Showing posts with label Scott Black. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scott Black. Show all posts
Monday, May 10, 2010
Friday, November 13, 2009
Arts Advocacy (and breakfast) in Tulsa
On Thursday morning, the CEO of The United States' leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America, Americans for the Arts, had breakfast in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Robert Lynch was in town for the induction of Ken Ferguson into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Ken Ferguson is a banker from Altus, OK who has become a huge supporter and advocate for the arts in Oklahoma. Mr. Ferguson serves as the national treasurer for Americans for the Arts.
Most of us are no strangers to the importance of arts advocacy in today's society, especially in today's economic climate. As most non-profit organizations struggle to receive funding from the corporate and government sector, it becomes more important than ever for us to carry the torch for the arts and the need for its support on all levels. I was fortunate enough to join Mr. Lynch and Ken Ferguson for breakfast (downtown at the Chalkboard Restaurant) along with seven other advocates for the arts in Tulsa, OK: Rich Fisher (from Public Radio Tulsa), Linda Frazier (representing Tulsa Symphony Orchestra), James Watts (from the Tulsa World), Elizabeth Geer (representing Tulsa Opera) , Edith Wilson and Ken Busby (representing the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa) along with one of Tulsa's biggest arts advocates, Nancy Feldman.
After we had all been seated for just a few minutes, Ken Busby returned to our table with Tulsa's new mayor elect, Dewey Bartlett Jr, who was also having breakfast at the restaurant. Of course, as any politician would do with a captive audience, Mr. Bartlett proclaimed the importance of the arts in Tulsa and said that he is looking forward to serving the community, etc. At one point, Ken Ferguson told Mr. Bartlett that we would love to see him go down in history as the mayor that did the most for the arts in Tulsa. Indeed, we would all love for that to be the case and wish him the best.
Perhaps the most interesting thing that we all learned from hearing Mr. Lynch speak about his work in arts advocacy was that it only takes a few emails to sway your local congressman's decision on a particular topic that might be facing a vote. The revealing number was 10! It only takes 10 emails from constituents to be considered a landslide victory for influencing a particular vote. That is not to say that it happens every time, but more often than not a congressman will be influenced by as little as 10 emails when faced with a decision. For basically all of us at the table, that was a huge revelation! Just think about how many arts supporters we have amongst us with regard to board members, staff members, volunteers and patrons. If each of use were to just take 2 minutes to send a note to our representatives when key issues involving the arts are being brought to the floor, we could become a major force with seeing increased support for the arts and arts education- which are vital to our future as Americans--and especially Oklahomans.
Let's All Get Involved
Encourage your friends, colleagues and fellow board members to join the Arts Advocacy Fund through Americans for the Arts. Membership is FREE and it gives you access to all kinds of easy tools to communicate with our national and local legislators as well as the media. Also, lots of helpful information and statistics about the cultural and economic benefits of having a vibrant arts community.
So, as each of us learned the other morning, it's very easy to make a difference. 2 minutes is all it takes to ensure that our voice is heard and that arts will continue to thrive in Tulsa, making it one of the best places in the world to live, work, play and raise a family. Don't you think Tulsa deserves the very best?
Most of us are no strangers to the importance of arts advocacy in today's society, especially in today's economic climate. As most non-profit organizations struggle to receive funding from the corporate and government sector, it becomes more important than ever for us to carry the torch for the arts and the need for its support on all levels. I was fortunate enough to join Mr. Lynch and Ken Ferguson for breakfast (downtown at the Chalkboard Restaurant) along with seven other advocates for the arts in Tulsa, OK: Rich Fisher (from Public Radio Tulsa), Linda Frazier (representing Tulsa Symphony Orchestra), James Watts (from the Tulsa World), Elizabeth Geer (representing Tulsa Opera) , Edith Wilson and Ken Busby (representing the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa) along with one of Tulsa's biggest arts advocates, Nancy Feldman.
