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Download
the Winter 2010 Artifacts Newsleter
Download
the 2010 Annual Meeting Registration
Mississippi Museums Association Notice
In the fast changing world of United States (and global)
finances, in mid February Coburn Amendment 175 passed in
the senate. This amendment exempted museums along with certain
other public service facilities like zoos and aquariums
from funding in the stimulus bill. The vote to support the
amendment was 73 yes to 24 no, with both Mississippi Senators
voting yes.
By late February Gayle Petty-Johnson, our representative
in the National Leadership Group, informed me that in the
final package that was approved by both legislative bodies,
the wording in the Coburn Amendment had been changed to
exclude museums, meaning that they are now eligible to receive
federal funding from monies provided through the stimulus
plan.
As the spring '09 Artifacts issue goes to print, Gayle is
in Washington meeting with Mississippi legislators, and
she asked that I get word out to MMA member museums that
if they have shovel-ready construction projects—those going
to bid—to let her know and she will take the proposals to
legislators. This is exciting news. You can either email
me mhowell@mdah.state.ms.us
or Gayle, at director@walterandersonmuseum.org.
For more, please read the following message from the AAM
Director of Programs:
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS
Advocacy Update
Congress Completes Work on Economic Stimulus Bill;
Museums Allowed to Compete For Funds
Early this morning (Friday), the U.S. Congress unveiled
the Conference Report for H.R. 1, the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act of 2009, setting the stage for final
passage by the House and Senate, expected to occur in the
next few days.
Museums, zoos, and aquariums had initially been barred from
competing for any funds in the Senate-passed bill. Zoos
and aquariums were barred from funds in both versions. In
reconciling the two pieces of legislation, Congress is set
to adopt the following language:
SEC. 1604. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise
made available in this Act may be used by any State or local
government, or any private entity for any casino or other
gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo, golf course, or swimming
pool.
Museum supporters should be very pleased that we were able
to mobilize a massive field-wide effort to prevent a funding
ban on museums in this bill," said AAM President Ford
W. Bell. "However, the fact that Congress - and specifically
the U.S. Senate in its February 6 vote - initally saw fit
to exclude museums from funding shows that we have a lot
of work to do in making the case for museums." He added:
"It is also disheartening that zoos and aquariums will
be prohibited from competing for most economic stimulus
funds made available throu gh this bill. Zoos and aquariums
have tremendous public benefit for environmental education
and wildlife conservation, and contribute greatly to our
nation's economy by spurring tourism."
Museums employ more than a half-million Americans, spend
an estimated $14.5 billion annually, and rank among the
top three family vacation destinations. Visitors to cultural
and heritage destinations stay 53% longer and spend 36%
more money than other kinds of tourists.
Museums have been very hard hit by this recession, laying
off workers and cutting back on services. Members of Congress
must be made aware of the economic impact that museums make
on their communities, and we must TELL CONGRESS the impact
we have every day - employing workers, buying goods and
services, and educating communities.
The bill also includes the following funding:
- National Endowment for the Arts - $50 million to preserve
jobs in the non-profit arts sector.
- Smithsonian Institution - $25 million for repair and revitalization
of existing facilities.
- National Park Service - $146 million for critical repair
and rehabilitation projects, $589 million for energy efficient
retrofits, the preservation and repair of historical resources
within the National Park System, and other critical infrastructure
projects, and $15 million for historic preservation projects
at historically black colleges and universities.
- National Science Foundation - $100 million for improving
instruction in math, science, and engineering.
- Community Development Fund - $1 billion to bolster critical
community services and infrastructure needs, to be administered
by local governments.
Visit www.speakupformuseums.org
for more information about your legislators and AAM's advocacy
for museums!
Purpose and Mission
The purpose of the Mississippi Museums Association is to
promote professional communication between all types of
museums, public and private, within the State of Mississippi
and to promote a statewide public awareness of the value
of museums as educational and research institutions at the
local, county, regional and state levels.
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