April 29, 2008

1. Come March in the May Day Parade!

2. Join Us for Fun at the Fishing Opener

3. The Campaign Website is up!

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1. Come March in the May Day Parade!

Help Vote Yes Minnesota spread the word on Sunday, May 4th by walking in the annual MayDay Parade!

The May Day Parade is a long-running community arts event celebrating Spring with large fabulous puppets organized by the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre. We will debut our enthusiastic Vote Yes Minnesota team by marching in the parade.

Line up is at 25th & Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis. Please arrive between 11:45 and 12:00 noon. The Parade begins at 1:00 pm and concludes in the park at 3:00 pm. Parade volunteers are encouraged to stay at the park for the Ceremony which begins at 3:00 pm. Vote Yes will also have a table in the park. Volunteers to be there are needed as well from 3:00 to 7:00pm. Vote Yes will provide t-shirts when you arrive - wear comfortable walking shoes. Adults and children welcome! For parade route information go to www.hobt.org and click on “MayDay.”

Parade walkers will be given blue or green Vote Yes t-shirts to wear. Please email donna@yesformn.org  with your name(s) and shirt size(s).

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2. Join Us for Fun at the Fishing Opener

On one the most important days in Minnesota, the Fishing Opener, what could be more important than helping to get funding for clean water (and art)!

On Friday May 9th and Saturday May 10th we will be in Brainerd, out on the lakes, celebrating the Fishing Opener and talking to fishermen and women about the importance of preserving our waters and how this amendment helps do that. On Friday we will distributing lit, attending some events and prepping for Saturday.

On Saturday, we will be up early, getting out on the lake to fish, do visbility, passing out bait and generally promoting the campaign.

We are looking for people who can come and help pass out lit, do visibility- wave signs, hand out stickers, wear a t-shirt, sign up volunteers and if you have a boat and want to join our crew - we would love to have you join us on the lake.

Come for just one day or both - whatever you can do would be helpful.

If you would like to help out, may already be in Brainerd that weekend, would just like to join the fun or would like more information on what you can do to help that weekend - please get in contact with Doug Niemela at doug@yesformn.org or call him at 651-644-2088 x14.

Start Time: Friday, May 9, 2008 at 10:00am
End Time: Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 6:00pm
Location: Breezy Pont Resort, Pelican Lake
Street: 9252 Breezy Point Dr
City/Town: Breezy Point, MN

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3. The Campaign Website is up!

Take action now by joining our growing campaign at www.YesforMN.org .

Right now Minnesota needs your help. Because while we have much to treasure, we also have much to lose. Minnesota’s natural and cultural resources are both critical to maintaining our states high quality of life. Unfortunately, they are also both among the first areas to be cut in times of budget crisis. Funding for our natural resources is at an all time low. There is an urgent need that is not being met and we must act now before the things we love about Minnesota are gone forever.

We can do something to protect the Minnesota we love. The legislature put the Clean Water, Land and Legacy amendment on the ballot this fall for citizens to vote on. It is up to us to protect our drinking water and provide funding for the cleanup of our rivers, lakes and streams. This amendment, the largest in our nations’ history, gives us a chance to act now by providing dedicated funding for the next 25 years to preserve our natural resources before they are lost forever.

We need your help in this campaign, please join us in this historic effort at www.www.YesforMN.org .

To paraphrase Margaret Mead, never underestimate that a small group of thoughtful people can change the world, indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. Many years ago a small group created Earth Day, and now we stand here with an historic opportunity to make sure the things we love about Minnesota are protected and passed on to future generations.

April 11, 2008

1. Top Ten Things Arts Organizations Can Do to Support Vote Yes MN

2. Governor Vetoes Arts Projects

3. Cut to Arts Proposed

4. Interns and Volunteers Wanted

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1. Top Ten Things Arts Organizations Can Do to Support Vote Yes MN

For the past six years arts advocates have worked to get the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment on the ballot. I have to say I am very pleased at how quickly and how well the conservation and cultural communities have gotten together to build a successful campaign to pass the amendment this November. One of the interesting things about the effort is that 80+ percent of the initiative is about clean water and land conservation, so this fall as we go into the election no doubt most of the public discussion about the amendment will be about those issues. That makes it very important that those of us who also support the arts and culture are communicating to our friends, boards and audiences about the benefits to the arts. Largely, our message is that the arts frequently are cut when there is a deficit, so dedicated funding is important. The Legacy Amendment has the potential to triple arts funding. We need to make sure that our people know! For this reason, we’ve created the…

Top 10 Things your organization can do for Vote Yes Minnesota:
• Endorse The Campaign (We have well over 200 organizations signed on so far with more coming every day).
• Sign the list User Agreement with the campaign so the campaign can save you money by contacting the people on your volunteer and membership lists directly (We are combining everyone’s lists so that we don’t send the same pieces of mail ten times to the same people).
• Encourage your membership/patrons/boards and volunteers to support and volunteer for the campaign
• Provide a list of your organizations events where the campaign can have a presence
• Contribute money to the campaign
• Include messages about and supporting the effort in all of your external and internal communications – email, snail mail, programs, logo on your website and link to www.YesforMN.org
• Place literature in a visible place in your lobby, office or studio
• Post a sign on your building or window supporting the campaign.
• Join the speaker Bureau or invite one of our Speakers to your board or memberships meetings
• Donate staff time for visibility events, collecting signatures, and/or phone calling.

The other piece of good news for the campaign is that we have hired Donna Bachman as lead arts organizer. She will be working with MCA’s board and staff and the arts community at large to get the word out about the amendment and to help arts supporters and arts audiences become engaged. Donna began her career in arts management at The Children’s Theatre Company, where she served as stage manager, production stage manager and production manager for thirteen years. Her work there included one national tour and two international tours to Moscow and Tokyo. For nine years Donna was the managing director for Minnesota Dance Theatre in addition to working independently on projects for Chan Poling, VocalEssence, General Mills Inc., the Illusion Theatre to name a few. So, she knows the arts community!

For more information, contact Donna at dbachman@yesformn.org the Vote Yes Minnesota campaign, 2334 University Ave. #150, St. Paul, MN 55114, 651-644-2088. The campaign website, www.YesforMN.org will be up soon.

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2. Governor Vetoes Arts Projects

While MCA does not lobby for individual arts bonding projects, we do try to provide assistance to all of the organizations that are going through the process. Therefore, we were very disappointed in the Governors line-item vetoes of all of the arts projects that had passed the legislature. Here is a list of the projects vetoed by the Governor. We are very disappointed in this action:
• $3M to Minneapolis Orchestra Hall planning
• $975,000 Mankato Civic Center/Arena Expansion
• $5M St Paul Asian Pacific Cultural Center
• $400,000 Chatfield Band Music Lending Library

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3. Cut to Arts Proposed

The good news is that the legislative session is only about a month from the end, and we arranged to avoid any cuts to arts funding from the Governor or from the House. Unfortunately, the Senate did recommend a cut of $175,000 from the fiscal year 2009 appropriation. (If passed it would affect grants next year). That would be a cut of 1.71% of the $10,227,000 appropriation for next year only. They reduced the funding of a number of small agencies in order to balance their budget. The conference committee will be making their decisions within the next week or so, and we are working with the conference committee to make sure that no cut goes over $175,000, and if we can we will reduce or eliminate the cut altogether. The proposed cuts and vetoes do point out why it is so important to pass the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to protect arts funding.

MCA has also been involved in a number of issues with potential statewide significance. The city of Mankato has proposed using an entertainment tax to fund renovations on some city projects. We’ve worked with local arts folks and area legislators to make sure that the tax exempts nonprofit events as the statewide law does. A second, larger issue of property tax exemptions for nonprofits has been resolved for now with the leadership of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. The Department of Revenue has agreed to take a hiatus in changing the way they assess property taxes on nonprofits so that we can use the summer to sort out a fair approach. Another issue that has taken quite a bit of effort is the theater performance exception in the statewide smoking ban. We continue to work on that issue as well, and at this point we have been successful in avoiding any legislation on the issue and continue to monitor the issue closely.

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4. Interns and Volunteers Wanted

The campaign to pass the amendment has already begun and you can be a part of it! There are many volunteer opportunities as we organize on a statewide basis to spread the word about how important it is that Minnesota vote “yes.” We urge you to sign up with the Vote Yes Minnesota campaign.

The YES For MN campaign also seeks interns to begin April/May 2008. Internships are part-time and flexible (approximately 20 hours per week).

For more information, contact Donna at dbachman@yesformn.org the Vote Yes Minnesota campaign, 2334 University Ave. #150, St. Paul, MN 55114, 651-644-2088.

