Letters and Comments for June 10, 2009

Sarman

Fund our students’ futures

To the Editor:

As many may already know, our state legislators have proposed the 2009-2011 biennial budget. In this proposal they cut state funding for the Student Leadership Development Center (SLDC).

The Student Leadership Development Center runs the Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO), which consists of seven organizations — The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), FFA, DECA, Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA), Associated Oregon Forestry Clubs, SkillsUSA and Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). Each one of these organizations empowers its members with the core values of our society — hard work, leadership and love of country.

In light of an economic crisis, all of these values will be needed to move, not only our state, but our entire nation forward toward prosperity. If the SLDC is cut, all of these organizations will ultimately feel the burden.

We must make it clear to those representing us that now is not the time to eliminate funding for these amazing organizations.

To show our leaders in Salem that our communities and our entire state need these organizations, a community rally will be held Friday, June 19, at Max Square beginning at 5:30 p.m. The rally will include speeches from state, regional and district officers of the CTSO organizations, as they stress the importance of continued funding. Community members are encouraged to bring signs in support of our cause. We can not stand by and watch these organizations take the chopping block!

Please contact me if you are able to attend at 910-5711 or via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Together we will save these organizations and create a better future for our students.

Taylor Sarman

Union FBLA

chapter president

Union