My Note to Our Senator
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Subject: Support Cultural Funding
Date: May 15, 2009 11:54:45 AM EDT
From: ssm@singingstring.org
To: ssm@singingstring.org
Thank you for using Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts Mail System.
Message sent to the following recipients:
Senator Berry
Message text follows:
Maggi Smith-Dalton
203 Washington St. #263
Salem, MA 01970-3607
May 15, 2009
[recipient address was inserted here]
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],
I am writing to ask you to support jobs and cultural tourism in my
community by becoming a co-sponsor of the O'Leary Amendment to reduce the
cut to Massachusetts Cultural Council funding. I support increasing the
funding for arts and culture even if it requires tax increases.
Cutting funding the Massachusetts Cultural Council...sigh. How many times
must we face this particular problem?
I am a lifelong performing and teaching artist. Over the years, my
contributions to society in terms of:
~honor
~integrity
~talent
~usefulness
~inspiration
~advocacy
~intellectual capital
~entrepreneurial foresight, energy, savvy
~responsibility
~service to rich, poor, elderly, children, teenagers, working adults,
those challenged with disabilities or handicaps, parents, other teachers,
my own family, my country, my community, my city, my neighborhood...
have only been matched by my contributions as a
TAXPAYER
TAXPAYER
TAXPAYER
AND ACTIVE CITIZEN OF A DEMOCRACY
WHO VOTES
CARES
PAYS ATTENTION
IS POLITICALLY-ACTIVE
AND WHO SUPPORTS GOOD GOVERNMENTAL BEHAVIORS
while DECRYING THE POOR ONES
Taxes are meant to support the COMMON GOOD of all.
I pay them. And have since I entered the workforce at AGE 11.
That's a lot of taxes, most of them earned as A PERFORMING ARTIST.
I care greatly about how they are spent.
I don't mind paying more to support the life-sustaining arts!
Things you already know:
The state must invest in funding that supports jobs in Massachusetts. MCC
funding helps to support 37,000 non-profit cultural jobs.
Massachusetts cultural and heritage facilities are the infrastructure for
cultural tourism the third largest industry in the state.
Arts and culture draw 16 million visitors annually to the state.
MCC funding helps to support 37,000 jobs in all 351 cities and towns.
MCC funding fuels the creative economy.
MCC funding supports a $247 million payroll across the state.
Let's get our priorities straight and LEAVE them there, ok?
Geesh.
Please boost our state's economy by co-sponsoring increased state funding
for arts and culture through the O'Leary Amendment. To become a
co-sponsor please contact the office of Senator O'Leary.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Maggi Smith-Dalton
978-744-4833
AN ARTS AND HUMANITIES ADVOCACY UPDATE!