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Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members. Join Today on MCA’s secure web site at: mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/
• Give cool Arts Advocate gifts from MCA’s store at: www.cafepress.com/mnforthearts
• Join MCA’s MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/mncitizensforthearts
• View MCA Advocates on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/Mncitizensforthearts
• Take Action: www.mncitizensforthearts.org at our frequently updated, one-stop site for: information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and how you can get involved, an Action Center called the Arts Action Center where you can write a letter to your legislator, or even find out who your legislators are, facts about the arts in Minnesota, the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issues and more!

Things You Need To Know: MCA values your privacy, and will not sell or distribute your personal information to anyone. MCA is a nonpartisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts. If you are interested in learning more about how to advocate for the arts, or how to activate people in your arts organization or community to lobby for the arts, please call us at 651-251-0868 or e-mail staff at mncitizensforthearts.org. State arts funding supports access to the arts for all Minnesotans. The state-funded Minnesota State Arts Board and eleven Regional Arts Councils provide grants and services in every Minnesota county for artists, arts organizations, arts projects and school artist residencies. For more information on regional or state grants, go to www.arts.state.mn.us/racs/index.htm.

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March 28 , 2008

1. The Rules: Nonprofits CAN Advocate for Amendment

2. Interns Wanted

3. Volunteers Needed

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1. The Rules: Nonprofits CAN Advocate for Amendment

YES YOU CAN: Nonprofit Charities Can Advocate For Ballot Measures

I have been asked by many folks in nonprofit arts organizations if they can get involved in the ballot initiative. There is good news! Nonprofits can get very involved in ballot initiatives, although they are not allowed to get involved in candidate campaigns. Below are all the rules and the details you need. If you have any questions, you can contact me or the campaign for more information. -Sheila Smith

A: ACTIVITIES THAT REQUIRE NO REPORTING

AS A 501c3, NONPROFIT CORPORATION, YOU CAN EDUCATE BOARD, STAFF, DONORS AND AUDIENCE MEMBERS AS MUCH AS YOU LIKE ABOUT BALLOT INITIATIVES:

Nonprofits have an unlimited ability to educate their board, staff, audience and members about the constitutional amendment. As long as you don’t include “VOTE FOR” and turn the education effort into advocacy, you can talk about it all you want without reporting anything to anyone.

SAMPLES:

“You should know that in November 2008 you will have an opportunity to vote on a constitutional amendment that will create dedicated funding for conservation and culture. It has the potential to triple funding available for arts and culture activities in every Minnesota county. Here is what you will see on the ballot… ”

“Look for the Great Outdoors and Heritage Amendment at the bottom of your ballot, which could create dedicated funding for land and water conservation. For more information see the campaign’s website at www.YesForMN.org.”

“As a recipient of grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board, our organization could potentially benefit greatly from this amendment if it passes, allowing us to serve many more people in Beltrami County. If you are interested in learning more about it, you can find more information at www.mncitizensforthearts.org”

B. ACTIVITIES THAT MAY REQUIRE EASY REPORTING:

YOU CAN DO ADVOCACY FOR THE AMENDMENT:

Nonprofits can advocate all they want for constitutional amendments, unlike the restrictions on nonprofits working on political candidate campaigns. (Nonprofits are NOT ALLOWED to work on candidate campaigns. They CAN work on ballot issue campaigns). Your non-profit can:
◦ Contribute money to a ballot question campaign.
◦ Donate staff time for collecting signatures, phone calling, or sign holding.
◦ Donate organizational resources such as space, phones, computers, and copiers.
◦ Do a mailing to members or voters.
◦ Contribute use of email or snail mail lists so the campaign can do a mailing.
◦ Endorse the campaign.
◦ Encourage other groups to endorse and to support the campaign.
◦ Post a sign on your building or window supporting the campaign.

You can use nonprofit resources to ask people to vote for the constitutional amendment, because by law it’s considered lobbying rather than campaigning. Asking voters to amend the state’s constitution is treated the same way as asking legislators to amend state laws. Even better, as long as you are working with the campaign and let them know what resources you have used, you don’t have to file reports on your activities to the Campaign Finance Board in Minnesota.

You should report any in-kind donations to the campaign, such as the value of an article in your newsletter urging people to vote for the amendment. It then becomes the responsibility of the campaign to do all of the reporting. The campaign will provide a simple form that you can use to take care of this small requirement.

The key to whether or not you need to report your “lobbying” for the amendment is the amount of money you are spending:

VALUE IS UNDER $20: Not reportable. You can do:
◦ Web links,
◦ board endorsements,
◦ sign in the window,
◦ brief language on your website advocating for the amendment,
◦ emails, etc., worth less than $20, as long as you spend so little staff time on it that the value doesn’t go over $20. You don’t have to report this to anyone.

SAMPLE: A headline on your website that reads: “We at MCA would like to urge you to vote for the Great Outdoors and Heritage Amendment. We believe that it’s very important that this amendment passes! VOTE YES! Click here for more information and to volunteer: www.YesForMN.org”

VALUE IS OVER $20: If you make cash or in-kind donations to the effort that total over $20 in a year, all you have to do is fill out a quick form and send it to the campaign and let them know each time you’ve made the donation. It then becomes the responsibility of the campaign to do all of the reporting. A form will be available to you to make this easy. To get a copy of the form, contact the campaign at 651-644-2088.

There is no dollar limit to how much cash or in-kind donations your non-profit can make to the campaign under Minnesota law. However, there is a federal limit. By collaborating with the ballot campaign, you don’t have to do any state reporting other than letting the campaign know what you’ve done.

C. SOMETHING YOUR ACCOUNTANT MAY HAVE TO DO; FEDERAL TAX RETURN REPORTING

If you decide to go over the $20 threshold, just keep copies of the forms you use to report cash and in-kind donations to the campaign, give them to your accountant when you do your next tax return, and tell them to account for them as lobbying expenses. There are federal limits to how much of a non-profit’s budget can be spent on lobbying (generally 20%), but it’s almost impossible for most nonprofits to spend that much. You may want to figure out how much 20% of your budget is before you begin to make sure you don’t exceed that threshold. (See: TPL’s Memo “Ballot Question Participation by Public Charities” for advice to accountants, available from the campaign).

For more information, contact the Vote Yes Minnesota campaign, 2334 University Ave. #150, St. Paul, MN 55114, 651-644-2088. The campaign website, www.YesForMN.org will be up soon.

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2. Interns Wanted

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA), a nationally renowned arts advocacy organization that lobbies for state arts funding and the YES For MN campaign seek interns to begin April 2008. The position is part-time and flexible (approximately 20 hours per week).

On November 4, Minnesotans will have a chance to invest in a better life for future generations by voting for a proposed state constitutional amendment to fund Minnesota’s water quality, wildlife, cultural heritage, and natural areas. Vote Yes Minnesota is a nonpartisan statewide ballot campaign comprised of citizens and organizations working together to ensure passage of the amendment.

MCA represents the arts community of Minnesota at the state legislature and lobbies for state funding of the arts, as well as other issues of concern to the non-profit arts community. MCA also does advocacy for the National Endowment for the Arts. To lobby effectively, MCA organizes grassroots advocacy around the state and keeps constituents educated and informed about the political process and the current state of arts funding throughout the year. We have been working on the amendment for many years because it has the potential to triple arts funding.

Duties and projects included in the internship:
• Engaging in direct voter contact through tabling, literature distribution, visibility events, and other activities as assigned by Campaign field staff
• Responding to public inquiries regarding the Campaign and proposed constitutional amendment
• Assisting with logistics for Campaign field events
• Staffing Campaign committee meetings and events
• Miscellaneous research projects, as assignedOffice administration (including, but not limited to answering phones, data entry, and greeting visitors)

Qualified applicants would possess the following skills:
• Understanding of the political process. Past political experience preferred.
• Supportive of the campaign’s mission to pass the statewide amendment to protect water quality, wildlife, cultural heritage, and natural areas. Experience and/or a particular interest in one of these areas is a plus.
• Good communication skills, especially speaking with people on the phone.
• A self-starting, positive, self-motivated personality and a sense of humor.
• Good organizational skills and the ability to perform many tasks simultaneously
• Computer literacy; preferably experience with Microsoft, Macintosh, Microsoft Word & Excel and database systems.
• Independent and creative work habits.

APPLY NOW. Please mail or email résumé and cover letter by April 14, 2008 to: Mark Albers, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, 2233 University Avenue West, Suite 355, St. Paul, MN 55114, staff at mncitizensforthearts.org

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3. Volunteer for the Amendment Campaign

The campaign to pass the amendment has already begun and you can be a part of it! There are many volunteer opportunities as we organize on a statewide basis to spread the word about how important it is that Minnesota vote “yes.” We urge you to sign up with the Vote Yes Minnesota campaign at: Minnesota2008@gmail.com. Also, the campaign has an office which you can contact at: Vote Yes Minnesota, 2334 University Ave. #150, St. Paul, MN 55114, 651-644-2088.

