Association of Children's Museums

ACM strives to ensure its member services, member support and overall strategic direction are directly tied to and driven by the needs of the membership. In 1996, ACM launched the Your Voice Counts program, which collected data on member needs, perceptions and concerns. ACM repeated the program in 1999, 2004 and most recently in January 2009. AWP Research, an independent market research company, administers the survey program and prepares the final report.

Download the Executive Summary from the 2009 Your Voice Counts Report.

Tips for 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.

ACT NOW Museum Advocacy

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