"Dear Preservation Colleagues, although this advocacy workshop is sponsored by the national and state museum associations, it is really about advocacy for our cultural institutions, certainly including persons advocating for preservation issues. One aspect of the workshop is how all of us, for whom advocacy is crucial, can learn from what each other are accomplishing. Those of you in the preservation community--and members of your boards and volunteer organizations--are most welcome."Regards, Tom Wilson, President, Museum Association of Arizona.
On Tuesday, February 13th, the American Association of Museums and the Museum Association of Arizona present a full-day program that explores how to advocate on behalf of your museum on the national, state and local levels. It is essential that staff, board members, volunteers and stakeholders be able to make the case effectively for our museums and cultural organizations.
8:00-8:30 Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30-8:45 Welcome (Thomas H. Wilson, President, Museum Association of Arizona)
8:45-10:00 Understanding the Political Process
Advocacy isn’t rocket science, but sometimes understanding how things do and don’t get done in Congress can certainly seem like it! In this session we’ll explore what legislators want and who they listen to, the legislative process, legislative terms and buzzwords and how to get your museum's needs into the mix. (Ember Farber, Legislative & Advocacy Assistant, American Association of Museums)
10-10:15 Break
10:15-11:30 Getting Involved in Advocacy at the Federal Level
This session will explore the nuts and bolts of advocacy and lobbying, from engaging legislators, your board and your members on key issues to dealing with the press. The session will end with plenty of time for questions and answers, interactive advocacy exercises and tips for applying federal advocacy practices to your visits with Arizona legislators. (Ember Farber, Legislative & Advocacy Assistant, American Association of Museums)
11:30-12:00 Discussion
12:00-1:00 Lunch Provided
1:00-2:15 Advocacy on the State Level
Nonprofits can learn a lot from the advocacy efforts of other nonprofit groups skilled at making their cases on the state level. Join panelists from Arizona Action for the Arts, the Sierra Club and the Arizona Library Association to learn to learn about making the case for our nonprofit institutions. (Eileen Klein, United Health Care, Arizona Action for the Arts; Sandy Bahr, Conservation Outreach Director, Sierra Clubl; Brenda Brown, Chandler Public Library, Chair, Arizona Library Association Legislative Committee)
2:15-2:30 Break
2:30-3:45 Grassroots Advocacy Before It’s Too Late: The Mesa Case
In 2006 a budget crisis in Mesa led to two tax measures on the ballot, one of which passed and one of which failed. Failure of the property tax led to severe budget cuts to Mesa’s cultural institutions. Learn about the campaign and effective advocacy on the local level and creating grassroots support for your organization before its too late. (Mike Hutchinson, former Mesa City Manager, Vice Chair, Mesa Arts Center Foundation; Paul Benz, Highground Public Affairs Consultants; Vic Linoff, Chair, Advocacy Committee, Mesa Historical Museum; Lisa Anderson, President & CEO, Mesa Historical Museum)
3:45-4:15 Discussion
Carnegie Center, 1101 West Washington, Phoenix, AZ 85007, (602)255-2110. Tuesday, February 13, 2007, all day or half-day. Registration (per person) for a full day including lunch: $20 Museum Association of Arizona members; $25 Non-members. Half-day without lunch: $15 All attendees. Make checks payable to Museum Association of Arizona and mail to (attendees to morning or afternoon half-day sessions may pay at the door): Holly Young, Treasurer, Museum Association of Arizona C/o Pueblo Grande Museum. 4619 E. Washington St. Phoenix, AZ 85034-1909. For further information, contact Thomas H. Wilson, President, Museum Association of Arizona, (480)644-3418; tom.wilson@cityofmesa.org.
