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Apple Pie Day

May 4, 2023

Connecting with legislators at the Capitol is an important activity for promoting homeschool freedoms in Oregon! Join us on May 4th, 2023 at the Capitol Mall Park (across the street from the front Capitol steps). We’ll gather to be encouraged, fellowship over pie, and connect with legislators. It’s a wonderful experience for the whole family!

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9

A big thanks to Classical Conversations for their generosity in being a sponsor of OCEANetwork’s 2023 Apple Pie Day! 

Due to construction at the Capitol, Apple Pie Day will be modified this year. See below for details!

What to Know

  • Bring your family or homeschool group. This is a family-friendly event and a great way to connect with legislators, get involved with OCEANetwork, and rally for homeschool freedom in Oregon!
  • Connect with legislators. At the beginning of the event, families will come to the tents at the Capitol Mall Park to pick up informational packets and deliver them to legislator offices (we will provide helpful scripts). The packets will include invitations to join us across the street for pie.
  • Noontime Rally. After delivering legislator packets, families will return to the Park for our noontime rally! You’ll hear from OCEANetwork and be encouraged by our featured speaker, William Estrada, as you enjoy snacks, pie, and fellowship. 
  • Have older children serve as honorary pages. Students 12 years and older can spend a day serving as Honorary Pages in the House or Senate. These students receive a briefing on the legislative process and Oregon’s history, become oriented to the Capitol, and run errands for legislators. Visit the Oregon Legislature’s Honorary Page website for details. When making application, let them know that you are a homeschooler who will be in Salem on May 4th and that you would like to serve as an Honorary Page. These opportunities fill up fast, so sign up soon.
  • Consider volunteering to help make this important event successful. To volunteer, contact Wes Butler (text 503.932.0692) or Deborah Butler (via FB Messenger or by emailing applepieday@gmail.com). We need help before, during, and after the rally!

Get Ready

  • RSVP so we know to expect you! There will be snacks and slices of apple pie available for attendees. Please contact us to RSVP so we can purchase enough pie. (Please do come anyway even if you didn’t RSVP in time.)
  • Make an appointment with your legislators for your visit on Apple Pie Day. To respect their time and make the visit pleasant, schedule an appointment for your family or group to meet with both your State Senator and State Representative. Find their contact information and call or email to schedule a 10-15 minute appointment for May 4, 2023 between 9:30 and 11:30am, if possible. If they’re only available later in the day, it’s still worth making the visit! Give yourself 30 minutes to pick up the packet and get to your appointment in time. Packets are available as early as 9:00am. You’ll chat with your legislators (we’ll provide talking points) and deliver information packets and an invitation to join us at the Apple Pie Day tents for pie. 
  • Let us know whom you are visiting and what time your appointment is by emailing ApplePieDay@gmail.com. This will help us make sure every legislator receives a visit and a packet of homeschool information. 
  • Be prepared. We will be gathering outdoors at the Capitol Mall Park. Please be sure to dress appropriately for the weather and bring umbrellas, chairs, and a sack lunch for your family. Parking is limited, so arrive early or prepare to walk a few blocks.
  • Due to construction we will not be taking tours of the Capitol (take a virtual tour here) or delivering pies to legislator offices. Rather than holding the rally on the Capitol steps, we’ll be meeting across the street at the Capitol Mall Park. There will be park restrooms and portable restrooms available. Access to sit in on sessions is TBD.

