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February 3, 2010


Annual Conference Registration Opens February 16

Mark your calendars! Early bird registration for Dance/USA's 2010 Annual Conference opens February 16!

Dance/USA’s 2010 Annual Conference in Washington, DC is your opportunity to spend four days with arts leaders and colleagues in the field examining and eliminating the borders –- real or imagined -– that define us.
   
The Conference offers practical professional development sessions, advocacy on Capitol Hill, networking and information sharing, and in-depth discussions on important issues facing the field. Plus, be inspired by special performances from national companies appearing in The Kennedy Center’s Ballet Across America series and local artists in a specially produced showcase. Other highlights of the conference include a special reception at the House of Sweden and an Honors Celebration that recognizes this year's recipients of the Honor and Ernie Awards.

Learn more about the Conference at the Dance/USA website. And remember -- registration opens February 16!

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Rough Waters Survey III Closes in 10 Days!

Don’t forget! The Rough Waters Survey III closes Friday, February 12th. If you have not already completed the survey, please a few moments to let Dance/USA know how your organization is responding to the current economic turmoil. Just click on the link below to access the survey or copy and paste the website address into your web browser to take the survey.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/roughwaters3

Learn more about the Conference at the Dance/USA website. The Dance/USA research staff thanks you for your time and participation.

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Upcoming Nonprofit Finance Fund Webinar and Conference Call: Accessing and Managing Credit
 
The next in our series of webinars and conference calls from the Nonprofit Finance Fund will focus on Accessing and Managing Credit.

Participants will learn how an organization is assessed for creditworthiness and how to assess your own organization in its ability to qualify for and access credit. Nonprofit managers and board members will become more comfortable understanding how their organizations can consider various credit scenarios and identify the various approaches available. You will follow a real-life nonprofit case study to demonstrate how various debt scenarios can impact your organization’s financial health and viability.

The webinar will be available for download the week of February 22, 2010 at
http://www.nonprofitfinancefund.org/webinars/metlife.php

The conference call will be held Thursday, March 4, 2010 from 1-2pm EST.

Questions can be submitted in advance by March 2nd to emily.guthman@nffusa.org. Please enter "MetLife Conference Call" in your email subject.

Register for the conference call in advance at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/362334664
PC-based attendees: Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista
Macintosh®-based attendees: Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

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Government Affairs Update

Highlights of the President's Fiscal 2011 Budget

  • Decrease to NEA Funding. The President’s budget proposes $161.3 million for the NEA, a $6 million decrease from the $167.5 million passed by Congress for FY10. In addition to the decrease, the NEA says that $5 million will be allocated toward Chairman Landesman’s new initiative, "Our Town." Read the NEA press release.
  • Proposal for a job creation tax credit. This tax credit would provide $5,000 to small nonprofits and small for-profit employers to encourage them to hire new employees and increase wages. The $5,000 tax credit could be used against payroll taxes. Click here for more information.
  • Proposed Cap on Itemized Charitable Deductions. The President has once again proposed capping at 28% the tax deductions for individuals and families in the highest tax bracket. This issue is of great concern to the nonprofit arts community. http://philanthropy.com/article/President-Renews-Call-for/63831/

Important! Changes to Wireless Microphones
On January 15, 2010, the Federal Communications Commission adopted rules to ban wireless microphones (including wireless headsets used backstage) from the 700 MHz band of the broadcast spectrum. Wireless microphone users have until June 12, 2010 to vacate this area of the spectrum, which will be used by AT&T, Verizon, and public safety First Responders. Visit http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/wirelessmicrophones/ for more information and a FAQ sheet.

In addition, the FCC Order proposed expanding eligibility for Part 74 licenses to include wireless microphones and the agency is seeking comments on defining parameters for eligibility. Dance/USA, in coalition with the Performing Arts Alliance, will be participating in the public comment period at the FCC and conducting meetings with the offices of the FCC commissioners. For more information, visit:

FCC Press Release on Adopted Order on 700 MHz Band and Notice of Proposed Rule Making
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-295737A1.pdf

Complete FCC Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-10-16A1.pdf

Arts Advocacy Day 2010, Washington DC
Dance/USA is proud to offer 10 comp registrations to members of Dance/USA, a value of $85 per person. Arts Advocacy Day will take place on April 12 and 13 in Washington DC and includes legislative training sessions, a Congressional Arts Breakfast on the hill, and lobbying visits. If you are interested in the comp registration offer, please contact our Membership Manager, Kellee Edusei, at kedusei@danceusa.org. Comp registrations will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.
http://www.artsusa.org/events/2010/aad/default.asp

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