A few weeks back I posted the 2008 Congressional Arts Report Card for Illinois. (see the post here). Soon after this, Scarlett Swerdlow, of the Illinois Arts Alliance/Foundation, alerted me to their “Thank or Spank” campaign, which allows Illinois residents to voice approval/disappointment to their elected officials. Via Ms. Swerdlow:
Please take a moment to “thank or spank” your congressperson based on his or her Arts Report Card score. We’ve made it easy for you to take action. If your representative scored a B or higher, our online Action Center will generate a message congratulating and thanking your member. If your representative scored a C, D, or F, our online Action Center will generate a message encouraging them to do more to support the arts and arts education. Simply enter your zip code to get started!
I urge all my readers to “Thank or Spank” their representative(s). (and for those non-Chicagoland readers of my blog, you can do the same!).
I just contacted my rep Jan Schakowsky, thanking her for her A+ grade. You can do the same here. (on a related note, if you do e-mail your rep to voice your concerns, so in a civil, respectful manner. You never know – they may come around soon; perhaps their grandson or niece will get involved in the arts, and their eyes will open when they see how the infusion of culture in a person’s life is beneficial to the world at large)
Filed under: ARTS MANAGEMENT, Illinois (State of), Illinois Arts Alliance, ORGANIZATIONS-ASSOCIATIONS, Politics | Tagged: 2008 Congressional Arts Report Card, Chicagoland, Illinois Arts Alliance, Jan Schakowsky, Scarlett Swerdlow, Thank or Spank |
Hey, thanks for the shout out! It’s essential that Congress know arts activists are engaged, and it’s important to celebrate the arts champions we do have. If anyone has any questions or requests, please feel free to contact me at the Arts Alliance.
Take care,
Scarlett Swerdlow
Illinois Arts Alliance
swerdlow@artsalliance.org
312-855-3105 x13