Have you contacted your legislators about the MAC?

If you visit this blog you know that Washington governor Christine Gregoire has proposed closing the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture to help close the budget deficit. And you have seen the list of legislators and their contact information. Have you contacted your representatives and asked them to save the MAC?

Sculpture on the MAC grounds.

A few emails could really make the difference here. I wrote to everyone on the list and about half responded--and not with some mass email but with personalized responses. And most were positive, promising to fight for the MAC. Democracy works, if you make the effort.

Some c'mon, be a keyboard warrior for history and culture. Don't worry about crafting the perfect letter, just send something. This is a time where volume is more important than quantity. A few sentences are fine. Some points you could make:

• The MAC has already laid off 40% of its staff, it has done its part.
• The MAC attracts over 100,000 visitors annually including nearly 4,000 K‐12 students.
• The MAC is an important contributor to the region’s economy.
• The MAC is the only independent state agency east of the Cascades and eastern Washington's premiere cultural institution.

Here is the contact information for member of the Washington State Legislature. Click on an email address and send something off:

Lisa Brown, Ph.D.
3rd District Senator (D)
360-786-7604/509-456-2760
brown.lisa@leg.wa.gov

Kevin Parker
6th District Representative (R)
360-786-7922
parker.kevin@leg.wa.gov
      
Timm Ormsby
3rd District Representative (D)
360-786-7946/509-458-2122
ormsby.timm@leg.wa.gov

Bob Morton
7th District Senator (R)
360-786-7612/509-684-5132
morton.bob@leg.wa.gov
      
Andy Billig
3rd District Representative (D)
billig.andy@leg.wa.gov

Joel Kretz
7th District Representative (R)
360-786-7988/509-826-7203
kretz.joel@leg.wa.gov
      
Bob McCaslin
4th District Senator (R)
360-786-7606
mccaslin.bob@leg.wa.gov

Shelly Short
7th District Representative (R)
360-786-7908
short.shelly@leg.wa.gov
      
Larry Crouse
4th District Representative (R)
360-786-7820
crouse.larry@leg.wa.gov

Mark Schoesler
9th District Senator (R)
360-786-7620/509-659-1774
schoesler.mark@leg.wa.gov
      
Matt Shea
4th District Representative (R)
360-786-7984
shea.matt@leg.wa.gov

Susan Fagan
9th District Representative (R)
360) 786-7942
fagan.susan@leg.wa.gov
      
Michael Baumgartner
6th District Senator (R)
baumgartner.michael@leg.wa.gov

Joe Schmick
9th District Representative (R)
360-786-7844
schmick.joe@leg.wa.gov
      
John Ahern
6th District Representative (R)
ahern.john@leg.wa.gov

Christine Gregoire
Washington State Governor
PO Box 40002
Olympia, WA  98504-0002
360-902-4111/509-329-2882