arts alert: New Strib Poll Shows Broad Support for Amendment
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
October 6 , 2008
28 Days Until the Election…
1. New Strib Poll Shows Broad Support for Amendment
2. Download MCA”s ARTS VOTER GUIDE from www.mncitizensforthearts.org
3. “Don’t Oops the Amendment” Video Hits The Web
4. The Top Six Ways Your Organization Can Help ‘Vote Yes’
5. Spread the Word
——————————
1. New Strib Poll Shows Broad Support for Amendment
Wow! A New Star Tribune Poll found that 59% of Minnesotans support the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. It shows that all of our hard work of educating the public is starting to pay off.
When we started the campaign, most Minnesotans hadn’t yet heard of the Amendment, and we’ve whittled that down to 40% of voters, which is, unfortunately, still a big number. Our biggest concern is still that voters will unknowlingly skip the question, because if they skip it their vote is automatically counted by the government as a “No.” So while we take heart with the new poll numbers showing that we are gaining momentum, we are still very worried about voter drop off. We could see a scenario of most Minnesotans supporting the amendment, but since they don’t vote on it we don’t get it passed. This makes all of your efforts to talk to neighbors and friends about the amendment even more important. Details on the poll can be found here: www.startribune.com/politics
There are three simple ways in this alert you can help. Forward the “Don’t Oops the Amendment” video to your friends, involve your arts organization in spreading the word, or volunteer at the campaign by contacting Justin Fay, justin@yesformn.org. Onward and upward!
——————————
2. Download MCA”s ARTS VOTER GUIDE from www.mncitizensforthearts.org
MCA has put the arts positions of all of the candidates into a single place so you can educate yourself. It includes statements from the Presidential candidates about the arts, voting records of our members of Congress and the results of MCA’s arts issues survey of legislative candidates from around the state. Don’t go to the polls without checking it out!
——————————
3. “Don’t Oops the Amendment” Video Hits The Web
Our partner organization Conservation Minnesota has created a rather strange video to educate people about the drop-off problem. Britney Spears encourages you to “Don’t Oops the Amendment.” Check it out at http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=
Also, the first of many TV ads in support of the amendment can be seen here on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/
——————————
4. The Top Six Ways Your Organization Can Help ‘Vote Yes’
As we hit the homestretch of the Vote Yes Minnesota campaign, our decade-long effort to protect the Minnesota we love is at its peak. Below are the six most important things your arts organization can do:
1. Take Election Day off to Help Promote the Amendment
Election Day visibility is a huge task that must be successful if our campaign is to ultimately be successful. The more individuals we have that are able to help out, the more precincts at which we can have an effective, visible presence. By donating staff and volunteer time to this effort, your organization can help reach voters as they are heading to the polls and make a very direct impact in support of the Amendment. This is an absolutely critical component of the campaign’s plan for success on November 4.2. Sponsor a Phone Bank Night
In terms of efficiency and effectiveness, there is no substitute for directly contacting voters about the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. The campaign will be conducting phonebanks from 6pm to 9pm every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings between August 16 and the election. However, this effort will only be successful if we have enough volunteer callers to reach our full target audience. Committing to staff a regular number of phone lines per week is the most effective way that your organization can help to reach key swing voters in support of the Amendment.3. Organize Lit-Drop Days
Beginning on August 16, the Vote Yes campaign will be doing lit drops every Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday through the election. In order to maximize effectiveness, these lit drops require significant volunteer help. Making an organizational commitment to conduct 5 lit drops before November 4 is a great way to contribute to the overall campaign effort. Many hands make light work!4. Coordinate Communications with Your Membership
Individuals who are already members of organizations such as yours are among the strongest supporters of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. It is vital that these folks know about the Amendment and the ways that they can help support it between now and this November. The campaign has a variety of tools to assist in this effort, including draft newsletter templates and other communications materials. By compiling a list of communications opportunities and deadlines for reaching your membership, you can help ensure that the campaign is not missing opportunities to reach this critical audience!5. Commit to Assisting with the Campaign’s Blog
Continuously developing new content is one of the most important factors in crafting an effective website. To that end, our campaign is committed to making a minimum of three new blog entries every week between now and Election Day. Committing your organization to making a blog entry or two will help us to meet this goal. This is a great way to share with a broader audience why the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment is important to your organization and how you are participating in the effort to pass it!6. Make a Financial Contribution to the Campaign
Many of our endorsing organizations have committed to making a financial contribution to the campaign. Organizations are giving what they can; some are contributing a percentage based on their annual budgets, some are hosting fund raising receptions or asking their board, staff and volunteers to make contributions online.
Contact Justin at 651-644-2088 or justin@yesformn.org to organize any of them.
——————————
5. Spread the Word: Article About the Amendment for Your Next Newsletter
You Can Help the Arts!
On November 4th, 2008 Minnesota voters will have a chance to Vote Yes to dedicated funding for clean water and the arts.
Arts and Culture: a good investment for every Minnesota Community.
The arts and culture bring us a high quality of life in Minnesota. Every corner of our state is home to important arts, music and theater programs that educate, entertain and bring our communities together. Minnesotans participate in the arts at a higher rate than other states. Our 1400 nonprofit arts and culture organizations serve millions of Minnesotans and contribute over a billion dollars annually to Minnesota’s economy. Minnesota’s arts and history need to be maintained, protected and passed on to future generations.
The arts get cut at the legislature every time there is a budget squeeze.
The arts and clean water need stable and long term sources of funding. While the arts are a very tiny part of the state’s budget, they are slashed every time the state has a deficit. In fact, we lost 32% of state arts funding in 2003. Few other items in the state budget were cut as much as the arts. A ‘yes’ vote means arts funding could triple throughout all of Minnesota.
The Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment will preserve Minnesota’s clean water, great outdoors, arts and history for our children and grandchildren to enjoy.
Here’s how it will appear on your ballot November 4th:
“Clean Water, Wildlife, Cultural Heritage, and Natural Areas
Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to dedicate funding to protect our drinking water sources; to protect, enhance, and restore our wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat; to preserve our arts and cultural heritage; to support our parks and trails; and to protect, enhance, and restore our lakes, rivers, steams, and groundwater by increasing the sales and use tax rate beginning July 1, 2009, by three-eighths of one percent on taxable sales until the year 2034? YES_____ NO _______ ”
Remember: If you skip this question, your vote will count as a “NO” VOTE.
On November 4th make your voice heard and Vote Yes to protect the Minnesota you love!
We May Never Get This Chance Again.
To see who’s endorsed the amendment, sign-up to help the cause, or find out more info go to www.yesformn.org. Or call the VOTE YES! office at (651) 644-2088.
——————————
Stuff you need to know about MCA:Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members. Join Today on MCA’s secure web site at: mncitizensforthearts.org/join/
- Give cool Arts Advocate gifts from MCA’s store at: www.cafepress.com/mnforthearts
- Join MCA’s MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/
mncitizensforthearts - Join MCA’s Facebook Page: Search for: MNCitizens Forthearts
- 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 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!