You may engage in a limited amount of lobbying. Lobbying is defined as advocating for or against specific pieces of legislation. Your lobbying activities must be an “unsubstantial” portion of your overall activities. The IRS has not provided a guideline for exactly what is “unsubstantial,” but experts generally agree that up to 5 percent is acceptable.([|3]) If you wish to engage at a higher degree of lobbying, you may file an election to be judged on an expenditure basis.([|4]) Grassroots lobbying activities are an acceptable way to engage in public debate, so long as they remain an “unsubstantial” part of your overall activities.
 * 3) You may not engage in partisan political activity. You can do nothing that advocates for or against specific candidates for public office or their political parties. This includes fundraising on behalf of candidates and donating meeting space, among other things. Election-related activities such as candidate questionnaires and forums are acceptable, so long as all major candidates are invited to participate and they are fair in their presentation.


 * Partnership Plan (Fall 2016)**

Here is a good template for planning advocacy initiatives:
 * Advocacy Planning:**