After we had all been seated for just a few minutes, Ken Busby returned to our table with Tulsa's new mayor elect, Dewey Bartlett Jr, who was also having breakfast at the restaurant. Of course, as any politician would do with a captive audience, Mr. Bartlett proclaimed the importance of the arts in Tulsa and said that he is looking forward to serving the community, etc. At one point, Ken Ferguson told Mr. Bartlett that we would love to see him go down in history as the mayor that did the most for the arts in Tulsa. Indeed, we would all love for that to be the case and wish him the best.
Perhaps the most interesting thing that we all learned from hearing Mr. Lynch speak about his work in arts advocacy was that it only takes a few emails to sway your local congressman's decision on a particular topic that might be facing a vote. The revealing number was 10! It only takes 10 emails from constituents to be considered a landslide victory for influencing a particular vote. That is not to say that it happens every time, but more often than not a congressman will be influenced by as little as 10 emails when faced with a decision. For basically all of us at the table, that was a huge revelation! Just think about how many arts supporters we have amongst us with regard to board members, staff members, volunteers and patrons. If each of use were to just take 2 minutes to send a note to our representatives when key issues involving the arts are being brought to the floor, we could become a major force with seeing increased support for the arts and arts education- which are vital to our future as Americans--and especially Oklahomans.
Let's All Get Involved
Encourage your friends, colleagues and fellow board members to join the Arts Advocacy Fund through Americans for the Arts. Membership is FREE and it gives you access to all kinds of easy tools to communicate with our national and local legislators as well as the media. Also, lots of helpful information and statistics about the cultural and economic benefits of having a vibrant arts community.
So, as each of us learned the other morning, it's very easy to make a difference. 2 minutes is all it takes to ensure that our voice is heard and that arts will continue to thrive in Tulsa, making it one of the best places in the world to live, work, play and raise a family. Don't you think Tulsa deserves the very best?
Monday, November 9, 2009
Tulsa Ballet receives Community Collaboration Award from the Mental Health Association in Tulsa
On Thursday evening, November 5, I had the honor of attending the Mental Health Association in Tulsa's 2009 Annual Awards Celebration along with Tulsa Ballet's current board President, Jackie Kouri. The event was held at the Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital Conference Center in Tulsa. Tulsa Ballet was one of 25 recipients who were honored with the Community Collaboration Award, given to local organizations that partner with the Mental Health Assoc. on a regular basis to help fulfill its mission of: promoting mental health, preventing mental disorders and achieving victory over mental illnesses through advocacy, education, research, service and housing. Tulsa Ballet works with the Mental Association through our Hope For the Holidays program and Partners in Art.
In case you aren't familiar with these programs, Hope For the Holidays is an annual event that provides complimentary tickets to over 2,000 social service clients, allowing them the chance to experience Tulsa Ballet's annual production of The Nutcracker. It's an evening in which over 40 community agencies are able to experience the magic of the holidays through the arts, thanks to the support of several local sponsors and individuals. The Mental Health Association in Tulsa is one of the groups that regularly attends. The other program that Tulsa Ballet offers, Partners in Art, allows area social service clients the opportunity to watch the final dress rehearsal of a Tulsa Ballet production at no cost, thanks again to the support of local foundations, corporations and individuals.
Thank you to the Mental Health Association in Tulsa for recognizing Tulsa Ballet as one of your community partners. We are honored to receive one of the 2009 Community Collaboration Awards.
In case you aren't familiar with these programs, Hope For the Holidays is an annual event that provides complimentary tickets to over 2,000 social service clients, allowing them the chance to experience Tulsa Ballet's annual production of The Nutcracker. It's an evening in which over 40 community agencies are able to experience the magic of the holidays through the arts, thanks to the support of several local sponsors and individuals. The Mental Health Association in Tulsa is one of the groups that regularly attends. The other program that Tulsa Ballet offers, Partners in Art, allows area social service clients the opportunity to watch the final dress rehearsal of a Tulsa Ballet production at no cost, thanks again to the support of local foundations, corporations and individuals.
Thank you to the Mental Health Association in Tulsa for recognizing Tulsa Ballet as one of your community partners. We are honored to receive one of the 2009 Community Collaboration Awards.
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