Colleagues, what follows is from another list, Suzanne Quigley >**************************************************************** > January 6, 1995 > >Dear Arts Advocates: > > As you know, since the November elections the future of our >national cultural agencies, including the National Endowment for >the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the >Institute for Museum Services, is seriously threatened. These >agencies are facing severe cuts to their current funding or >possible elimination. Arts advocates across the country must act >NOW if these agencies are to be saved. > > The Emergency Committee to Save Culture and the Arts, a >project of the American Arts Alliance, has set up a 1-900 number >(it is already working!) so that arts groups, artists, >volunteers, arts patrons, audience members, contributors, local >businesses, vendors and suppliers can quickly and easily register >their support for continued funding for the arts and culture with >their members of Congress, for a nominal fee. Time is short. You >are invited to use this number immediately. > > When you can call this number, 1-900-370-9000, the following >will happen: > >1.) The caller will be handled by a live operator. Following a > brief statement that the call costs $1.99 per minute and > that you must be 18 or over, the operator then asks the > caller if he/she would allow the Emergency Committee to send > a mailgram in the caller's name to their two Senators and > one Representative. > >2.) If the caller says yes, the above process takes place and is > billed to the caller's home phone. The caller leaves > his/her name, address, and zip code which is then matched > with the corresponding congressional district to assure that > the correct elected officials receive the mailgram. > > The Alliance has put together a steering committee currently >made up of more than a dozen organizations to participate in >message development and the disbursement of any funds that are >collected over and beyond the costs for set up and maintenance of >the number. You are invited to join this steering committee. >There is no cost for this participation. > > In order for this emergency campaign to be effective, we >need your help to widely distribute the 1-900 number. >Distribution of the number can be accomplished through the use of >flyers, word of mouth, printing it in all local newspapers and >membership organization's newsletters, radio announcements, >posters, and on local computer Bulletin Board Services. (The >first flyers are now available. Please call for a copy). >Curtain speeches educating audiences about the crisis and drawing >attention to ways to respond, are extremely effective and we urge >you to undertake these and other activities. The success of the >emergency campaign depends on this effort. > > The future of arts and cultural funding in this country is >being determined by members of Congress NOW. More than ever, the >voices of arts supporters must be heard. > > Thank you for participating in this critical grassroots >effort. Please call the American Arts Alliance at 202-737-1727 >if you would like to join the steering committee or have any >questions. > >THIS POSTING IS FROM ARTSWIRE.