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Founded in 1971, SPAC is a non-partisan statewide education and advocacy organization comprised of 16 California Junior Leagues. It is responsible for promoting voluntarism and legislation favorable to its member leagues' community projects. All advocacy efforts are targeted to legislation within four focus areas: Education, Family Support, Health and Violence Prevention. SPAC represents over 12,000 voting women throughout the state.
"Our League was organized as a means of expressing the feeling of social responsibility for the conditions which surround us. We have the responsibility and the opportunity to conscientiously act to affect our environment." These words of Junior League founder Mary Harriman, spoken in 1912, still accurately reflect the intent of the 35 State Public Affairs Committees and the 283 member leagues of the Association of Junior Leagues International.
Members of SPAC:
Advocate for specific legislation relevant to member league issues
Educate Junior League members
Coordinate the exchange of information from community based projects to policy makers
What is JLOEB's Public Affairs Committee working on now?
 | Christine Gerchow Public Affairs Committee Chair |
 | Ginger Crowne Membership Enrichment Training |
 | Chanda Leger Membership Enrichment Training |
Allison Nelson League of Women Voters/ Openness in Government project |
Click here to see a slideshow of JLOEB's SPAC in action.
What is California SPAC working on now at the State level?
Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act
The three bills the Junior Leagues of California voted to support were considered in the House of Representative's version of a Child Nutrition Act (CNA) reauthorization bill. These three bills were "marker bills." Marker bills help each house determine which issues to prioritize in their versions of a reauthorization bill, the marker bills themselves don't actually become law.
Of the three House of Representative marker bills we endorsed, The House reauthorization bill ended up addressing two of the bills/issues: (1) Improved access to fresh fruit and vegetables and (2) Direct Certification: reducing paperwork burden for low income children to receive free/reduced priced meals. The vegetarian options bill didn't end up being accounted for.
At the end of 2010, the House of Representatives passed the $4.5 billion Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act by a margin of 264-157. The Senate passed a version in August, and the final version should be arriving on President Barack Obama's desk to be signed into law before long. First Lady Michelle Obama had campaigned on behalf of healthier school lunches for the better part of 2010 as part of "Let's Move" anti-obesity initiative.
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Where are the gaps that need impact? And if we only stay with an idea for a short time, how do we track impact? – Delly Beekman, AJLI President |
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Our company has brought together manufacturing principles with fresh, healthy eating principles. – Erin Lewellen, Vice President of School Partnership, Revolution Foods |
Who Represents You?
Click here for a tool to find your representatives in the California State Legislature.