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Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members. Join Today on MCA’s secure web site at: mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/
• Give cool Arts Advocate gifts from MCA’s store at: www.cafepress.com/mnfortheartsJoin MCA’s MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/mncitizensfortheartsView MCA Advocates on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/Mncitizensforthearts
• Take Action: www.mncitizensforthearts.org at our frequently updated, one-stop site for: information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and how you can get involved, an Action Center called the Arts Action Center where you can write a letter to your legislator, or even find out who your legislators are, facts about the arts in Minnesota, the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issues and more!

Things You Need To Know: MCA values your privacy, and will not sell or distribute your personal information to anyone. MCA is a nonpartisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts. If you are interested in learning more about how to advocate for the arts, or how to activate people in your arts organization or community to lobby for the arts, please call us at 651-251-0868 or e-mail staff at mncitizensforthearts.org. State arts funding supports access to the arts for all Minnesotans. The state-funded Minnesota State Arts Board and eleven Regional Arts Councils provide grants and services in every Minnesota county for artists, arts organizations, arts projects and school artist residencies. For more information on regional or state grants, go to www.arts.state.mn.us/racs/index.htm.

February 29, 2008

1. Nonprofit Property and Sales Tax Issues Emerging

2. Internship Openings at MCA and ‘Vote Yes Minnesota’ Campaign

3. Volunteer for the Amendment Campaign

4. Join List of Endorsing Organizations

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1. Nonprofit Property and Sales Tax Issues Emerging

-Property Tax Issue Update
In December, we notified you of a Minnesota Supreme Court decision in Under the Rainbow Child Care Center, Inc. v. County of Goodhue that we believe narrows the definition used to determine property tax exemptions for nonprofit organizations.

Since December, MCA has been working in coalition with lead organization Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and may other partners, including nonprofit leaders, attorneys, county assessors, the Department of Revenue, and legislators from all parts of the state to find a remedy. We are happy to report that there is broad support for preserving property tax exemptions for charitable organizations.

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, led by Marcia Avner, and partners have been working closely with the Department of Revenue, which administers property and other taxes, to establish language that can be clearly implemented by the Department. In our meetings, we were able to establish a common goal: to neither narrow nor expand the standards used to determine property tax exemption. Through our discussions, we have concluded that what will serve nonprofit organizations best is a long-term solution that will effectively address the ambiguity that has existed in Minnesota law on standards for the property tax exemption of “purely public charities.”

The Department of Revenue has agreed to work with us to establish a moratorium to protect nonprofits’ existing property tax exemptions until new laws are in place and to establish clear guidelines for how new applications for property tax will be evaluated in the interim. This is good news for Minnesota’s nonprofits. This will provide needed clarity and predictability for nonprofit organizations as they make plans and budgets for the future. Moratorium language is being drafted and will be posted at www.mncn.org as soon as it is available.

Meanwhile, MCA will continue to work with the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and our nonprofit and legal allies to educate decision-makers on the realities of nonprofit finances, to advocate for the needs of nonprofit organizations, and to work with the Department of Revenue to draft a bill to introduce in the 2009 legislative session.

For more information on this issue, visit www.mncn.org.

-New Sales Tax Issue?
In the past few weeks, two arts organizations have notified MCA that that Minnesota Department of Revenue is raising questions about and changing their treatment of sales tax exemptions for the nonprofit, causing a new, unexpected and very expensive (and seemingly nonsensical) sales tax expense for each organization. The changes are being made under the definition of “fundraising days.” If this has occured with any nonprofit arts organization you are working with, please contact Sheila at staff at mncitizensforthearts.org.

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2. Internship Openings at MCA and ‘Vote Yes Minnesota’ Campaign

Yes, there are Intern Openings at MCA! Pass this notice along to anyone you think might be interested:

1. POSITION: CAMPAIGN INTERNS WITH ‘VOTE YES MINNESOTA’ CAMPAIGN
On November 4, Minnesotans will have a chance to invest in a better life for future generations by voting for a proposed state constitutional amendment to fund Minnesota’s water quality, wildlife, the arts , cultural heritage, and natural areas. Vote Yes Minnesota is a ballot campaign comprised of citizens and organizations working together statewide to ensure passage of the amendment.
DUTIES: We seek capable individuals to assist with a variety of tasks, including:
• Engaging in direct voter contact through tabling, literature distribution, visibility events, and other activities as assigned by Campaign field staff
• Responding to public inquiries regarding the campaign and proposed constitutional amendment
• Assisting with logistics for campaign field events
• Serving as support staff for campaign staff
• Miscellaneous research projects, as assigned
• Office administration (including, but not limited to answering phones, data entry, filing, and greeting visitors)
QUALIFICATIONS:
• Interest in politics, field organizing, communications, and/or fundraising
• Solid interpersonal skills; experience responding to members of the public a plus
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines
• Ability to work in teams and thrive in a fast pace, dynamic atmosphere
• Supportive of the campaign’s mission to pass the statewide amendment to protect water quality, wildlife, the arts, cultural heritage, and natural areas. Experience and/or a particular interest in one of these areas is a plus.
BENEFITS:
• Experience with a major, statewide political campaign
• Professional networking opportunities
• Exposure to a variety of campaign functions. Specific areas of interest (ie communications, fundraising, etc.) will be accommodated to the extent feasible
• Academic credit, whenever possible
FOR THE CAMPAIGN INTERNSHIP: Send resume and cover letter to: Laura Nevitt, Field Director, Vote Yes Minnesota Campaign, 2334 University Ave W, Suite 150, Saint Paul, MN 55114, lnevitt@heritage08.org

2. POSITION: INTERNSHIP OPENING AT MINNESOTA CITIZENS FOR THE ARTS
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA), a nationally renowned arts advocacy organization that lobbies for state arts funding, seeks an intern to begin as soon as possible The position is part-time and flexible (approximately 20 hours per week), and pays a small hourly stipend. MCA represents the arts community of Minnesota at the state legislature and lobbies for state funding of the arts, as well as other issues of concern to the non-profit arts community. MCA also does advocacy for the National Endowment for the Arts. To lobby effectively, MCA organizes grassroots advocacy around the state and keeps constituents educated and informed about the political process and the current state of arts funding throughout the year.

Interns will have exposure to and opportunities to interact with some of the movers and shakers in the arts community, as well as a working knowledge of the legislative process, arts funding structures in Minnesota and the basic functions of running a nonprofit. Perks include free tickets to performances and many opportunities to advance in the arts and/or political community.

Duties and projects included in the internship:
- Work with staff on current projects including grassroots organizing, candidate meetings, voter education, board meeting preparation, filing and data entry, and coordination with the Vote Yes Minnesota campaign.
- Interns may also have the opportunity to identify and take on projects of interest that relate to arts advocacy.

A qualified applicant would possess the following skills:
-Understanding of the political process. Past political experience preferred.
-Interest in working with the arts community.
-Good communication skills, especially speaking with people on the phone.
-A self-starting, positive, self-motivated personality and a sense of humor.
-Good organizational skills and the ability to perform many tasks simultaneously.
-Computer literacy; preferably experience with Macintosh, Microsoft Word & Excel and database systems.
-Independent and creative work habits.

FOR THE MCA INTERNSHIP: Please mail or email resume and cover letter by March 10, 2008 to: Mark Albers, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, 2233 University Avenue West, Suite 355, St. Paul, MN 55114, staff at mncitizensforthearts.org

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3. Volunteer for the Amendment Campaign

The campaign to pass the amendment will be launched very soon and you can be a part of it! There will be many volunteer opportunities as we organize on a statewide basis to spread the word about how important it is that Minnesota vote “yes.” We urge you to sign up with the Vote Yes Minnesota campaign at: Minnesota2008@gmail.com.

Also, the campaign has an office which you can contact at: Vote Yes Minnesota, 2334 University Ave. #150, St. Paul, MN 55114, 651-644-2088.

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4. List of Endorsing Organizations Continues to Grow

Our list of endorsing organizations continues to grow! We delivered the list below to legislators and since then have gotten many more endorsements for the amendment. Is your arts organization is signed up on the list of arts, conservation & civic organizations that support the amendment? It’s not too late - be a part of it all.

