The following message is sent on behalf of Cultural Access Washington<http://www.culturalaccesswa.org/>. Dear Friends and Colleagues: Happy New Year from the members of the Advocacy Committee for Cultural Access Washington (CAWA)! Thank you for your past support of the Cultural Access legislation. As we approach the January 12 launch of the 2015 legislative session, we are writing to update you on the advocacy work of the past several months and ask you to carry out some simple actions that will greatly strengthen our efforts. First, the highlights of the last few months: * Cultural Access Washington legislation is in place with identical bills ready for filing in both the House and Senate; * The legislation has been strengthened with new emphasis on local control and made more flexible with a provision that allows adoption by municipalities when counties decline to adopt; * Senator Andy Hill and Representative Larry Springer are confirmed as prime sponsors of CAWA legislation; * Appointments to leadership positions and legislative committees have been made; we continue to work with leadership to determine which committees will consider the CAWA bill; * A regional strategy for statewide outreach is strengthening understanding and building support for CAWA in the regions surrounding Spokane, Yakima, Walla Walla and the Tri-Cities; * The Advocacy Committee for CAWA is re-constituted with new statewide membership; * The Committee will be meeting by phone at noon on Fridays throughout the session with CAWA lobbyists Becky Bogard and Kathryn Hedrick and others of their colleagues on the ground in Olympia. And now, we need your help! ATTEND OUR NEXT COALITION MEETING on Thursday, January 15th - For those in/around Seattle, we will be hosting our Coalition Meeting from 4-6PM at 12th Avenue Arts<http://12avearts.org/>. Please RSVP to director@culturalaccesswa.org<mailto:director@culturalaccesswa.org>. SUBMIT A STATEMENT OF SUPPORT - Cultural Access Washington has the potential to expand programs and access for all citizens to programs offered by arts, science, and heritage organizations state-wide. Please add your name to this<http://www.culturalaccesswa.org/default.aspx?ID=42> statement indicating your support for CAWA! SUPPORT OUR LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS! - Reach out and indicate your interest in participating: Can you lead an advocacy effort for your community? Are you willing to communicate with your elected officials? Please email director@culturalaccesswa.org<mailto:director@culturalaccesswa.org> with your insights about the state legislature and legislators with whom you are connected. - Join us in Olympia! Wednesday March 4th is Arts and Heritage Day in Olympia and your elected officials need to hear your voice! This is a call to action for supporters, theatre directors, musicians, artists, heritage museum presidents, board members, community activists, and anyone who values Washington State's unique culture. For additional questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to CAWA Executive Director, Joy Langley 206.395.8279 or director@culturalaccesswa.org<mailto:director@culturalaccesswa.org>. Follow us on Twitter - @CAWADirector and @CulturalAccessW Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CulturalAccessWA Visit our website - http://www.culturalaccesswa.org/default.aspx Please reply to this message with updated contact information. Our apologies if you have received duplicates of this message. Thank you for your continued support of Cultural Access Washington! CAWA Advocacy Committee Dwight Gee and Ben Moore, Co-Chairs