American Association of Museums
Museums Advocacy Day 2012:
February 27-28, 2012 in Washington, DC

Museums Advocacy Day Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

Logistics

General Information:

What is Museums Advocacy Day?
Museums Advocacy Day is an opportunity to bring our message about the value of museums to Capitol Hill and to advocate for policy and funding issues that affect our field. This two-day event begins with a full day of advocacy training followed by a day of meetings on Capitol Hill (arranged by AAM). The training includes policy information, facts and figures to help make your case, and tips on making your Hill meetings as effective as possible .

What are we advocating for?
We will be working with Museums Advocacy Day sponsoring organizations to develop the legislative agenda for Museums Advocacy Day 2012. Likely issues will include federal funding for agencies and programs that support museums, federal education policy (including the impact of No Child Left Behind on museums), the economic role that museums play in communities, nonprofit tax-exempt status, charitable giving, and historic preservation.

I'm a student/curator/educator/trustee/staff member/volunteer/museum enthusiast - should I participate?
Yes! The entire museum field is encouraged to participate: staff, volunteers, trustees, students, even museum enthusiasts. Whether you are a seasoned advocate or brand new to the process, Museums Advocacy Day is a unique opportunity to network with museum professionals and other advocates from your state, support the museum field, learn new advocacy tips and tricks, and build critical relationships with your Congressional offices.

What's the schedule of events?
Get a sneak peek at the DRAFT Program. The 2-day event will feature:

  • Policy briefings and specialized advocacy training
  • Insights from political insiders
  • Overview of the current political landscape
  • Information and tips on having successful meetings on Capitol Hill
  • Networking with other advocates from your state and region
  • Capitol Hill Reception (honoring Members of Congress)
  • Congressional Kickoff Breakfast on Capitol Hill (featuring Members of Congress and leaders of the museum field)
  • Meetings on Capitol Hill with Congressional offices (scheduled by AAM)
  • EMP reception and debriefing

How can I prepare?
When you get to Washington, DC, we will provide nearly everything you need for a successful experience on Capitol Hill, including issue and advocacy training, a customized schedule of meetings on Capitol Hill (arranged by AAM), and all the materials you'll need to bring to Capitol Hill.  However, if you'd like to begin learning about these issues now, we encourage you to:

How can my organization, my museum, or I support Museums Advocacy Day?
We've developed a Pledge Form for 2012 that encourages field-wide participation in supporting Museums Advocacy Day.

  • Co-Convenors (whose members participate in Museums Advocacy Day for FREE) contribute .15% of their budget - minimum of $1,000
  • Partners contribute at least $500
  • Museums, individuals, and other organizations can Join the Advocacy Honor Roll with a contribution of any amount.

For more information about giving levels, please contact Laura McKenzie at lmckenzie@aam-us.org or 202-218-7711.

I'm not able to attend Museums Advocacy Day - how can I participate from home?
Visit our E-Advocacy page to learn about several ways you can advocate from home, and look for an announcement about which portions of Museums Advocacy Day 2012 will be webcast. Also sign up to get future updates and additional information about ways to participate in Museums Advocacy Day 2012.

Are any travel stipends or scholarships available to help cover the costs of attending?
We are hoping to offer a limited number of travel stipends to ensure participation from key Congressional districts. Please contact us to inquire about sponsorships, or make a pledge today to help us provide these travel stipends.

LOGISTICS:

How do I register?
Registration for Museums Advocacy Day opens on October 11, 2011.
Register Now

How much does Museums Advocacy Day cost, and what does that fee cover?
AAM members and members of Museums Advocacy Day 2012 Co-Convenor organizations may participate for FREE. All others will pay a $99 registration fee, which will include a one-year individual AAM membership. (Non-member students may also take advantage of this rate, or activate an AAM Student Membership and then register for Museums Advocacy Day 2012 at the AAM Member Rate - FREE.)

Where should I stay while in Washington, DC? Is there a headquarters hotel?
The headquarters hotel is the Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center, right in the heart of the historic Georgetown neighborhood. Rooms for Museums Advocacy Day participants are currently available at the special rate of $159 per night by calling 1-888-902-1606 (reference the group name American Association of Museums) or by booking online.

Travel: How do I get to Washington, DC?
There are three airports that service the Washington, DC, area: Dulles International Airport (IAD), Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI), and Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA). Ronald Reagan National Airport is located just a few miles outside of Washington, DC and is located on the Blue/Yellow lines of the Metro. Each of the three area airports provides information about transportation options for travel into Downtown, Washington, DC on their websites (linked above). 

