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Boy are we on an advocacy roll! We now see a flurry of faxes! Every two minutes we seem to get . . . or send some sort of action alert or Newsletter. Word is finally getting out . . . or is it? Here are some questions to ask yourselves:

1. Just WHO gets these materials and when they arrive what happens to them?
2. If you have no time to act on an alert do you pass it along to someone else who HAS time?
3. Do you pass alerts and newsletters on anyway empowering those on your staff and those who might visit you to be active in promoting the arts?
4. When you gather information from new members of your organization do you realize that many of them will have e-mail accounts?
5. Do you then leave space on the form for an e-mail address? You may not be on line, but 25,000,000 people then are not like you!
6. Do you believe that Rush Limbaugh is "the only information superhighway you'll ever need?"
7. If not, are you helping to build alternative "highways"?
8. Do you regularly include other arts organizations on your newsletter mailing lists so that they can learn more about YOU?
9. Are your political representatives on your mailing list? Local? Regional? Federal? If not, how are they to know that the arts are an active part of your community?
10. Have you ever met in person with your representatives? Have you been to one of their "town meetings?" If you are not represented at THEIR meetings, can you expect them to later represent YOU?
11. Do you regularly invite community leaders to your events? Even if they never attend, they will be reminded of your status as a vibrant part of the community.
12. Do you leave public statements against the arts unchallenged? Do you reply when you hear detractors on talk radio? Do you answer ignorant letters to the editor. . . Or are you content like most, to let others define the arts THEIR way?
13. Do you have a place set aside at your organization AND your place of work where others can read arts advocacy materials? Do you maintain an arts advocacy bulletin board?
14. Do you regularly attend and encourage others to attend and participate in community events. . . or do you only expect the community to attend YOUR events?
15. Do you regularly attend cultural events sponsored by related arts organizations? In alternate disciplines?
16. Have you attended any regional and national conferences in recent years?
17. Have you considered keeping any advocacy materials & newsletters in a binder so that others can have easy access to the information?
18. How active is your organization REALLY in the community? In the schools? Can it be MORE active? Do you realize the consequences of isolation?
19. If you are represented by Joel Hefley in Congress, do you realize that it is HIS BILL (HR 579) that calls for abolishing the NEA entirely? Do you realize the place COLORADO plays in the debate and our special responsibility to act?
20. Have you considered printing a series of arts "fact-sheets" for your organization and your local arts community that clearly lists your mission and accomplishments so that others can delight in the work you do for community?
21. Have you ever considered that media inattention to your work may indeed be because what you do is not "news"? Do you realize that you CAN find invigorating activities for your organization that ARE news?
22. Do you realize that while you consider other organizations to be "territorial" or unworthy of grants, most likely you are being viewed by them in the same way? Realizing this, can you do MORE to build bridges? Can you help build a true and strong arts COMMUNITY?
23. Do you vote? Do you vote in LOCAL elections? Do you vote in PRIMARY LOCAL elections? In an era where a minority vote, that minority controls the agenda. Do YOU want to control the agenda or are you content to leave it to those who do not necessarily have your interests at heart?
24. Do you regularly involve the younger generation in your advocacy activities? Is there an age too young to begin to learn about civic responsibilities? The other side has already declaired a "culture war". Have we even loaded our weapons?
25. What questions do you yet need to ask YOURSELF? What can YOU add to our list? Are you ready to do battle? Are you ready for the long haul? Are you content to see the arts SURVIVE, or like me do you strive to see them THRIVE? ... ALL of them . . . ALL the arts . . . together!