Get Ready

  • RSVP so we know to expect you! There will be snacks and slices of apple pie available for attendees. Please contact us to RSVP so we can purchase enough pie. (Please do come anyway even if you didn’t RSVP in time.)
  • Make an appointment with your legislators for your visit on Apple Pie Day. To respect their time and make the visit pleasant, schedule an appointment for your family or group to meet with both your State Senator and State Representative. Find their contact information and call or email to schedule a 10-15 minute appointment for May 4, 2023 between 9:30 and 11:30am, if possible. If they’re only available later in the day, it’s still worth making the visit! Give yourself 30 minutes to pick up the packet and get to your appointment in time. Packets are available as early as 9:00am. You’ll chat with your legislators (we’ll provide talking points) and deliver information packets and an invitation to join us at the Apple Pie Day tents for pie. 
  • Let us know whom you are visiting and what time your appointment is by emailing ApplePieDay@gmail.com. This will help us make sure every legislator receives a visit and a packet of homeschool information. 
  • Be prepared. We will be gathering outdoors at the Capitol Mall Park. Please be sure to dress appropriately for the weather and bring umbrellas, chairs, and a sack lunch for your family. Parking is limited, so arrive early or prepare to walk a few blocks.
  • Due to construction we will not be taking tours of the Capitol (take a virtual tour here) or delivering pies to legislator offices. Rather than holding the rally on the Capitol steps, we’ll be meeting across the street at the Capitol Mall Park. There will be park restrooms and portable restrooms available. Access to sit in on sessions is TBD.

Where to Go

Thursday, May 4
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Schedule
– 10:00 AM — Prayer and opening statements, fellowship
– 9:00 – 11:00 AM — Pick up legislator packets 1/2 hour before your appointment
– 9:30 – 11:30 Deliver packets to legislators*
– 12:00 PM — Featured speaker Will Estrada, fellowship
– 2:00 PM — closing
* These hours are preferred for delivering packets as they include an invitation to join us at the tents, but if your legislator only has afternoon appointments, do schedule one.

Meet at the Capitol Mall Park
(Across the street from the Capitol front steps)
Capitol location: 900 Court St NE, Salem, OR 97301

Parking Considerations:
There are small parking lots and 2-hour and 10-hour visitor meters located around the Capitol which are approximately $1.50 per hour (cards or change). Many parking spots will not be available due to construction. Come early to find a spot and prepare to walk a few blocks if needed.

Featured Speaker

William A. Estrada, Esq.

President of ParentalRights.org & Parental Rights Foundation

Join us at the noontime rally during Apple Pie Day and hear our featured speaker, William Estrada! 

Will is a husband, dad, attorney, and the President of ParentalRights.org and the Parental Rights Foundation, two nationwide nonprofits headquartered in Loudoun County, Virginia that have advocated at the local, state, and federal level for the last fifteen years to protect children by empowering parents. Will and his team work to advance state and federal legislation to protect the fundamental right of parents to direct the education, upbringing, and care of their children, and to defeat state and federal legislation that harms children and families. 

Featured Speaker

William A. Estrada, Esq.

President of ParentalRights.org & Parental Rights Foundation

Join us at the noontime rally during Apple Pie Day and hear our featured speaker, William Estrada! 

Will is a husband, dad, attorney, and the President of ParentalRights.org and the Parental Rights Foundation, two nationwide nonprofits headquartered in Loudoun County, Virginia that have advocated at the local, state, and federal level for the last fifteen years to protect children by empowering parents. Will and his team work to advance state and federal legislation to protect the fundamental right of parents to direct the education, upbringing, and care of their children, and to defeat state and federal legislation that harms children and families. 

What is Apple Pie Day?

Apple Pie Day happens during legislative years (every other year) and is a time when homeschoolers in Oregon come together to connect with legislators, share home-baked apple pie and information promoting home education. Apple Pie Day is a wonderful way for families to participate in efforts to protect and expand homeschool freedoms in Oregon!

Each legislative session, new Representatives and Senators fill the halls of the Capitol. These are the men and women who enact laws impacting our families. It is important that they get a chance to meet homeschool families from their district and learn how much you value your freedom to homeschool.

** NOTE: Construction at the Capitol requires some changes this year for Apple Pie Day. We will not have access to most of the Capitol building, so classes, tours, displays, choir, etc. will not be available this time. While we will still deliver informational packets to legislators’ offices, we will not be delivering pies. Instead, we’ll invite legislators to visit us at the Apple Pie Day rally across the street at Capitol Mall Park, where they will have a chance to visit with homeschool families and enjoy a piece of pie. They will be delighted to meet your children and hear how much you appreciate the freedom we have to home educate in Oregon!

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Photo Credit: Photos from past Apple Pie Day events shown here were taken by Holly Butler.