Travel: How do I get around Washington, DC?
Buses will be provided between the headquarters hotel and the Monday night Congressional Reception and between the hotel and the Congressional Kick-Off Breakfast on Tuesday morning. Other travel will be on your own. (The Washington Metropolitan area offers many bus, train, and taxi options. Visit www.wmata.com for additional public transportation information.)

Can I store my luggage during Congressional visits?
Some Congressional offices are willing to let you leave a bag with them for the day, but we recommend avoiding the risk of leaving a bag in an unlocked, frequently visited office. Union Station has a storage option just a few blocks from the Senate office buildings. They are open from 6AM-10PM at Gate A and rates range from $10 to $40 depending on the number of bags and the length of storage time. Learn more at: http://www.unionstationdc.com/info/FAQ.

Do I need to schedule my own Congressional meetings?
To avoid duplication of efforts (and aggravation of Congressional staff!), we ask that you NOT contact legislative offices requesting visits during Museums Advocacy Day. Once you register for Museums Advocacy Day, AAM will be scheduling meetings with your legislators' offices for you and all other advocates from your state and district. If you have specific additional information to share with us about your legislative visits, please let us know that information during the registration process or email museums@advocacyday.com.

Can I meet with legislators from multiple Congressional districts if my museum serves multiple Congressional districts?
Yes! The Museums Advocacy Day 2012 registration process will allow you to enter information about additional addresses and districts you serve, and we will try to arrange as many meetings for you as is feasible.

When will I find out the details of my Congressional meetings?
A customized meeting schedule will be available when you arrive at check-in for Museums Advocacy Day on February 27, 2012. We will be working on scheduling meetings for you and the delegation of advocates from your state and Congressional District in the weeks and days leading up to Museums Advocacy Day 2012. Due to the nature of activity in Congressional offices, meetings are often not finalized until the days (or sometimes even hours) leading up to Museums Advocacy Day.

What information about my museum should I bring to Washington, DC?
AAM will provide detailed information and materials for participants to share with legislative offices on the museum field and specific legislative issues. You can also:

  • Complete a one-page Economic Impact Statement to highlight the role your museum plays in your community.
  • Work with your state museum associations to compile a state-wide Economic Impact Statement.
  • Compile a list of IMLS grants to museums in your state using the searchable grant database available at www.imls.gov.

What should I wear to my Congressional meetings?
Advocates visiting Capitol Hill should dress professionally and comfortably.  Remember to wear comfortable shoes-you will walk a lot!

What is security like in the Congressional buildings?
The members of the Capitol Hill Police force are courteous and dedicated - and have a very serious job to do. Don't hesitate to ask them for help finding your way, but also be prepared to cooperate fully with security checks when you enter legislative office buildings and to follow any other specific directions you may receive from officers on Capitol Hill. Everyone must go through a security check entering Congressional buildings which may include a metal detector, x-ray machine, or visual bag checks. Lines can grow quickly at times, so leave plenty of time for security whenever possible. Learn more here.

Who will I meet with in Congressional offices?
Oftentimes, you will meet with the Member of Congress. However, in some cases you may meet with Congressional staff. Staff members play a key role in Congressional offices and legislators rely heavily on their staff for policy recommendations and "talking points" on a variety of issues. Each Congressional office is organized differently, so do not be thrown if you meet with staff with different titles in different Congressional offices. Regardless of the staff person's title or other responsibilities in the office, you should treat them with respect and take them seriously.

What happens after Museums Advocacy Day?
Meetings with Congressional offices are a unique and important element of building relationships with your elected officials and their staff. You should always follow up on a visit with a Member of Congress or their staff with a thank you note (email is fine) for their taking the time to meet with you. You should also provide any follow-up information that came up during your meeting. You may do this individually, or in coordination with fellow advocates from your state and Congressional district. Throughout the year following Museums Advocacy Day you may also consider thoughtful, strategic times to continue to share information about your museum, your programs, or legislative issues affecting museums with the Congressional staff you met during Museums Advocacy Day.

What if I need to cancel my registration?
If you have already registered for Museums Advocacy Day and are no longer able to attend, please let us know via phone (202-218-7703) or email as soon as possible.

Additional Questions about Museums Advocacy Day 2012?
Email or call 202-218-7703.

For accessibility needs, please contact
Antoinette Dixon at adixon@aam-us.org or call 202-218-7708.

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