Create a Legacy
VOTE YES!
Protect our Lakes, Land, and Way of Life

Supporters of the
THE GREAT OUTDOORS AND HERITAGE AMENDMENT

1000 Friends of Minnesota, Alliance for Sustainability, American Association of Woodturners, American Choral Directors of Minnesota, American Composers Forum, Arrowhead Alliance of Artists with Disabilities (AAAWD), Arrowhead Chorale, Duluth, Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, Duluth, Art Educators of Minnesota, Arts Education Consortium of Minnesota, Art of the Lakes, Battle Lake, Artist Relief Fund, Duluth, ArtReach Alliance, Arts & Culture Partnership of Saint Paul, Arts Center of St. Peter, Artspace Projects, Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis, Audubon Minnesota, Austin (Red Cedar) Chapter Izaak Walton League, Belwin, Bloomington Chorale, Blue Earth Town and Country Players, Blue Earth Valley Concert Association, Bluff Country Studio Art Tour, Bush Lake (Minneapolis area) Chapter Izaak Walton League, Cannon River Watershed Partnership, Caponi Art Park and Learning Center, Carpenter Saint Croix Valley Nature Center, Center for Energy and Environment, Center for Hmong Arts and Talent (CHAT), Central Minnesota Arts Board, Children’s Theatre Company, Childrens Book Illustrators Guild of Minnesota, City of Rochester Music Department/Riverside Concerts, Clean up the River Environment (CURE), Clean Water Action Alliance of Minnesota, CLIMB Theatre, Coalition for a Clean Minnesota River, Colder by the Lake Comedy Theatre, Duluth, Conservation Fund, Conservation Minnesota, Cornucopia Art Center, Cross Community Players, Curtain Call Theatre, Depot Studios, Isle, Detroit Lakes Community and Cultural Center, Ducks Unlimited, Inc., Duluth Audubon Society, Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra. East Central Regional Arts Council, Mora, East Metro Women’s Council, White Bear Lake, Environmental Justice Advocates of Minnesota (EJAM), Embodied Arts, Environmental Association for Great Lakes Education (EAGLE), Evansville Art Center, Evansville Arts Coalition, Fargo-Moorhead Community Theater, Fargo-Moorhead Opera, Fergus Falls A Center for the Arts, Fine Arts Committee of Ivan Sand Community School, Five Wings Arts Council, Staples, FM Visual Artists (Fargo-Moorhead), Forum of Regional Arts Councils of Minnesota, Fresh Energy, Friends of Minnesota Valley, Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, Friends of the Hopkins Center for the Arts, Friends of the Mississippi River, Friends of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, FUEGO Flamenco, Great Outdoors Minnesota, Gunflint Trail Historical Society, Guthrie Theater, Harbor Friends, Harmony Arts Board, Hauser Dance, Hendricks Norwegian Heritage Committee, Heron Lake Watershed Restoration Association, Highpoint Center for Printmaking, Historic Holmes Theatre, Detroit Lakes, Historic Mounds Theatre, St. Paul, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Institute for Local Self - Reliance, Izaak Walton League of America – Midwest Office, Izaak Walton League of America – Minnesota Division, James Sewell Ballet, JazzMN Big Band, Keepers of the Sacred Tradition of Pipemakers, Pipestone, Lake Agassiz Arts Council, Lake Region Arts Council, Fergus Falls, Land Stewardship Project, League of Women Voters - Minnesota, Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis, Lower Phalen Creek Project, Lowry Lab Theater, Lyric Arts Company of Anoka, MacPhail Center for Music, Mankato Area Environmentalists, Mankato Symphony Orchestra, Mask & Rose Women’s Theater Collective, Bemidji, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, Milan Village Arts School, Milkweed Editions, Minhua Chorus, Roseville, Minneapolis Arts Commission, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis Musical Theatre, Minneapolis Parks and Recreation, Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival, Minnehaha (Minneapolis) Chapter Izaak Walton League, Minnesota Art Therapy Association, Minnesota Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts, Minnesota Campaign for Conservation, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, Minnesota Conservation Federation, Minnesota Environamental Partnership, Minnesota Film Arts, Minnesota Food Association, Minnesota Historical Association, Minnesota Land Trust, Minnesota Opera, Minnesota Orchestral Association, Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union, Minnesota Project, Minnesota Public Interest Research Group, Minnesota Recreation and Park Association, Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter, Minnesota Sages Dance Awards, Minnesota Sinfonia, Minnesota Theatre Company, Minnesota Waters, Minnesota Youth Symphonies, Music in the Park Series, National Environmental Trust, Minnesota, New London Chapter Izaak Walton League, New Prague Arts Council, No Refunds Theatre Company, Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness, Northern Light Opera Company, Northern Prairie Performing Arts, Northwest Minnesota Arts Council, Warren, Oratorio Society of Minnesota, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Park Rapids Lakes Area Arts Council, Pequot Lakes CAPP Committee, Pipestone Performing Arts Center, Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, Mankato, Prairie Woods Chapter Izaak Walton League, Rain Taxi, Inc., Red Eye Collaboration, Reif Arts Council, Renewing the Countryside, Saint Paul Audubon Society, Save Lake Superior Association, Seafarer Press, St. Paul, Skewed Visions, Southeast Minnesota Regional Arts Council, Rochester, Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council, Southeastern Minnesotans for Environmental Protection, Southern Theater, St. Cloud Municipal Band, St. Paul City Council, Stages Theatre Company, Hopkins, Starting Gate Productions, St. Paul, SteppingStone Theatre, Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota, Taproot, Inc./Education Through the Arts, The Burning House Group Theatre Company, The Edge Center for the Arts, Bigfork, The Edge of the Wilderness Community Center (EWCC), The Historic Mounds Theatre, The Minnesota Environmental Partnership, The Nature Conservancy, The Rose Ensemble, The Soap Factory, The Southern Theater, The Trust for Public Land, The Workhaus Playwrights Collective, Theater Space Project, Three Rivers Arts Council, Three Rivers Park District, Transit for Livable Communities, Trout Unlimited - Minnesota State Council, Twin Cities Musicians Union, Twin Rivers Center for the Arts, Mankato, Valley Chamber Chorale, Stillwater, Visual Artists Focus Group, Voyagers National Park Association, VSA arts of Minnesota, W.J. McCabe (Duluth) Izaak Walton League, Walker Art Center, Walter Breckenridge (Brooklyn Park Chapter) Izaak, Walton League, Wes Libby (Grand Rapids Chapter) Izaak Walton League, White Bear Center for the Arts, Wicked Sister Dance Theater, Wil Dilg (Winona) Chapter Izaak Walton League, Wildwood Artist Series, Will Steger Foundation, Windustry, Wishes for the Sky, Women in the Wilderness, Women’s Environmental Institute, Writers Rising Up To Defend Place, Natural Habitat, Wetlands, Eden Prairie, Young Dance

List Current as of 12/29/08

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Event Reminders from MCA:

National Arts Advocacy Day
March 31-April 1, 2008
Washington, D.C.
More information here: www.artsusa.org/events/2008/aad/default.asp

——————————————————————-

Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members. Join Today on MCA’s secure web site at: mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/
• Give cool Arts Advocate gifts from MCA’s store at: www.cafepress.com/mnforthearts
• Join MCA’s MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/mncitizensforthearts
• View MCA Advocates on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/Mncitizensforthearts
• Take Action: www.mncitizensforthearts.org at our frequently updated, one-stop site for: information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and how you can get involved, an Action Center called the Arts Action Center where you can write a letter to your legislator, or even find out who your legislators are, facts about the arts in Minnesota, the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issues and more!

Things You Need To Know: MCA values your privacy, and will not sell or distribute your personal information to anyone. MCA is a nonpartisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts. If you are interested in learning more about how to advocate for the arts, or how to activate people in your arts organization or community to lobby for the arts, please call us at 651-251-0868 or e-mail staff at mncitizensforthearts.org. State arts funding supports access to the arts for all Minnesotans. The state-funded Minnesota State Arts Board and eleven Regional Arts Councils provide grants and services in every Minnesota county for artists, arts organizations, arts projects and school artist residencies. For more information on regional or state grants, go to www.arts.state.mn.us/racs/index.htm.

If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here.

February 13, 2008

PRESS RELEASE

Love the Arts at Arts Advocacy Day:

Arts Advocates Spend Valentines Day Asking Legislators to Pass the

Great Outdoors and Heritage Amendment

St. Paul: On Valentines Day more than six hundred arts advocates from around the state are expected to converge on the State Capitol for Minnesota Citizens for the Arts “Arts Advocacy Day” to ask legislators to pass a long-sought constitutional amendment that would dedicate funds to conservation and cultural heritage. While over 80 percent of the bill benefits the environment, 19.75 percent would also be dedicated to nonprofit arts and culture activity in Minnesota’s 87 counties.

Arts Advocates have been working to pass the amendment for over six years, and legislative leadership has assured both conservation and cultural advocates that the amendment will be passed early in the legislative session. Session started on February 12, so arts advocates decided they needed to be there two days later on Valentine’s Day. Advocates will be delivering chocolate kisses to their legislators along with a petition signed by over 100 arts, culture, civic and conservation organizations asking them to pass the bill quickly.

“Our message is that we love Minnesota, the environment and the arts, and that this amendment is the best way to help them all,” said Sheila Smith, MCA’s Executive Director.

