Museums Advocacy Day - Optional Museum Tours Announced!

Dear Museums Advocacy Day 2009 Participants:
The final details for Museums Advocacy Day 2009 are quickly taking shape, and we are extremely excited to see everyone here in Washington DC in just over a week!

Please take note of the following Museums Advocacy Day announcements:

Optional museum tours just confirmed and announced!
We are excited to announce the details about optional museum tours that have been arranged with local museums for Sunday afternoon, February 22.

Whether you will be arriving in town that day or you live in the Washington, DC area and just want to take advantage of this special opportunity, this is your chance to get up-close access to the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Air and Space Museum, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the International Spy Museum, the National Building Museum, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, or the Dumbarton House. There is certainly something for everyone in this mix! See detailed tour information here .

Bring an Economic Impact Statement for Your Museum!
In addition to sending letters to your Members of Congress, we have now posted a template Economic Impact Statement form you personalize with your logo and complete for your museum. We hope every Member of Congress will receive Economic Impact Statements from the museums they represent during Museums Advocacy Day. Click here to access the form and create an Economic Impact Statement for your museum.

See the updated Museums Advocacy Day 2009 Itinerary on the website!
An updated, detailed draft itinerary for Museums Advocacy Day 2009 is now available with complete information about Museums Advocacy Day sessions and events. The Museums Advocacy Day page is where new detailed Museums Advocacy Day material will continue to be posted over the next several days, so please check back often!

Congressman John Lewis and Senator Michael Enzi confirmed for Congressional Kickoff Breakfast and United States Botanic Garden reception. We are pleased to announce that Congressman John Lewis (D-GA-5) will be the keynote speaker at Tuesday's Congressional Kickoff Breakfast and that Senator Michael Enzi (R-WY) will be honored at Monday night's reception. All Members of Congress have also been invited to Tuesday's breakfast reception to make brief remarks and see museum advocates from their state and several are accepting the invitation.

President Obama to speak to joint session of Congress, the evening of February 24.
We have recently learned that in place of this year's State of the Union address, President Barack Obama will address a joint session of Congress on the evening of February 24. Every Member of Congress will receive a guest ticket for this event! If you are going to be in town Tuesday evening you may consider contacting your legislators' offices and requesting a ticket to attend the session in person. Many legislators may in fact give their extra ticket to a constituent like you who is in town to see them!

Do you have a digital camera? Bring it with you!
Museums Advocacy Day is likely to provide many photo opportunities, and our photographer can't catch them all. Especially during visits on Capitol Hill and with legislators, a quick photo is not only a great souvenir of your experience but a good way to begin building a relationship with your legislators. For example, these photos can be used in your museum's newsletter, which you can then send with a personal note thanking them once again for meeting with you.

AAM Advocacy Webinar now available on www.speakupformuseums.org!
There were a record number of participants for Tuesday's AAM Advocacy Webinar "Listen Up Legislators: Getting Your Message Across." Now you can experience the whole program - including questions - as it was recorded live, whether or not you were able to participate. This is your chance to learn more about how visits with legislators are being arranged, AAM's upcoming e-advocacy efforts, and tips on successful Hill visits.

For more information about Museums Advocacy Day and AAM's advocacy for museums please visit www.speakupformuseums.org .