ArtPRIDE’s web site is now more user friendly and we’ve overhauled the “Email Your Legislators” page with many new features to create a Legislative Action Center.

The latest email alert contains a new message to send your legislators reminding them that you support the arts and you VOTE! Be sure to take advantage of this message now through Election Day on November 4, and don’t forget to VOTE!

In ArtPRIDE’s new Legislative Action Center, you can send email or print a letter for US Mail. If you check out Issues and Legislation you will be linked directly to New Jersey’s State Legislature page. By entering your zip code in Elections & Candidates you will find candidates up for election in your district with links to their home pages and contact information. Using your zip code you can also locate and contact your Local Government Officials including your mayor and members of your municipal governing body.

A new Media Guide allows you to send your opinion on preserving New Jersey’s arts and history funding by email to newspapers throughout the state. Please take advantage of this terrific and easy new way to register your thoughts on pertinent cultural issues.

If you don’t regularly receive ArtPRIDE’s action alerts, here’s where you can sign up for our Action E-list, and there’s even a “Tell a Friend” section and html coding to add a Web Sticker to your web site that will steer visitors directly to ArtPRIDE where they can contact their legislators regarding cultural policy issues!

We think you will have fun exploring the many features of this Legislative Action Center that offers bios (with photos) on your state and federal legislators and tells you what committees they serve on. Let us know how you like this feature and the upgrades to the entire ArtPRIDE web site.

Thanks to Americans for the Arts, the State Arts Advocacy League of America, CapWiz and Premiere Solutions for their assistance in providing access to these new features. Please be patient with us. If you find sections on the web site that just don’t work yet, let us know. We are a work in progress, striving to provide you with services that are valuable.

ArtPRIDE will host a legislative reception and general membership meeting at McCarter Theatre on December 9. The event is planned as a way to meet newly elected officials and to come together to celebrate this year’s successful cultural advocacy campaign.

Look for your invitation in the mail soon and save the date now! The reception is planned for 5:30-7:30 preceding a performance of “A Christmas Carol” at McCarter Theatre. We will invite all legislators, but an invitation from you to your district representatives will help assure their attendance. Take advantage of this opportunity to come together with other members of our statewide arts community and celebrate the preservation of state arts funding made possible with your help!

In ArtPRIDE’s online Arts Funding Resource Room we will soon have the results of a 2003 Candidates Questionnaire on state Arts & History Funding. Check the web site at mid week (or call the ArtPRIDE office for a fax copy) to find out what incumbent legislators and candidates in your district think about a dedicated revenue source for state arts and history funding.

If you’d like to attend the general membership meeting on December 9, it’s important to be sure that ArtPRIDE dues are current for 2003. If you’ve not yet renewed your dues, please do so now. Niquole Primiani is ArtPRIDE’s new Director of Membership Services and she is willing to answer your questions regarding membership. You may contact Niquole at the ArtPRIDE office (609-443-3582)or email her directly at NiquolePrimiani@msn.com We want to include your name on our new membership brochure, so if you aren’t an ArtPRIDE member, please consider joining NOW!