>From another list. . . kemis > Efforts to increase funding for the Georgia State Archives so that they > can be open to the public five days a week need to continue. THERE ARE > CLEAR SIGNS THAT OUR EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE STATE ARCHIVES' BUDGET ARE MAKING A > > DIFFERENCE! NOW IS THE TIME TO TURN UP THE HEAT! > > We are excited about these indications of support for the Archives and we > greatly appreciate what you all have already done, both in writing and in > person, but we must ask that you send out a friendly but timely reminder > to Georgia legislators. > > A) Remember the legislature only meets for 40 days. February 16 is the > mid-way point for the legislature. In 2010 and 2011, the legislature > stayed in session until mid-April but House leadership is committed to ending > earlier this year. Regardless of the actual last day of the 2012 session, time to > change the budget is growing short. > > B) It is during this last month of the session is when the critical > decisions on the budget increase will be met. There will be some public > hearings, and we have reached key people, including Ed Rynders and Judson Hill, the > chairs of the House and the Senate Subcommittees on General Government who > have oversight of the Georgia Archives and the Secretary of State’s > office. > The number of people contacting legislators has to make some impression on > folks about how much people care about the Archives. > If you would, please write again. Most legislators are busy and don't > actually reply to their email, so be sure the subject line says from your > constituent so and so on the GA Archives funding issue. > > Remember 2012 is an election year and your legislators are going to want > your vote this fall. This is our issue and it matters to us. We certainly > cannot depend on other people to take up the fight to get more funding for > t > he Georgia Archives. We need you to contact your state representatives and > state senators now. If you need the names, addresses, and emails of your > legislators, check this website _http://www.legis.ga.gov/_ > (http://www.legis.ga.gov/) It is now or never to stand up and be heard > about additional > funding for Georgia Archives. > > If you get responses from your representatives, please let me know. > Dianne Cannestra > President, Friends of the Georgia Archives and History > > > *********************