Arts advocates will participate in a rally at 8:30 a.m. in the Minnesota History Center and then meet with their legislators in the Capitol from 10:00 to 1:00.

In a letter to conservation and cultural advocates from House Majority Leader Tony Sertich and Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, the bill’s chief authors in their respective houses, said “Considering the bipartisan support for this bill, and the wide margin of passage in both the House and Senate, it seems clear that the legislature supports putting this constitutional amendment to a vote of the people. Our natural resources, impaired water and cultural legacy deserve a long-term revenue source to address their growing needs. Passage of this constitutional amendment is vital to securing this revenue.”

Minnesotans have a strong tradition of interest in access to arts and culture, and participate in the arts to a higher degree than citizens of other states. Minnesota is home to over 1400 non-profit arts organizations that collectively serve 4.5 million people annually and provide an economic impact of over $1 billion to our state’s economy. Our state is home to over 20,000 artists, who are a contributing factor to the economies and communities of every region of Minnesota.

“This November, in addition to voting for President, Minnesotans will have a chance to vote for the things we love most about our state – our beautiful lakes and landscape and our arts and culture,” said Smith. “We urge that the legislature to vote ‘yes’ on the amendment immediately so that we can get down to the work of passing the amendment next November.”

In addition to their economic contributions to Minnesota’s economy, Minnesota artists are active and engaged in their communities, volunteering and voting at higher levels than the general public both in Minnesota and nationwide. Eighty one percent of Minnesota artists reported that they volunteer in their community at least once each month compared to relatively high 67 percent of the general Minnesota public and only 27 percent of all Americans. In terms of civic participation, 82 percent of artists report they “always” vote, 16 percent “sometimes” vote, and only 2 percent “never” vote. When compared to the very high voting rates of the general Minnesota public at 77 percent and all Americans at 58 percent, artists’ civic participation is exceptionally high. *

Artists are very engaged with their communities, volunteering and voting to a higher degree than the rest of the population. Our communities would be diminished without the many and varied contributions of our artists and arts and culture organizations. Just as we look for ways to ensure that our communities are hospitable places for businesses to locate and thrive, we must make certain that our artistic resources are nurtured as well.

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is a statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts and conducts original research. MCA works with over 42,000 arts advocates in Minnesota. For more information on MCA, this project or statistics about the arts in Minnesota, please contact MCA Executive Director Sheila Smith at 651-251-0868 or view MCA’s website www.mncitizensforthearts.org .

# # #

*Source: “Artists Count: An Economic Impact Study of Artists in Minnesota” 2007, available at www.mncitizensforthearts.org .

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Event Reminders from MCA:

Minnesota’s Arts Advocacy Day
February 14, 2008 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Minnesota History Center and Minnesota State Capitol
More information here: http://mncitizensforthearts.org/events/advocacyday/
Register On-line Now: www.mncitizensforthearts.org

National Arts Advocacy Day
March 31-April 1, 2008
Washington, D.C.
More information here: www.artsusa.org/events/2008/aad/default.asp

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Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members. Join Today on MCA’s secure web site at: mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/
• Give cool Arts Advocate gifts from MCA’s store at: www.cafepress.com/mnforthearts
• Join MCA’s MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/mncitizensforthearts
• View MCA Advocates on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/Mncitizensforthearts
• Take Action: www.mncitizensforthearts.org at our frequently updated, one-stop site for: information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and how you can get involved, an Action Center called the Arts Action Center where you can write a letter to your legislator, or even find out who your legislators are, facts about the arts in Minnesota, the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issues and more!

Things You Need To Know: MCA values your privacy, and will not sell or distribute your personal information to anyone. MCA is a nonpartisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts. If you are interested in learning more about how to advocate for the arts, or how to activate people in your arts organization or community to lobby for the arts, please call us at 651-251-0868 or e-mail staff at mncitizensforthearts.org. State arts funding supports access to the arts for all Minnesotans. The state-funded Minnesota State Arts Board and eleven Regional Arts Councils provide grants and services in every Minnesota county for artists, arts organizations, arts projects and school artist residencies. For more information on regional or state grants, go to www.arts.state.mn.us/racs/index.htm.

If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here.

February 6, 2008

1. Arts Advocacy Day Registration Deadline is Friday!

2. Caucuses a Great Day for Democracy

3. Volunteers Needed Next Week

4. Add Your Arts Organization to Our Petition by Feb. 8

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1. Arts Advocacy Day Registration Deadline is Friday!

Register Now on MCA’s Website: www.mncitizensforthearts.org.

Be a part of history when the legislature approves the most important legislation ever on behalf of the arts and environmental conservation in Minnesota. Arts Advocacy Day is our chance to make sure decision makers know about the strong arts community in Minnesota and that we want their support. As you can imagine, these legislators LISTEN, because we are their constituents! This is especially important during this election year.

We start at 8:00 a.m. with a fun and informative rally at the Minnesota History Center and then split up into teams, led by an experienced arts advocate, to meet individually with legislators in the Capitol. Most teams are done by 1:00.

Arts people are coming from all over the state to take part. It’s the best arts networking opportunity of the year and the registration deadline is coming soon. For lots of information about the big day including schedule, maps, legislative agenda and a quick link to register today, check out MCA’s website. Sign up now at www.mncitizensforthearts.org.

So, this Valentine’s Day, plan to spend ½ your day at the Capitol with hundreds of friends at Arts Advocacy Day. You don’t need to know how to lobby or anything – MCA does a great job training and empowering you in this effort. Plus, you’ll have a cool team leader who will guide your advocacy team through the day. This is a fun, useful and really eye-opening networking event in addition to helping the cause of the arts in a tangible way.

Don’t wait for someone else to take up this cause. If you care about the arts (and I happen to know that you do) then YOU should be at Arts Advocacy Day. Please Register by Feb. 8 so we can get you on the team with your own legislators. See you there!

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2. Caucuses a Great Day for Democracy

Well, wasn’t that amazing? Minnesota’s political season kicked off with record breaking attendance at precinct caucuses. In my own precinct we had 18 times the normal number of people who show up to caucuses. People are engaged, thinking about the future and what kind of world they want to live in. Regardless of party it is a wonderful thing when the public takes control over their own destiny by being a participant in our democracy. So, congratulations to all!

I’m getting lots of reports of people who offered the arts/environment caucus resolution. Most passed the resolution without much opposition, and just two people reported that theirs did not pass. Most reported strong support for the constitutional amendment to “Protect our Lakes, Land and Way of Life.” The campaign’s new theme is great ‘”This November, the things you love about Minnesota are on the ballot.” It has begun!

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3. Volunteers Needed Next Week

Arts Advocacy Day is a big deal and it takes tons of volunteers to make it all happen. Can you lend a hand? Please join us at the MCA office, 2233 University Ave. W. #355, St. Paul, MN. Times needed are:
• Monday, Feb. 11, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 12, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, Feb. 13, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• We can also accommodate many volunteers the morning of Arts Advocacy Day at the Minnesota History Center at 7:00 a.m.

Are you game? Please contact Mark Albers and let him know you are coming at: staff at mncitizensforthearts.org or 651-251-0868 so we are ready to greet you.

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4. Add Your Arts Organization to Our Petition by Feb. 8, 2008

Arts Advocacy Day is fast approaching and will will be asking for dedicated funding for the arts in the form of the constitutional amendment that nearly passed the legislature last year. The Majority Leaders of both the House and Senate have pledged to pass the bill early in the next legislative session that begins on Feb. 12, 2008. For this reason Arts Advocacy Day will be held just two days later on Feb. 14. Once passed by the legislature the ballot question bypasses the Governor to go directly to voters in November 2008. Then, if passed by the voters, funding for cultural heritage will triple from current levels and will be in place at that higher level for the next 25 years. This is the most important piece of legislation ever offered for the arts in Minnesota.

This new source of stable, dedicated funding could create a renaissance for the arts in Minnesota. Minnesotans will have greatly expanded opportunities for access to the arts and artists and arts organizations will see new creative opportunities statewide. Our cultural heritage, along with our beautiful natural environment, are at the core of what makes Minnesota a great place to live. This proposal, combining my two favorite things about my home state, makes perfect sense. We are already organizing a statewide campaign with conservationists to make the proposal a reality.

Here’s How You Can Help: Join Great Minnesota Arts Organizations Such As The Ones Below In Endorsing the Following Statement. Our goal is to get the endorsement of at least 300 environment, arts and culture and civic organizations for the constititional amendment by Feb. 8 so that the list can be presented to legislators when the session begins. So far, over 200 organizations have signed on! Below is a partial list of who has signed up so far.

Support for immediate passage of the Conference Committee Report on SF6/HF2285 –

The Great Outdoors and Heritage Amendment

We, the undersigned organizations are deeply committed to the future of Minnesota. We urge the 2008 Legislature to immediately pass the agreed to Conference Committee report on Senate File 6/House File 2285 – the Great Outdoors and Heritage Amendment.

