RAND STUDY DESCRIBES STRATEGIES THAT CAN BUILD SUPPORT FOR STATE ARTS AGENCIES

State arts agencies seeking increased state government support for the arts should strengthen their relationships with elected officials and raise their profile with the public, according to a RAND Corporation study issued on August 7, 2006. The report, which is the second in a multiyear study commissioned by The Wallace Foundation, suggests that strategies that reach out to the public and to government officials can be effective in positioning the arts higher on the list of governmental priorities.

Copies of "The Arts and State Governments: At Arm's Length or Arm in Arm?" can be ordered from RAND's Distribution Services (order@rand.org or call toll-free in the U.S. 877-584-8642) or can be downloaded at www.rand.org and from the Knowledge Center at www.wallacefoundation.org.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE 2007 CAM CONFERENCE

CAM will be hosting its next conference in Long Beach, California, February 21-23, 2007. Like 2006, this conference will bring together a diverse group of museum professionals from across California for a stimulating and enjoyable exchange of ideas, perspectives, and resources. Long Beach's waterfront will be the backdrop for a notable conference with the newly expanded Museum of Latin American Art, the Aquarium of the Pacific, and the Long Beach Museum of Art hosting evening events.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR BAY AREA COURSES ON GRANT SEEKING
Scholarships are now available for representatives of nonprofits in the San Francisco Bay Area with budgets less than $1 million to attend the Foundation Center's full-day training courses in fall 2006. This initiative aims to help small, community-based nonprofit organizations build their internal capacity in preparation for seeking support from foundations, corporations, or other institutional grantmakers. To serve the greatest number of applicants, the scholarship will cover partial cost of the courses, based on the organization's budget size. Visit http://foundationcenter.org/sanfrancisco/fall06_scholapp.doc for full details and an application form. See http://foundationcenter.org/marketplace/catalog/subcategory_training_city.jhtml?id=cat170003 for a list of the fall courses.

NEW FCC RULES FOR FAX COMMUNICATION EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1, 2006
In April 2006, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) implemented changes to the facsimile (fax) advertising rules of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (TCPA). The new rules: (1) codify an established business relationship (EBR) exemption to the prohibition on sending unsolicited fax advertisements; (2) define EBR as used in the context of unsolicited fax advertisements; (3) require the sender of fax advertisements to provide specified notice and contact information on the fax that allows recipients to “opt-out” of any future transmissions from the sender; and (4) specify the circumstances under which a request to “opt-out” complies with the Act. The new rules took effect on August 1, 2006. For additional information, see http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/unwantedfaxes.html.

AASLH ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP IN HISTORY AWARD WINNERS
The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) has announced the winners of the 61st annual Leadership in History Awards, the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history. AASLH will present the awards at a special banquet during the 2006 Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, September 16, 2006. CAM would like to congratulate the two Californian organizations to receive an award: the Ninth Judicial Circuit Historical Society for their Judge Cecil Poole Biography Project and the Sons of the Revolution in the State of California for their Catalog Modernization and Collection Organization Project. For more information about the awards program, contact AASLH at (615) 320-3203.

PLANNED GIVING SEMINARS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
The Northern California Planned Giving Council is offering a six-part Planned Giving Basics course, starting in September, 2006. This course is designed to teach the basics of planned giving and to obtain the tools to start a planned giving program. The sessions and dates are: What is Planned Giving? - September 6; Life Income Vehicles – September 13; Establishing a Bequest Program – September 20; Estate Planning Issues – September 27; Case-Centered Marketing – October 4; and Putting it all Together – October 11. The classes will run from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m., and will take place in downtown San Francisco. For further information and prices, please see the Council’s webpage at www.ncpgcouncil.org/basics_course.asp.

U.S. SENATE CONFIRMS FIVE NEW NOMINEES TO IMLS BOARD
The U.S. Senate confirmed five presidential nominees to serve as members of the National Museum and Library Services Board on August 3, 2006. The board advises the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The new members of the board are: Katherine M. B. Berger, Trustee, Berger Collection Educational Trust, Berryville, VA; Karen Brosius, Executive Director, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC; Ioannis N. Miaoulis, President and Director, Museum of Science, Boston, MA; Christina Orr-Cahall, Director, Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach, FL; and Kevin Starr, Professor, University of Southern California, California State Librarian Emeritus; San Francisco, CA.

BARNES AND NOBLE GRANTS FOR ART, LITERACY, EDUCATION
Barnes and Noble booksellers is considering requests for grants from nonprofit organizations that focus on art, literacy, or education (K-12). Applicants must have a plan for promoting the grants program with Barnes and Noble and must be willing to work with the local stores on in-store programming. The award amount varies and there is a rolling deadline. For more information, please visit: http://www.barnesandnobleinc.com/our_company/sponsorship/Sponsorship_main.html. (Excerpted from the Music Center of Los Angeles County’s Music Center Education, August 2006.)

