I guess there is something in the water. On the heels of notices concerning the State of Florida and their interest in cutting the State Library, the Legislature of New Jersey is planning on eliminating all grant staff and programs for the arts and history. This would in effect cripple many county and local historical societies who apply for annual grants from the New Jersey Historical Commission (The state government grant-making body planned for elimination) and it certainly will effect us hard as the state historical society as well. Since many of the historical societies have collections of pertinent use to genealogists, it effects us all. The message below mentions an attached document (which following listerv standards, I did not attach) which I can forward to anyone willing to write. Thanks all, Chad Leinaweaver Director for the Library The New Jersey Historical Society 52 Park Place Newark, NJ 07102 (973) 596-8500, ext. 240 FAX (973) 596-6957 TTY/TDD (800) 852-7899 (NJ Relay Service) [email protected] <http://www.jerseyhistory.org/> WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW! Funding for history and the arts has been eliminated in the New Jersey Department of State's draft budget. This measure endangers the future of The New Jersey Historical Society and numerous other cultural organizations who receive critical operating and project support from the New Jersey Historical Commission, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and the New Jersey Cultural Trust. Your voice is crucial in the effort to convince the legislature to rethink this outrageous step and restore the sorely needed funding. HOW CAN I HELP? Please write to your state legislator and tell him or her why the state should not eliminate funding for history, culture, and the arts. Let him or her know what The New Jersey Historical Society means to you, your family, and your community. It is imperative that we are heard now, before the budget hearings begin in March. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? · Write a letter! You can send regular mail, or you can email or fax your letter to your representatives. A sample letter is attached to this email for your convenience, and can be modified to fit what you specifically would like to say. It's as simple as cutting and pasting this letter into your own word document or email message. Just make sure to fill in the bolded sections of the letter: the date, legislator's name and address, and your phone number. · A list of your state senators and representatives can be found here: <http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp. >Click on your hometown to find your legislators' names, contact information, and specific role (including committee assignments). Note: The letters must not only go to your own district legislators, but also to legislative leaders who will have a large say in restoring the funding. A list of these legislators and their contact information follows. Please write to as many representatives as possible! · You can also visit The New Jersey Historical Society's website at www.jerseyhistory.org <http://www.jerseyhistory.org/> (click on "History Funding Eliminated" under "News" on the homepage) to find the sample letter as well as links to other involved cultural organizations. KEY LEGISLATORS: Senator Wayne Bryant Co-Chair, Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee 501 Cooper Street Camden, NJ 08102 Fax: 856-541-0426 Email: [email protected] Senator Robert Littell Co-Chair, Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee P.O. Box 328 Franklin, NJ 07416 Fax: 973-827-0348 Email: [email protected] Assemblyman Louis Greenwald Chair, Assembly Budget Committee 231 Route 70 East Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-2421 Fax: 856-428-1358 Email: [email protected] Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman Chair, Assembly Appropriations Committee 226 West State Street Trenton, NJ 08608 Fax: 609-633-2179 Email: [email protected] Senate Democratic Majority Leader Bernard F. Kenny, Jr. 235 Hudson Street, Suite 1 Hoboken, NJ 07030 Fax: 201-714-9825 Email: [email protected] Assembly Majority Leader Joseph J. Roberts Brooklawn Shopping Plaza Route 130 South and Browning Road Brooklawn, NJ 08030 Fax: 856-742-1831 Email: [email protected] Assembly Speaker Albio Sires 303 58th Street West New York, NU 07093 Fax: 201-854-4818 Email: [email protected] THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS EFFORT TO RESTORE FUNDING TO HISTORY AND THE ARTS IN NEW JERSEY. ---