Making noise in Pinellas County

Posted on 01/17/2011 @ 10:14 AM

Last Friday, an enthusiastic group of supporters of the Children’s Movement of Florida gathered at the Pinellas County legislative delegation hearing in the Digitorium at the St. Petersburg College Seminole Campus to advocate for Florida’s children.

This group has consistently shown amazing levels of support, no matter what venue we’ve asked them to fill – from their Milk Party rally in September, to the chapter organizational meeting at the Juvenile Welfare Board in December, to last week’s delegation hearing.

Among the many passionate supporters of the Children’s Movement in Pinellas County is Pam Settle. Pam is editor of Tampa Bay Good Living Magazine, which focuses on healthy, happy families. Over the past few months, she has reported extensively on the Children’s Movement. The November/December 2010 issue of the magazine features editorials about Children’s Movement, as well as an essay by Professor James McHale, Ph.D., of the University of South Florida in St. Petersburg, entitled “I Care About Children and I Vote.”

Pam is doing exactly what she will encourage her readers to do in the upcoming issue of her magazine: she’s taking a stand on something that matters to her.

At the Pinellas County delegation hearing, Pam spoke eloquently for the Children’s Movement. You can view a video of Pam’s presentation by clicking here. More than 2 dozen supporters wearing Children’s Movement T-shirts stood throughout her presentation.

I couldn’t possibly give enough recognition to all of those who have worked so hard for our cause in Pinellas County, but I’d like to name a few more: Terry Collier, Ph.D., with St. Petersburg College, who chaired the steering committee for the September Milk Party rally and is now, as the chair of the Pinellas County chapter of the Children’s Movement, making ambitious plans to expand our local support base; April Putzulu, with Eckerd Youth Alternatives, who is always willing to help with every phase of our initiative; and Debra Prewitt, with the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County, who has shared her expertise and made sure we’ve had meeting space and whatever assistance we’ve needed over the past few months.

To all our supporters in Pinellas County, thanks for all you’re doing for Florida’s children.

Becky Newell
State Coordinator, West Florida
becky.newell@childrensmovementflorida.org