CREATIVE INDUSTRIES REPORT ISSUED BY AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS
Americans for the Arts has expanded its Creative Industries reports to include all 7,400 State House and Senate Legislative Districts in the United States. These mapping and statistical reports specify the number of arts businesses and the people they employ in each District. Each report is three pages in length and is available in PDF format for downloading: http://www.artsusa.org/information_resources/research_information/services/creative_industries/state_legislative_districts/default.asp. Other reports can be downloaded from the Americans for the Arts’ website: http://www.artsusa.org/information_resources/research_information/services/creative_industries/default.asp.

IRS TO REFUND FEDERAL EXCISE TAX ON LONG-DISTANCE SERVICE
The Internal Revenue Service announced that effective August 1, 2006, it will stop collecting the federal excise tax on long-distance telephone service. Taxpayers (including nonprofits) will be eligible to file for refunds of all excise tax they have paid on long-distance service billed to them after Feb. 28, 2003. Nonprofit organizations may claim this refund on their 2006 Form 990-T, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return. The IRS announcement does not affect the federal excise tax on local telephone service, which remains in effect. For additional information specific to nonprofit organizations, see page 11 of "Notice 2006-50" (pdf) at http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=160214,00.html.

WORLD TEACHERS' DAY IS OCTOBER 5, 2006
In recognition of the outstanding educators who inspire, educate, and encourage their students to reach for excellence inside and beyond the classroom, the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) sponsors its annual celebration of Week of the Classroom Teacher in early October 2006. ACEI encourages students, parents, school administrators, and communities to honor the professionalism and dedication of their teachers. For more information, please visit: http://www.acei.org/wcthp.htm. (Excerpted from the Music Center of Los Angeles County’s Music Center Education, August 2006.)

SEA WORLD & BUSCH GARDENS CONSERVATION FUND ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund is currently accepting grant proposals for conservation efforts directly benefiting wildlife in their native ranges. The fund will also consider ex-situ conservation education proposals that demonstrate significant positive and sustainable impact. Grant applications are accepted year-round. The board of directors meets once a year each spring to review all grant applications and award funds. All applications must be received in electronic format (i.e., via email or on a CD) by December 1 of the previous year. Visit the fund's Web site or http://www.swbg-conservationfund.org/get_involved.html for complete program guidelines.

DELUXE FOUNDATION PROVIDES CULTURAL GRANTS IN THREE CALIFORNIA CITIES
The Deluxe Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that serve communities where Deluxe facilities are located, have been in operation at least two years, and have secured support from other corporate funders. In California, Deluxe has company locations in Antelope Valley, Chatsworth, and Santa Fe Springs. They provide support in the following areas: Cultural Grants (including museums); Education Grants; and Human Service Grants. The deadline to apply is November 1, 2006 and grants amounts are $2,000 to $5,000. For additional information, see http://www.deluxe.com/dlxab/deluxe-foundation-guidelines.jsp.

CONSERVATION CENTER FOR ART AND HISTORIC ARTIFACTS HOSTS UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
Registration is now taking place for two workshops presented by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA). The first workshop, Fundraising for Preservation and Conservation, will be held on Thursday, October 12, 2006; the second workshop, titled Telling the Story: Promoting Cultural Collections, will take place Friday, October 13, 2006. Both workshops will be held in Portland, Oregon. Workshop brochure and registration form can be accessed at: http://www.ccaha.org/workshop_cal.php. The deadline to register is Thursday, September 28, 2006. For more information about CCAHA, visit http://www.ccaha.org or email ccaha@ccaha.org.

GRANTS SUPPORTING DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECTS
The Open Society Institute's Documentary Photography Project offers a grant for photographers, in collaboration with a partner, to use innovative, nontraditional methods to present their work to specific audiences to stimulate constructive social change. All projects submitted for consideration must have another institution that agrees to financially and practically support its distribution and will collaborate with the photographer to use the work to promote social change. The deadline to apply is October 6, 2006. For more information, visit www.soros.org/initiatives/photography/news/distribution_20060718.

SIX-DAY IMMERSION PROGRAM IN PUBLIC PROGRAMMING
The Cultural Resource Management Program at the University of Victoria is offering a six-day immersion learning opportunity for programmers, heritage interpreters, special event coordinators, and outreach workers in museums, cultural centers, heritage sites and galleries. This course examines the critical role of education, interpretation, and public programming in helping cultural organizations engage their communities in meaningful and long-term ways. The class will be held September 25-30, 2006. Participants must register by August 28, 2006. For more information, visit http://www.uvcs.uvic.ca/crmp.

Get the Word Out in CAM e-News!
Please email the CAM office at editor@calmuseums.org to list any announcements pertaining to professional development programs, grant opportunities, or related opportunities in future editions of CAM e-News and on the CAM web site. Since it is not possible to include all the details of an announcement, please include a phone number, web site address, or email address so interested parties can get additional information. Please do not exceed a limit of 150 words per listing. All announcements are subject to editing by CAM personnel.