MCA
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
2233 University Ave. W. #355
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-251-0868 fax 651-917-3561
staff at mncitizensforthearts.org
www.mncitizensforthearts.org
Arts Action Center

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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MCA
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
2233 University Ave. W. #355
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-251-0868 fax 651-917-3561
staff at mncitizensforthearts.org
www.mncitizensforthearts.org
Arts Action Center

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:
â—¦ Contribute money to a ballot question campaign.
â—¦ Donate staff time for collecting signatures, phone calling, or sign holding.
â—¦ Donate organizational resources such as space, phones, computers, and copiers.
â—¦ Do a mailing to members or voters.
â—¦ Contribute use of email or snail mail lists so the campaign can do a mailing.
â—¦ Endorse the campaign.
â—¦ Encourage other groups to endorse and to support the campaign.
â—¦ 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:
â—¦ Web links,
â—¦ board endorsements,
â—¦ sign in the window,
â—¦ 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.