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Has your museum requested a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)? IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 17,500 museums; its mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. ACM asks all members to work to educate their Senators and Representatives about IMLS’ contributions to the museum community.
In September, the Senate Appropriations Committee recommended funding IMLS with $237,393,000 in FY 2012. This is comparable with IMLS funding in FY 2011, which, given existing budget restrictions, is a tremendous success. The House Appropriations Committee recommended funding IMLS at $226,362,000, a reduction of 4.6 percent. The House and Senate Appropriations Committees are negotiating a final FY2012 appropriation bill.
Deadline: Tuesday, November 1, 2011.
Goal: Sustain the Senate's higher FY 2012 appropriation for IMLS in the final 2012 appropriation bill.
Action: Fax your U.S. Senators and Representatives using the templates linked below.
Not sure how to contact your legislator?
Questions? Contact Jeannette Thomas, director of development
Museums Advocacy Day 2012
February 27-28, 2012 in Washington, DC
- February 27 – Training day
- February 28 – Advocacy day on Hill
Come to Washington, DC, for the 4th annual Museums Advocacy Day, February 27-28, 2012, organized by the American Association of Museums (AAM). Join colleagues for scheduled face-to-face meetings with legislators to make the case for museums.
ACM's investment as a co-convener makes it possible for ACM members to receive free registration (use code ACM2012). Registration with AAM is required to participate in training and meetings.
Register for Museums Advocacy Day 2012
“What is Museums Advocacy Day?”
Free Webinar on Tuesday, October 25, 2011 - 2:00-3:00 ET
If you’ve heard about Museums Advocacy Day but you aren’t exactly sure what it’s all about, there isa great introductory session that will cover exactly what Museums Advocacy Day is, how the event is organized, what your role is, and answer any questions you may have about the event. Also covered: how you can get involved even if you can’t travel to Washington, DC for the event.
Register for the Oct. 25th Webinar
During Museums Advocacy Day 2012 you will:
• Hear from Capitol Hill and policy experts about the current political landscape
• Learn about issues affecting the field and specific "asks" to share with Members of Congress
• Learn strategies for meeting with elected officials and the stats you need to make your case
• Network with museum advocates and professionals from your state
• Attend an evening reception and Congressional Kick-Off Breakfast with Members of Congress and staff
More than 300 museums participated in the 2011 Museum Advocacy Day. Make an impact!
Questions? Contact Jeannette K. Thomas,
Director of Development, 703- 224-3100, ext. 108
Download ACM’s Public Policy Agenda & Suggested Talking Points to learn about the issues that ACM is pursuing on behalf of its members and to convey ACM’s views on these issues should you have or actively create an opportunity to interact with elected officials, their staffs and/or federal agency decision makers.
2011 Activity
June 1, 2011: Advocacy Alert: Future Race to the Top -- Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant proposals
May 10, 2011: ACM Letter to Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee re: ESEA Reauthorization
May 10, 2011: ACM Letter to House Education and Workforce Committee re: ESEA Reauthorization
February 18, 2011: Advocacy Alert Re: FY11 Museum Funding Restriction
2010 Activity
December
23, 2010: Advocacy Update
December
8, 2010 ACM Letter to Congress Re: IMLS Reauthorization
December
1, 2010 Advocacy Update
July
28, 2010, Advocacy Alert
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Are you ready to Speak Up for Museums?
The American Association of Museums (AAM)
has created a Museum
Advocacy Action Center, that is designed as a one-stop
resource for finding the information you need to be an effective
advocate on issues affecting museums and a portal from which
you can share your views with your representatives in Congress.
You do not need to be a member of AAM to access the center.
Passionate people are the best advocates
Over and over again lawmakers and their staff tell us the
most important voice they need to hear from is their constituents
back home – YOU!
The key question we must answer for policymakers
is, “What do the people in my district (or state) think?”
Authenticity counts and your views matter. By speaking up
you can influence policies such as increased spending for
federal grant programs at IMLS, NEA, NEH, and NSF and expansion
of tax incentives to increase charitable giving.
We need your voice
Get involved. The Association of Children's Museums (ACM)
is on AAM's Museum Advocacy® Team, a national network
of museum advocates working to influence elected officials
and public policy makers on issues critical to museums. Your
museum can join too! As a member, you will receive, via email,
timely information about taking action on federal legislative
proposals affecting museums. As an informed advocate, you
can influence and shape legislation by expressing your views
to your representatives in Congress.
View ACM's ACT NOW advocacy letter for increased
IMLS funding.
Make a difference.
Contact AAM today to be added to the network! Please include
your name, organization or affiliation, address, phone, fax,
e-mail and congressional district. E-mail: mat@aam-us.org
Tips for
General Opinion-Editorials
Opinion-Editorials
(or Op-eds) are opinion articles 500 to 750 words in length.
Most newspapers print such articles on the pages opposite
their editorial page.
Op-eds should emphasize the writer's opinion
or experience and be of interest to the general public.
Opinion page editors look for op-eds that
advance the public discussion of an issue, that are interesting
and compelling, and that come from interesting authors. As
your communities "town square" your museum's director
or board of directors is that interesting author!
Don't go over 750 words. It's not a manifesto;
it's your humble opinion. Op-ed editors have so many articles
submitted for their consideration that if you can't make your
point in 750 words, they can afford to wait for someone who
can!
Be open to revision if the op-ed editor
for the newspaper suggests it. Why? It will make your piece
more likely to be printed. Don't take it personally if if
the op-ed editor tells you they can't promise to print it.
Include a cover letter when you submit the
op-ed to the editor. It should summarize the key points in
one paragraph. Be sure your name and phone number are in the
letter.
Submit the op-ed by email or fax, depending
on the editor's preference. Newspapers usually provide instructions
on how to submit op-eds on the printed edition and also online.
Three or four days later, if you have
not already heard back, call to see if the op-ed editor has
had a chance to review the piece and decide its fate. If the
newspaper rejects the op-ed, don't be discouraged. If there
is another newspaper - daily or weekly - you are free to submit
it to that paper. However, under no circumstances should you
submit an op-ed to two newspapers in the same market at the
same time. Newspapers deserve and will demand a "market
exclusive" for an op-ed. Submit it to one outlet and,
if they turn it down, move on to the next.
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