ADVOCACY

BACKGROUND

In accordance with goals set forth at the board's long-range planning meeting October 22, 2005, the AKCHO board's Advocacy Committee met Feb. 2, 2006 to discuss the year's advocacy agenda. The agenda focuses heavily on "revenue for heritage," a major goal for AKCHO identified in the planning meeting. Advocacy Committee members also expressed a strong desire to build stronger relationships to 4Culture to encourage the work of Charles Payton, Flo Lentz, and other key heritage and preservation supporters in the organization. The committee also wished to continue work in support of preservation of Seattle's Central Waterfront and preservation and heritage issues as they arise throughout the year.

THE AGENDA

Develop a stronger AKCHO relationship to 4Culture that supports the heritage and preservation program managers (currently Charles Payton and Flo Lentz). The intent of these activities is to raise the profile of heritage and preservation work within 4Culture. Specific activities include, but are not limited to:

• Attendance at 4Culture board meetings
• Lobbying for 4Culture issues in Olympia
• Informal discussions with 4Culture leadership and supporters, such as Jim Kelly, 4Culture board members, and program advisory committee members

Explore ideas for creating a new sustainable fundraising mechanism for King County heritage and preservation activities. By the end of the year, the committee should present three to five general ideas or models for discussion and further action. Specific activities during 2006 include, but are not limited to:

• Informal discussions with experts and leaders in local fundraising
• Research of various fundraising and funding models, including, but not limited to:
  • Set-asides in government contracts
  • "Check-off" programs for employees of large companies and government agencies, e.g., King County Annual Employee Charitable Campaign
  • Creation of a new private fundraising and/or funding entity on the United Way model

Continue with advocacy activities related to creation of a city landmark district and national historic district focused on the historic waterfront piers.

Letters of support, public meeting attendance, and lobbying as opportunities arise.

FUTURE PROJECTS

The following items were discussed and tabled as potential future advocacy projects.

• Lobby for government support of 10% of heritage organization's annual operating budgets
• Encourage governments to give historical organizations free use of unused facilities for storage
• High-visibility program promoting volunteering at heritage organizations
• Free moorage at unused wharfs and waterways for historic vessels
• Donation by business, government, and individuals of surplus office equipment to heritage organizations
• Placement of high-visibility directional signs to heritage attractions on public property, including roadways
• High-visibility display of heritage organization brochures in public buildings

NEXT STEPS

Presentation of the agenda to the full AKCHO board for approval