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and: American Association of Woodturners, American Choral Directors of Minnesota, American Composers Forum, Arrowhead Chorale, Duluth, Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, Duluth, Art of the Lakes, Battle Lake, Artist Relief Fund, Duluth, Art Eductors of Minnesota, Arts Culture Partnership of Saint Paul, Arts Center of Saint Peter, ArtReach Alliance, Artspace Projects, Bloomington Chorale, Bluff Country Studio Art Tour, Caponi Art Park and Learning Center, Center for Hmong Arts and Talent (CHAT), Children’s Theatre Company, Minneapolis, City of Rochester Music Department/Riverside Concerts, CLIMB Theatre, Colder by the Lake Comedy Theatre, Duluth, Cross Community Players, Curtain Call Theatre, Depot Studios, Isle, Detroit Lakes Community Cultural Center, East Central Arts Council, East Metro Women’s Council, White Bear Lake, EJAM, Enviromental Justice Advocates of Minnesota, Evansville Art Center, Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre, Fergus Falls A Center for the Arts, Five Wings Arts Council, Staples, FM Visual Artists (Fargo-Moorhead), Friends of the Hopkins Center for the Arts, FUEGO Flamenco, Gunflint Trail Historical Society, Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis, Hauser Dance, Highpoint Center for Printmaking, Minneapolis, Historic Holmes Theatre, Detroit Lakes, Historic Mounds Theatre, Historic Mounds Theatre, St. Paul, JazzMN, Inc., Minneapolis, Keepers of the Sacred Tradition of Pipemakers, Pipestone, Lake Agassiz Arts Council, Lake Region Arts Council, Fergus Falls, Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis, Lowry LAB Theater, Lyric Arts Company of Anoka, Inc., MacPhail Center for Music, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, Milan Village Arts School, Milkweed Editions, Minhua Chorus, Roseville, Minneapolis Arts Commission, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis Musical Theatre, Minneapolis Park and Recreation, Minnesota Art Therapy Association, Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD), Minnesota Film Arts, Minnesota Opera, Minnesota Orchestral Association, Minnesota Sages Dance Awards, Minnesota Sinfonia, Minnesota Theatre Company, Minnesota Youth Symphonies, Mpls./St.Paul International Film Festival, Music in the Park Series, New Prague Arts Council, No Refunds Theatre Company, Northern Light Opera Company, Northern Prairie Performing Arts, Northwest Minnesota Arts Council in Warren, Oratorio Society of Minnesota, Park Rapids Lakes Area Arts Council, Pequot Lakes CAPP committe, Rain Taxi, Inc, Renewing the Countryside, Seafarer Press, St Paul, Skewed Visions, St. Paul City Council, Stages Theatre Company, Hopkins, Starting Gate Productions, St. Paul, SteppingStone Theatre, Taproot, Inc./Education Through the Media Arts, Textile Center, The Burning House Group Theatre Company, Minneapolis, The Edge Center for the Arts, Bigfork, The Edge of the Wilderness Community Center, (EWCC) , The Rose Ensemble, St. Paul, The Soap Factory, Minneapolis, St. Cloud Municipal Band, The Southern Theater , The Workhaus Playwrights Collective, Theater Space Project, Three Rivers Arts Council, Three Rivers Park District, Twin Cities Musicians Union, Twin Rivers Center for the Arts, Mankato, Valley Chamber Chorale, Stillwater, VSA arts of Minnesota, Walker Art Center, White Bear Center for the Arts, Wildwood Artist Series, Wishes for the Sky, Women in the Wilderness, Writers Rising Up To Defend Place, Natural Habitat, Wetlands, Eden Prairie, Young Dance, and Your Organization Here!

Just respond to this email to let us know the name of your organization that you would like us to add to the list.

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5. Event Reminders from MCA:

Minnesota’s Arts Advocacy Day
February 14, 2008 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Minnesota History Center and Minnesota State Capitol
More information here: http://mncitizensforthearts.org/events/advocacyday/
Register On-line Now: www.mncitizensforthearts.org

National Arts Advocacy Day
March 31-April 1, 2008
Washington, D.C.
More information here: www.artsusa.org/events/2008/aad/default.asp

——————————————————————-

Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members. Join Today on MCA’s secure web site at: mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/

Give cool Arts Advocate gifts from MCA’s store at: www.cafepress.com/mnforthearts

Join MCA’s MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/mncitizensforthearts

View MCA Advocates on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/Mncitizensforthearts

Take Action: www.mncitizensforthearts.org at our frequently updated, one-stop site for: information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and how you can get involved, an Action Center called the Arts Action Center where you can write a letter to your legislator, or even find out who your legislators are, facts about the arts in Minnesota, the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issues and more!

Things You Need To Know: MCA values your privacy, and will not sell or distribute your personal information to anyone. MCA is a nonpartisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts. If you are interested in learning more about how to advocate for the arts, or how to activate people in your arts organization or community to lobby for the arts, please call us at 651-251-0868 or e-mail staff at mncitizensforthearts.org. State arts funding supports access to the arts for all Minnesotans. The state-funded Minnesota State Arts Board and eleven Regional Arts Councils provide grants and services in every Minnesota county for artists, arts organizations, arts projects and school artist residencies. For more information on regional or state grants, go to www.arts.state.mn.us/racs/index.htm.

If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here.

January 31, 2008

1. Register Now For Arts Advocacy Day, Feb. 14

2. Speak Up for the Arts and Environment at Your Caucus, Feb. 5th!

3. Add Your Arts Organization to Our Petition by Feb. 8

4. Job Openings with the Consitutional Amendment Campaign

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1. Register Now For Arts Advocacy Day, Feb. 14, 2008

Register Now on MCA’s Website: www.mncitizensforthearts.org.

Be a part of history when the legislature approves the most important legislation ever on behalf of the arts and environmental conservation in Minnesota. Arts Advocacy Day is our chance to make sure decision makers know about the strong arts community in Minnesota and that we want their support. As you can imagine, these legislators LISTEN, because we are their constituents! This is especially important during this election year.

We start at 8:00 a.m. with a fun and informative rally at the Minnesota History Center and then split up into teams, led by an experienced arts advocate, to meet individually with legislators in the Capitol. Most teams are done by 1:00.

Arts people are coming from all over the state to take part. It’s the best arts networking opportunity of the year and the registration deadline is coming soon. For lots of information about the big day including schedule, maps, legislative agenda and a quick link to register today, check out MCA’s website. Sign up now at www.mncitizensforthearts.org.

So, this Valentine’s Day, plan to spend ½ your day at the Capitol with hundreds of friends at Arts Advocacy Day. You don’t need to know how to lobby or anything – MCA does a great job training and empowering you in this effort. Plus, you’ll have a cool team leader who will guide your advocacy team through the day. This is a fun, useful and really eye-opening networking event in addition to helping the cause of the arts in a tangible way.

Don’t wait for someone else to take up this cause. If you care about the arts (and I happen to know that you do) then YOU should be at Arts Advocacy Day. Please Register by Feb. 8 so we can get you on the team with your own legislators. See you there!

——————————————————————-

2. Speak Up for the Arts and Environment at Your Caucus, Feb. 5th

The kick off of Minnesota’s political season is next Tuesday at precinct caucuses. In this most important year, your participation at caucuses will determine who Minnesota endorses for president. After you’ve made your vote for your favorite candidate, you can also offer a resolution to help the arts and environment. Everything you need is on MCA’s website www.mncitizensforthearts.org under “Events.” You can download our caucus resolution and instructions. People all over the state will be presenting this resolution at their caucus. Join us in getting the word out!

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3. Add Your Arts Organization to Our Petition by Feb. 8, 2008

Arts Advocacy Day is fast approaching and will will be asking for dedicated funding for the arts in the form of the constitutional amendment that nearly passed the legislature last year. The Majority Leaders of both the House and Senate have pledged to pass the bill early in the next legislative session that begins on Feb. 12, 2008. For this reason Arts Advocacy Day will be held just two days later on Feb. 14. Once passed by the legislature the ballot question bypasses the Governor to go directly to voters in November 2008. Then, if passed by the voters, funding for cultural heritage will triple from current levels and will be in place at that higher level for the next 25 years. This is the most important piece of legislation ever offered for the arts in Minnesota.

This new source of stable, dedicated funding could create a renaissance for the arts in Minnesota. Minnesotans will have greatly expanded opportunities for access to the arts and artists and arts organizations will see new creative opportunities statewide. Our cultural heritage, along with our beautiful natural environment, are at the core of what makes Minnesota a great place to live. This proposal, combining my two favorite things about my home state, makes perfect sense. We are already organizing a statewide campaign with conservationists to make the proposal a reality.

