Take Action

When was the Last Time You Reviewed

CSDA’s Take Action Toolkit?

California Special Districts Association is the only statewide association representing all types of independent special districts. Our mission is to be the voice for all special districts and provide members with the resources necessary to best serve their communities.

One of the best ways to help us help you is to become involved in CSDA’s advocacy efforts.

Our Take Action Toolkit Helps Districts Become Advocates

Get the Most Out of a Meeting with your Elected Representative:

1. Arrive armed with knowledge

2. Be mindful of the Legislator’s time

3. Be respectful of the Legislator’s staff

4. Be ready with specific requests and get to the point

5. Leave contact information

Take a Position: When and How

The purpose for approving a position of “support” or “oppose” on a legislative measure is to ensure the perspective and interests of your constituents are represented and taken into account before a new law is enacted that will impact the community you serve. Adopting a position provides a unified voice for your Board of Directors and clear direction to your staff with regard to legislative activities. CSDA’s Take Action webpage provides sample policy language, sample bill position letters and a position letter checklist to ensure the district’s viewpoint is effectively communicated.

Up Your Media Exposure

Consider letters to the editor of local publications as a megaphone to broadcast the district’s viewpoint. Control the narrative when the district undertakes projects that will cause service interruptions, or when legislation will impact operations, and that impact will have a corresponding impact to the services provided to the community. CSDA includes several sample letters as well as tips and checklists to help districts submit effective letters.

Grassroots Mobilization

While many special district leaders have a relationship with at least one of their elected representatives, nobody has relationships with all of them. Districts must work together to ensure their needs are understood, their challenges are identified, and to communicate the collective impact of legislation on special districts and the millions of Californians they serve. By working with CSDA individual voices are magnified. This helps the Legislature take informed positions that include the special district experience.

View the Take Action Toolkit https://www.csda.net/advocate/take-action/ta-toolkit

Seasons of Advocacy: Spring

• Ensure your district has adopted a policy governing the process for adopting positions on legislation (download a sample policy at csda.net/take-action).

• Attend Special Districts Legislative Days in Sacramento in May.

The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District created their popular FIRE CAMP as a community outreach program. The camp is the “Metro Fire” signature youth outreach effort of the year, striving to teach teamwork while offering a glimpse into the profession of firefighting.

“Teamwork is an essential component in the Fire Service, as it is in life. FIRE CAMP is our opportunity to have a positive effect on the individual camper ultimately impacting the community in which they live.” Dan Haverty, Interim Fire Chief of the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District.

Each year, 80 local children ages 11-13, are grouped into “strike teams” of 8 campers, mentored and supervised by professional firefighters. As the week progresses, the teams take on a character of their own as they learn about the job of a firefighter and experience such activities as putting out a flammable liquid fire with a fire extinguisher, climbing a 105’ aerial ladder truck, developing the traditional skills of a bucket brigade and hand pumper crew, and learning life skills such as Hands Only CPR.

The program began in 1997 with Interim Fire Chief Dan Haverty’s creative vision to develop a program to improve outcomes for youth and their families. FIRE CAMP provides a unique hands-on way to experience today’s fire service while instilling self-confidence, teaching safety skills and lifesaving skills, and providing a basic understanding of the profession of firefighting – all done in a fun and exciting atmosphere.

Now in its second decade, FIRE CAMP has provided this unique experience to over 1500 campers. Success stories have validated the effort, including camp attendees who have provided life-saving CPR in times of need and those who have gone on to become firefighters.

Captain Matt Sammons, began his fire service career in 2011. He attended FIRE CAMP as a camper and says the experience changed his life. “I always knew I wanted to be in the fire service but my passion was ignited after attending FIRE CAMP in 2003. The best part is, now that I work for Metro Fire, I get to be a FIRE CAMP counselor, giving back to the program that sparked my interest while allowing me the opportunity to be a role model for the youth in our community.”

Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District FIRE CAMP 2023 will be held July 11-14 at the fire academy training ground located in Citrus Heights.