Archive for February, 2012

arts alert: Join Us for Arts Advocacy Day Feb 29th Register Now!

Friday, February 17th, 2012
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
@MnCitizen
February 17, 2012
1. Arts Advocacy Day is Feb. 29 – Register Now!

2. Newspapers Across the State Oppose Diversion of Legacy Funds

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1. Arts Advocacy Day is Feb. 29 – Register Now!

 

Arts Advocacy Day is just 12 days away!
Join your arts friends and advocates at the Capitol on Feb. 29 to thank legislators for getting Legacy funding gets into every community across the state, and ask them to oppose diversion of Legacy to unconstitutional things like the stadium.

Arts  Advocacy Day is a fun way to make your voice heard. We visit legislators in teams, led by someone who has experience in talking to legislators about the arts. You will meet people from all across the state who agree with you about the importance of the arts!
Join us at the Capitol on February 29!
Get all the info you need on the day, and register, here: www.mncitizensforthearts.org/events/advocacyday/.
Advocacy Day attendees will be eligible for discounts to a variety of arts events in the Twin Cities. You’ll get info. about these opportunities once you’ve registered.

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2. Newspapers Across the State Oppose Diversion of Legacy Funds
We’ve launched a statewide media tour along with partner organization Conservation Minnesota to protect Legacy funds. As a result, this past week newspapers across the state have posted articles and editorials in favor of protecting our state’s Legacy.
Several have also quoted two important legislators – Rep. Dean Urdahl and Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, who are Chairs of the House and Senate Legacy committees that oversee where those funds go. Both have repeatedly stated that they oppose diversion of Legacy funds to a stadium, and that they want to make sure that voter’s intent is protected.
THANK YOU to Rep. Urdahl and Sen. Ingebrigtsen for taking a stand for protecting Legacy funds!
Here’s a few great quotes:
“On one point the legislator (Legacy Chair Sen. Ingebrigtsen) and the arts  and conservation supporters all agree. They don’t want to see Legacy  money going to fund a Vikings stadium. “Absolutely not,” Ingebrigtsen said. “It doesn’t cut it.”” -Brainerd Dispatch
” Urdahl  says they are constantly looking for ways to make sure the Legacy Fund  isn’t used to backfill, or supplant budget cuts elsewhere.” -YourQ102, Willmar.
“Legacy Funds meant for arts, water, not stadium.” – Detroit Lakes
“The chairs of both the House and Senate Legacy  Committees, Dean Urdahl of Grove City and Bill Ingibritsen of  Alexandria have said they don’t think Legacy Funds should go toward a  Vikings stadium.” -KWLM Willmar
“Groups  advocating for the four Legacy funding recipients were alerted and  13,000 calls or letters to legislators were generated, Smith said. “The  outrage was fast and furious.”” - Duluth News Tribune
From the West Central Tribune in Willmar: “The Legislature should not play games with Legacy Amendment funding”
See you in St. Paul on Feb. 29!
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RESOURCES:
Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members.
JOIN NOW: www.mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/
TAKE ACTION: www.mncitizensforthearts.org
FACEBOOK: Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
TWITTER: @MNCitizen
YOUTUBE: MNCitizensforthearts
COOL STUFF TO BUY: www.cafepress.com/mnforthearts
PRIVACY: MCA values your privacy, and will not sell or distribute your name and info to anyone for any reason.
GRANTS: MCA is not a grantsmaker. For access to state funding, contact the Minnesota State Arts Board www.arts.state.mn.usor your local Regional Arts Council.

ABOUT: MCA is a  nonpartisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to  ensure Minnesotans have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA  organizes the arts community to lobby the Legislature and Congress on  issues important to the nonprofit arts community. If you are interested  in advocating for the arts, or want to learn how to activate people in  your arts organization or community, contact us at 651-251-0868 or  staff at mncitizensforthearts.org

Posted in 2012, Arts Advocacy | No Comments »

Arts Alert: Caucuses Across the State Oppose Using Legacy for Stadium

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012
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
@MnCitizen
February 8, 2012
1. Caucuses Across the State Oppose Using Legacy for Stadium
2. Next Step: Register for Arts Advocacy Day Now!
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1. Caucuses Across the State Oppose Using Legacy for Stadium

Last night arts advocates in every corner of the state introduced resolutions at their precinct caucuses opposing the use of Legacy funding to pay for a Vikings stadium. This is an important step in Minnesota’s political life, because it help sets party platforms on issues that people care about. Here’s some reports that have come in so far:


“We passed it unanimously in Minneapolis.”
“Mine passed in Stillwater”
“My caucus cheered!”
“I took it to my small town Cromwell caucus and we unanimously voted for it – all 20 some of us -  people didn’t know about this threat and were glad to hear it. Very well written! It will go on to the Carlton County caucuses which we hope to  make.”
“We passed the resolution in Staples to oppose legacy funding for a stadium!!!!”
“Our caucus passed the Legacy  resolution as well and I’m on the resolutions committee, so it’ll be on the recommended slate for SD64 as well.”
“We passed the legacy resolution… Fun night in St. Paul!”
“Roseville 55a passed unanimously.”
“It passed in Pine City.”
“District 61, south Mpls, passed MCA’s resolution to prohibit Legacy money from being used for a stadium!”
Thank you to all who took time to attend their caucuses and make their voices heard!
More background on the Legacy/stadium issue can be found here: http://www.mncitizensforthearts.org/news/no-legacy-for-stadium/. (Note that MCA is not taking a stand against a Vikings stadium overall, just against taking Legacy funding to pay for it).
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2. Next Step: Register for Arts Advocacy Day Now!
Behind the scenes, legislators are STILL talking about diverting Legacy funds for a stadium, so our focus on Arts Advocacy Day will be to talk about how arts Legacy funding is creating jobs and opportunities in the arts in every community.  Diverting Legacy funds to a stadium would take money out of every corner of the state.
Arts Advocacy Day is a fun way to make your voice heard. We visit legislators in teams, led by someone who has experience in talking to legislators about the arts. Meet people from all across the state who agree with you about the importance of the arts.
Join us at the Capitol on February 29!
Want to stop legislators from diverting Arts Legacy funds? Get all the info you need on the day, and register, here: www.mncitizensforthearts.org/events/advocacyday/.
Advocacy Day attendees will be eligible for discounts to a variety of arts events in the Twin Cities. More info to come!
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RESOURCES:
Everything MCA does is made possible by our passionate and committed members.
JOIN NOW: www.mncitizensforthearts.org/join/membership/individual-memberships/
TAKE ACTION: www.mncitizensforthearts.org
FACEBOOK: Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
TWITTER: @MNCitizen
YOUTUBE: MNCitizensforthearts
COOL STUFF TO BUY: www.cafepress.com/mnforthearts
PRIVACY: MCA values your privacy, and will not sell or distribute your name and info to anyone for any reason.
GRANTS: MCA is not a grantsmaker. For access to state funding, contact the Minnesota State Arts Board www.arts.state.mn.usor your local Regional Arts Council.

ABOUT: MCA is a  nonpartisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to  ensure Minnesotans have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA  organizes the arts community to lobby the Legislature and Congress on  issues important to the nonprofit arts community. If you are interested  in advocating for the arts, or want to learn how to activate people in  your arts organization or community, contact us at 651-251-0868 or  staff at mncitizensforthearts.org

Posted in 2012, Arts Advocacy | No Comments »

Arts Alert: Join Us: Say NO to Use of Legacy for Stadium at Your Precinct Caucus Feb. 7th

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012
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
@MnCitizen
January 31, 2012
Join Us: Say NO to Use of Legacy for Stadium at Your Precinct Caucus on Feb. 7
On Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 7 PM, Minnesota’s arts people and conservationists have a chance to make our voices heard against Legacy being used for the Vikings stadium. Each party holds their own precinct caucus meetings, and just for showing up, you have the right to introduce a resolution on any topic you want. Legislators will respond to the issues that citizens bring to caucuses.
You can find out where your caucus will be here: http://caucusfinder.sos.state.mn.us/.

Print this out and take it with you to introduce at your caucus!
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BACKGROUND:
Minnesotans passed the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in 2008 by a huge margin to protect Minnesota’s land, water, parks and arts. Now legislators are talking about diverting arts Legacy funds to pay for a Vikings stadium.
PRECINCT CAUCUS RESOLUTION:
· Whereas thousands of Minnesotans worked together on the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment campaign to provide dedicated funds for the outdoors and the arts, diverting these funds to pay for a Vikings stadium is not only illegal, but a bait and switch to the 1.6 million taxpayers who voted for the amendment,
· Whereas, using legacy funds to support a single for-profit business instead of conservation and arts initiatives in hundreds of cities and towns will deprive communities across Minnesota of needed resources and jobs,
· Whereas, ignoring the constitution is a slippery slope, and allowing diversion of the arts fund against the will of voters will make legislators feel empowered to divert the outdoor, parks and clean water funds as well,
· Whereas, there is no mention of funding for stadiums anywhere in the constitution, and not once, in all of the legislative debate, nor during the campaign to pass the amendment, was there any mention of using the funds for a stadium,

BE IT RESOLVED that the ________________ Party opposes even a single penny of Legacy Amendment funding being diverted for a Vikings Stadium.
More background on the Legacy/stadium issue can be found here: http://www.mncitizensforthearts.org/news/no-legacy-for-stadium/

Posted in 2012, Arts Advocacy | No Comments »