Here’s How You Can Help: Join Great Minnesota Arts Organizations Such As The Ones Below In Endorsing the Following Statement. Our goal is to get the endorsement of at least 300 environment, arts and culture and civic organizations for the constititional amendment by Feb. 8 so that the list can be presented to legislators when the session begins. So far, over 200 organizations have signed on! Below is a partial list of who has signed up so far.

Support for immediate passage of the Conference Committee Report on SF6/HF2285 –

The Great Outdoors and Heritage Amendment

We, the undersigned organizations are deeply committed to the future of Minnesota. We urge the 2008 Legislature to immediately pass the agreed to Conference Committee report on Senate File 6/House File 2285 – the Great Outdoors and Heritage Amendment.

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and: Arrowhead Chorale, Duluth, Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, Duluth, Art of the Lakes, Battle Lake, Artist Relief Fund, Duluth, Art Eductors of Minnesota, Arts Culture Partnership of Saint Paul, Arts Center of Saint Peter, Artspace Projects, Bloomington Chorale, Bluff Country Studio Art Tour, Caponi Art Park and Learning Center, Children’s Theatre Company, Minneapolis, City of Rochester Music Department/Riverside Concerts, CLIMB Theatre, Colder by the Lake Comedy Theatre, Duluth, Curtain Call Theatre, Depot Studios, Isle, Detroit Lakes Community Cultural Center, East Metro Women’s Council, White Bear Lake, EJAM, Enviromental Justice Advocates of Minnesota, Evansville Art Center, Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre, Five Wings Arts Council, Staples, FM Visual Artists (Fargo-Moorhead), Friends of the Hopkins Center for the Arts, Gunflint Trail Historical Society, Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis, Highpoint Center for Printmaking, Minneapolis, Historic Holmes Theatre, Detroit Lakes, Historic Mounds Theatre, Historic Mounds Theatre, St. Paul, JazzMN, Inc., Minneapolis, Keepers of the Sacred Tradition of Pipemakers, Pipestone, Lake Agassiz Arts Council, Lake Region Arts Council, Fergus Falls, Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis, Lowry LAB Theater, Lyric Arts Company of Anoka, Inc., MacPhail Center for Music, Milan Village Arts School, Milkweed Editions, Minhua Chorus, Roseville, Minneapolis Arts Commission, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis Musical Theatre, Minneapolis Park and Recreation, Minnesota Art Therapy Association, Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (MASWCD), Minnesota Film Arts, Minnesota Opera, Minnesota Orchestral Association, Minnesota Sages Dance Awards, Minnesota Sinfonia, Minnesota Theatre Company, Mpls./St.Paul International Film Festival, Music in the Park Series, New Prague Arts Council, No Refunds Theatre Company, Northern Light Opera Company, Northern Prairie Performing Arts, Northwest Minnesota Arts Council in Warren, Oratorio Society of Minnesota, Park Rapids Lakes Area Arts Council, Rain Taxi, Inc, Renewing the Countryside, Seafarer Press, St Paul, Skewed Visions, St. Paul City Council, Stages Theatre Company, Hopkins, Starting Gate Productions, St. Paul, SteppingStone Theatre, Textile Center, The Burning House Group Theatre Company, Minneapolis, The Edge Center for the Arts, Bigfork, The Edge of the Wilderness Community Center, (EWCC) , The Rose Ensemble, St. Paul, The Soap Factory, Minneapolis, The Southern Theater , The Workhaus Playwrights Collective, Theater Space Project, Three Rivers Arts Council, Three Rivers Park District, Twin Cities Musicians Union, Valley Chamber Chorale, Stillwater, VSA arts of Minnesota, Walker Art Center, White Bear Center for the Arts, Wildwood Artist Series, Women in the Wilderness, Writers Rising Up To Defend Place, Natural Habitat, Wetlands, Eden Prairie, Young Dance, and Your Organization Here!

Just respond to this email to let us know the name of your organization that you would like us to add to the list.

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4. Job Openings with the Consitutional Amendment Campaign

Minnesota Heritage ’08, a major statewide ballot initiative campaign organized in support of a constitutional amendment for dedicated funding for Water, Wildlife, Natural Areas and the Arts & Culture, seeks qualified individuals for the following positions:
· Communications Director
· Field Organizers
We seek highly motivated, team players who work well with others, can maintain multiple responsibilities and are able to stay on top of information and tasks in a fast-paced organization focused on winning an election in November 2008. Candidates need to be strategic, team players; and able to recruit, train and motivate a wide range of people. We are looking for individuals who have the desire, skills and toughness to work on an exciting and demanding campaign. Candidates must be goal-oriented with leadership skills and strong organizing experience.

Salary is commensurate with experience.

To apply, please email a copy of your resume, a cover letter and three references to:
Ken Martin at kenmartin73@comcast.net.

Women and people of color strongly encouraged to apply. Minnesota Heritage ’08 is an equal opportunity employer.

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5. Event Reminders from MCA:

Minnesota’s Arts Advocacy Day
February 14, 2008 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Minnesota History Center and Minnesota State Capitol
More information here: http://mncitizensforthearts.org/events/advocacyday/
Register On-line Now: www.mncitizensforthearts.org

Minnesota Precinct Caucus Day
February 5 , 2008
Your Neighborhood
More information here: www.mncitizensforthearts.org/events/

National Arts Advocacy Day
March 31-April 1, 2008
Washington, D.C.
More information here: www.artsusa.org/events/2008/aad/default.asp

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Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members. Join Today on MCA’s secure web site at: mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/

Give cool Arts Advocate gifts from MCA’s store at: www.cafepress.com/mnforthearts

Join MCA’s MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/mncitizensforthearts

View MCA Advocates on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/Mncitizensforthearts

Take Action: www.mncitizensforthearts.org at our frequently updated, one-stop site for: information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and how you can get involved, an Action Center called the Arts Action Center where you can write a letter to your legislator, or even find out who your legislators are, facts about the arts in Minnesota, the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issues and more!

Things You Need To Know: MCA values your privacy, and will not sell or distribute your personal information to anyone. MCA is a nonpartisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts. If you are interested in learning more about how to advocate for the arts, or how to activate people in your arts organization or community to lobby for the arts, please call us at 651-251-0868 or e-mail staff at mncitizensforthearts.org. State arts funding supports access to the arts for all Minnesotans. The state-funded Minnesota State Arts Board and eleven Regional Arts Councils provide grants and services in every Minnesota county for artists, arts organizations, arts projects and school artist residencies. For more information on regional or state grants, go to www.arts.state.mn.us/racs/index.htm.

If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here.

December 15, 2007

1. Happy New Year from MCA

2. Give the Gift of Arts Advocacy

3. Event Reminders from MCA: Advocacy Day Registration Now Available On-line

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1. Happy New Year from MCA

We are living in interesting and historic times for the arts in Minnesota. There is growth, there is change, there are highlights and low lights for artists, arts organizations and audiences. Congratulations to artists who have created whole new worlds this year. Congratulations to the boards and staff of arts organizations who have built infrastructure this year that will serve Minnesotans far into the future. And congratulations to audiences who have had the privilege to witness and experience it all.

As an organization that serves both our arts community and the public, MCA’s mission is to ensure access to the arts for all Minnesotans. With you as a partner, we have had a historic year of success at the legislature. We increased funding for the arts statewide, we will have a state Poet Laureate, and we restored the state’s Percent for Art Program.

But even with these successes there is still very much more to do. We have not yet recovered from the massive cuts to the arts in 2003. Every time there is a state deficit the arts are threatened for cuts, even though funding for the arts are such a tiny portion of the overall state budget. So we still have far to go in meeting our mission.

This has prompted new thinking – how do we ensure funding for the arts in the long term? Is it time to find dedicated funding for cultural heritage?

The answer to the dedicated funding question has come in the form of the constitutional amendment for conservation and cultural heritage that nearly passed the legislature last year. The Majority Leaders of both the House and Senate have pledged to pass the bill early in the next legislative session that begins on Feb. 12, 2008. For this reason Arts Advocacy Day will be held just two days later on Feb. 14. Once passed by the legislature the ballot question bypasses the Governor to go directly to voters in November 2008. Then, if passed by the voters, funding for cultural heritage will triple from current levels and will be in place at that higher level for the next 25 years.

This new source of stable, dedicated funding could create a renaissance for the arts in Minnesota. Minnesotans will have greatly expanded opportunities for access to the arts and artists and arts organizations will see new creative opportunities statewide. Our cultural heritage, along with our beautiful natural environment, are at the core of what makes Minnesota a great place to live. This proposal, combining my two favorite things about my home state, makes perfect sense.

We are already organizing a statewide campaign with conservationists to make the proposal a reality.

