ADVOCACY TIPS

Writing your Legislator:

• Put your letter on your organization’s letterhead.

• Begin by thanking your legislator for his/her support of the arts and cultural organizations in your district.

• Make your request for his/her support.

• Explain why his/her support of your request is important to your organization.

• Include your organization’s brochure, program information, poster, a fact sheet or annual report with your letter.

• Send copies of your letters to the Governor, the legislative leadership, to the New York State Council on the Arts (if appropriate), and to MANY.

• Encourage your audiences and members to do the same.

• Invite your legislators to your organization when they are in your district.

• Ask them to speak at an event or tour your collections storage areas. Use this opportunity to demonstrate first-hand how important your collections are to your community.

• Publicly recognize them at events for their support of your organization or of arts and cultural activities in your community.

• Put your legislators on your mailing and press release lists.

• Keep them informed about what’s taking place at your organization and who is funding your activities.

• Be a source of reliable information that may be helpful to your legislators and their staffs.

• Send your elected officials thank you notes and congratulatory messages.

• Write to your recently elected or re-elected officials congratulating them on their victory and informing them of what your organization does and how you are ready to assist them in office.

• Invite elected officials to visit your museum or ask for a meeting with their staff to acquaint them with your services and programs. You are a powerful resource to assist them in communicating with constituents and alerting them to perspectives on issues affecting your community.