To be most effective when meeting with our legislators on Arts Day, we need to be coordinated – meaning we’re on message and showing up at the just the right time and with as many people as possible to show broad based support for the arts in North Carolina.
I’m just one person, you think, how do I that? Your county coordinators will help you – and you will help them! We’ll coordinate making appointments, making sure each attendee under our watch is ready to participate by knowing what to expect, where to be, and what to say (or not say) when meeting with the legislators.
Don’t know who your county coordinator is? Read the “Before You Come to Raleigh” document here.
You can get yourself prepared (a great help to your county coordinator) by:
- reading over the advocacy materials at http://www.artsnc.org/advocacy
- going to the events on Tuesday, May 18 to learn about the Legislative Agenda and hear from Secy. Linda Carlisle about how the arts have a significant impact on the economy (and let’s face it – it’s the economy that’s at the front of all our minds, most notably the legislators with whom we’ll be meeting, so we’d better be ready to talk about it!)
- going to the Early Bird session or the Advocacy 101 session before your meetings on Wednesday, May 19
- talking with experienced advocates
There’s strength in numbers and working with your colleagues in the field yields new ideas.I enjoy being a county coordinator because I get to know the other arts advocates and leaders in my community and help to do our part to make sure that the arts receive the recognition and support they deserve from our state’s leaders.
We have a great list of reasons why the arts are good for North Carolina – jobs, economic development, education, community vitality – but we have to get coordinated, focused and have a successful strategy so our message gets through!
See you on Arts Day 2010!
Great ideas, Hannah! Looking forward to seeing you and the rest of the Orange County delegation on May 18/19!
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