The next year will bring new and exciting challenges to arts advocates in Minnesota, with the potential to make the greatest impact we’ve ever been able to make. Watch this space as history unfolds. We look forward to an exciting and successful 2008.

Happy Holidays
from Sheila Smith
and the Board and Staff of MCA

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2. Give the Gift of Arts Advocacy

Everyone needs Arts Advocacy! We’ll make it easy for you:

Give an MCA membership on MCA’s secure web site at:
mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/

Give cool Arts Advocate gifts from MCA’s store at:
www.cafepress.com/mnforthearts

Happy Holidays!

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4. Event Reminders from MCA:

Minnesota’s Arts Advocacy Day
February 14, 2008 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Minnesota History Center and Minnesota State Capitol
More information here: http://mncitizensforthearts.org/events/advocacyday/
Register On-line Now: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Ugq3_2f8alNd0TXXWulLHyAg_3d_3d

Explore Minnesota Cultural Tourism Conference
January 22-24, 2008 (Cultural Tourism Day is January 23)
Alltel Civic Center, Mankato
More information here: industry.exploreminnesota.com/2008_Minnesota_Conference_on_Tourism.html

National Arts Advocacy Day
March 31-April 1, 2008
Washington, D.C.
More information here: www.artsusa.org/events/2008/aad/default.asp

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Join MCA’s MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/mncitizensforthearts

View MCA Advocates on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/Mncitizensforthearts

Take Action: www.mncitizensforthearts.org at our frequently updated, one-stop site for: information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and how you can get involved, an Action Center called the Arts Action Center where you can write a letter to your legislator, or even find out who your legislators are, facts about the arts in Minnesota, the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issues and more!

Things You Need To Know: MCA values your privacy, and will not sell or distribute your personal information to anyone. MCA is a nonpartisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts. If you are interested in learning more about how to advocate for the arts, or how to activate people in your arts organization or community to lobby for the arts, please call us at 651-251-0868 or e-mail staff at mncitizensforthearts.org. State arts funding supports access to the arts for all Minnesotans. The state-funded Minnesota State Arts Board and eleven Regional Arts Councils provide grants and services in every Minnesota county for artists, arts organizations, arts projects and school artist residencies. For more information on regional or state grants, go to www.arts.state.mn.us/racs/index.htm.

If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here.

December 10, 2007

1. Supreme Court Decision May Threaten Nonprofit Property Tax Exemptions

2. Duluth City Council Upholds Percent for Art

3. Give the Gift of Arts Advocacy

4. Event Reminders from MCA: Advocacy Day Registration Now Available On-line

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1. Supreme Court Decision May Threaten Nonprofit Property Tax Exemptions

Minnesota has long relied on a six part test, called the North Star Test, to determine if nonprofits that own property are eligible for property tax exemption. On Thursday, the Minnesota Supreme Court appears to have very narrowly construed the property tax exemption for charitable institutions to a single one of these six factors: An organization that does not provide goods or services free or at considerably reduced rates as a substantial, not just an incidental, part of its operations is not exempt from payment of real property taxes as an institution of purely public charity. The Court ruled that a Red Wing day care center is not eligible for the property tax exemption because it doesn’t discount its rates.

You can read the decision here: http://www.mncourts.gov/opinions/sc/current/OPA070468-1206.htm

MCA has met with leaders from other nonprofits to look at the decision and see what it may mean for nonprofits of all kinds in the state and how we can respond. We will get you more information as it becomes available.

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2. Duluth City Council Upholds Percent for Art

From the Duluth News Tribune - 12/04/2007

Council upholds arts funding

WHAT THEY DID: Voted down a proposed ordinance that would have deleted the primary funding mechanism for the Public Arts Commission.

WHAT IT MEANS: Under the City Charter, whenever the city constructs a new building, the city has to match 1 percent of those costs and put them in the commission’s coffers. Arts Commission members said previous funds have gone toward purchasing or commissioning many of the city’s most famous sculptures, including the Determined Mariner in Canal Park and the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial at Second Avenue East and First Street. The commission said that if the funding were to go away, the commission probably would dissolve as well.

Councilors who opposed the ordinance said that arts were too valuable to Duluth to cut. “This is a pretty simple way for our community to express our shared value and appreciation of art,” said City Councilor and Mayor-elect Don Ness. Supporters of the ordinance said that while art is good for the city, it shouldn’t come at taxpayers’ expense. “I’m saying enough is enough — that’s what I’m hearing [from residents],” said Russ Stewart, who proposed the ordinance.

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3. Give the Gift of Arts Advocacy

Everyone needs Arts Advocacy! We’ll make it easy for you:

Give an MCA membership on MCA’s secure website at:
mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/

Give cool Arts Advocate gifts from MCA’s store at:
www.cafepress.com/mnforthearts

Happy Holidays!

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4. Event Reminders from MCA:

Minnesota’s Arts Advocacy Day
February 14, 2008 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Minnesota History Center and Minnesota State Capitol
More information here: http://mncitizensforthearts.org/events/advocacyday/
And Register On-line Now: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Ugq3_2f8alNd0TXXWulLHyAg_3d_3d

Explore Minnesota Cultural Tourism Conference
January 22-24, 2008 (Cultural Tourism Day is January 23)
Alltel Civic Center, Mankato
More information here: industry.exploreminnesota.com/2008_Minnesota_Conference_on_Tourism.html

National Arts Advocacy Day
March 31-April 1, 2008
Washington, D.C.
More information here: www.artsusa.org/events/2008/aad/default.asp

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November 30, 2007

1. We Need Campus Arts Advocates

2. Give the Gift of Arts Advocacy

3. Event Reminders from MCA

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1. We Need Campus Arts Advocates

We are looking for enthusiastic students or groups from Minnesota campuses that have a passion for the arts. Become a Campus Arts Advocate - it is a minimal time commitment that yields great results for the future of the arts. Student advocates will organize other interested students for Advocacy Day and help to spread the word at your campus.

Our first meeting is *December 7th at 6pm* in our Saint Paul office at the below address. Pizza provided!

Arts Advocacy Day at the Capitol happens on *February 14th, 2008* and it would be wonderful to see Minnesota college campuses represented! Minnesota Citizens for the Arts is a statewide arts advocacy organization that organizes the arts community to lobby the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress. Our mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. Annually, we host an Arts Advocacy Day at the MN State Capitol to make sure decision makers know about the strong arts community in Minnesota and that we’d like their support. Arts people come from all over the state to take part. It’s the best arts networking opportunity of the year!

Thank you for your help! Please RSVP by contacting Tara at: degnx002@umn.edu. (You must be a currently enrolled student in order to participate).

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, 2233 University Avenue West, #355 St. Paul, MN 55114, p: 651/251-0868 www.mncitizensforthearts.org
www.myspace.com/mncitizensforthearts.

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2. Give the Gift of Arts Advocacy

It’s going to snow this weekend and gift giving season will soon be here! Make things easy on yourself by giving the gift of Arts Advocacy. We’ll make it easy for you:

Give an MCA membership on MCA’s secure website at:
mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/

Give cool Arts Advocate gifts from MCA’s store at:
www.cafepress.com/mnforthearts

Happy Holidays!

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3. Event Reminders from MCA:

Minnesota’s Arts Advocacy Day
February 14, 2008 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Minnesota History Center and Minnesota State Capitol
More information here: newspaceship.com/events/advocacyday/

Explore Minnesota Cultural Tourism Conference
January 22-24, 2008 (Cultural Tourism Day is January 23)
Alltel Civic Center, Mankato
More information here: industry.exploreminnesota.com/2008_Minnesota_Conference_on_Tourism.html

National Arts Advocacy Day
March 31-April 1, 2008
Washington, D.C.
More information here: www.artsusa.org/events/2008/aad/default.asp

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Join MCA’s MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/mncitizensforthearts.

View MCA Advocates on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/Mncitizensforthearts

Take Action: www.mncitizensforthearts.org.
Your frequently updated, one-stop site for: information about Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and how you can get involved, an Action Center called the Arts Action Center where you can write a letter to your legislator, or even find out who your legislators are, facts about the arts in Minnesota, the latest on legislative and congressional action on arts issues and more!

Things You Need To Know:
MCA values your privacy, and will not sell or distribute your personal information to anyone. MCA is a nonpartisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure opportunity for all people to have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community and lobbies the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress on issues pertaining to the nonprofit arts. If you are interested in learning more about how to advocate for the arts, or how to activate people in your arts organization or community to lobby for the arts, please call us at 651-251-0868 or e-mail staff at mncitizensforthearts.org. State arts funding supports access to the arts for all Minnesotans. The state-funded Minnesota State Arts Board and eleven Regional Arts Councils provide grants and services in every Minnesota county for artists, arts organizations, arts projects and school artist residencies. For more information on regional or state grants, go to www.arts.state.mn.us/racs/index.htm.