advocacy and your institution
TRANSCRIPT
Advocacy and
Your InstitutionHeather Beggs
Jane Lindsey
Michele Miller
Patricia Relay
Session Overview
Introductions
Why Advocate?
Advocacy or Lobbying?
Local Advocacy
Statewide Advocacy
National Advocacy
Fly-In 2014: HB 333 and Beyond
Q&A
Why Advocate?
• Convince decision
making
• Build credibility, access
& influence
• Educate on issues &
bring expertise
Types of Advocates
• Citizen Advocates
• Organizational
Advocacy
• Paid Advocate
http://www.aam-us.org/resources/publications/museum-magazine/archive/advocate-for-my-museum
More information:
Advocacy or
Lobbying?
AdvocacyAdvocacy occurs when you make
the case for museums & cultural
centers broadly
LobbyingLobbying is one form of advocacy
and usually involves an attempt to
influence legislation
More information:
Alliance for Justice www.afj.org
What do you think?Yes you can! No you can’t
• Make candidates aware of your
agenda?
• Donate personal funds?
• Work on behalf of a ballot measure
example: to set aside 1% of a sales
tax for cultural organizations?
• Spend a substantial amount of time
or money on a ballot measure?
• Tell people who to vote for?
• Ask candidates to fill out a
questionnaire about issues?
• Use office computers, supplies,
telephones, email, fax, or other
resources for partisan political
activity?
Local Advocacy
Jane Lindsey, Director
Juneau City Museum
Juneau
Do local government
officials know what your
institution is doing?
• Are they informed?
• Are they active?
• Do they participate?
• Do they know what your institutional goals are?
Are you and your
institution an active part
of your community?
Statewide Advocacy
Michele Miller
Development Director
Pratt Museum, Homer
Statewide Advocacy Assemble thoughtful project packet
Start locally with city council/assembly and mayor
Work during the interim with state delegation and regional borough
Work during the interim to educate the governor’s office
CAPSIS system application must be submitted for each project before the legislature
Lobbyist: pros and cons for hiring
Personal visits to legislature and governor’s office
Testify at committee hearings
Another personal visit if necessary
Keep working it!
National Advocacy
Patricia Relay
Executive Director
Valdez Museum &
Archive
American Alliance of Museums
Museum Advocacy Day (MAD) Recap
Why Advocate on a National Level?
Relationship building
Network with your peers & understand national issues that affect your field
Testify back home in support of museums
Provide your museum’s posters & brochures to your congressional office
• Build your public speaking
skills
• Advocate for your field on a
national level
• Meet other institutions on a
national platform
• Secure grants & funding for
your institution at home
• Secure an item for an
exhibit
National Advocacy
What can you do now: Advocate from anywhere
Advocacy Resources
http://www.aam-us.org/advocacy/resources Why advocate?
Tools to advocate
Can I advocate?
What can I do in the future?
Plan to attend 2015 MAD in DC, February 23-34, 2015
If you plan to attend
Museum Advocacy Day
February 23-34, 2015
here are a few things to
consider:
• Get rested
• Wear comfortable shoes
• Bring information
• Use AAM mobile app
• Enjoy DC
Museums Alaska Fly-In
Heather Beggs
Executive Director
Museums Alaska
Former Legislative Aide
The Need & The Action
Museums in Alaska have critical capital improvement needs that are difficult for their small budgets and staff to negotiate
Museums Alaska forms Advocacy committee
McDowell Group publishes study of museum infrastructure needs, initiated by the Foraker Group
CHAMP forms and together plan January 2014 Legislative Fly-In
2014 Partners:Museums Alaska
The Alaska Historical SocietyThe Alaska State Council on the Arts
The Alaska Humanities Forum
Culture, Humanities, Art, Museums Partnership
CHAMP Advocacy Delegation in Juneau
How much do our Alaska state
legislators know about our
museums?
CHAMP Fly-In is an opportunity to
create a voice for our Institutions
HB333 & Beyond
Sponsor: Rep. Bob Herron
HB333 – filed in 28th
Legislature (2013-14) and
did not move forward
Granted hearing by
Education Committee at
end of session
Testimony by Museums
Alaska members
Legislation for funding museum capital
projects
Background on current library legislation
Amend library statute to include museums or draft new
legislation
New Legislation for 29th Legislature (2015-16)
GOALS:
Participation of Museums Alaska in ranking projects, as
AKLA does for libraries
Participation by Division of Libraries, Archives, Museums
in review process
Why Participate in 2015
CHAMP Fly-In?
• Other groups visit the
Capitol each year to share
their message
• Telling our story is powerful
• Presenting a unified
message that museums
are essential will have
impact
• Be on the legislative radar
at home and in Juneau
Questions?
Contact us
Heather Beggs [email protected]
Jane Lindsey [email protected]
Michele Miller [email protected]
Patricia Relay [email protected]
Join us
Advocacy Breakfast Roundtable
Friday, at the Breeze-Inn, 7:00 am