• Annual Conference Registration Open February 16
  
• How are the Current Economic Rough Waters Affecting You?
• Dance/USA Encourages You to Help Haiti
  
• Government Affairs Update 

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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How are the Current Economic Rough Waters Affecting You?

The Research Department wants to hear from you!

As part of Dance/USA’s continuing effort to capture a picture of how the current economic turmoil is affecting the dance field, we have updated the Rough Waters Survey. Your responses help us describe the current situation and how the field has changed since fall 2008. Please 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

More information about the survey, including survey text, can be found online. Although the hard times are continuing, the dance field is adept at managing limited resources and thinking creatively when faced with a challenge. Help prove it by visiting the link above and taking the survey. The deadline for completing this survey is Friday, February 12th. The Dance/USA research staff thanks you for your time and participation.

Dance Service Organizations: please contact research associate Victoria Smith directly, vsmith@danceusa.org, if you would like your constituents to participate in the survey or to share your observations on how your community is being affected by an uncertain economic future.

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Dance/USA Encourages You to Help Haiti

In the wake of the earthquakes affecting Haiti, Dance/USA encourages you and your organization to offer support as you are able. While there is tremendous need for assistance now, the need will continue into the future as Haiti begins the long process of healing and rebuilding. As dancers and arts organizations, we know well the power of the arts to heal. Please consider creative means for gathering support for Haiti, perhaps by collecting contributions from audience members or donating a small portion of ticket sales. Thank you for your efforts. Every little bit helps.

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Government Affairs Update

Estate Tax & IRA Charitable Rollover
Both the Estate Tax and the IRA Charitable Rollover expired on December 31, 2009. The House was able to pass a tax extender package just before the holidays that extended the Estate Tax and IRA Rollover through 2010. However, the Senate, being focused on health care negotiations, was unable to consider the tax extender package. The IRA Rollover can be reinstated retroactively. There are differing viewpoints as to whether Estate Tax can be reinstated retroactively. Both the IRA Charitable Rollover and the Estate Tax serve as strong incentives for donors to contribute to nonprofit organizations.

FCC Adopts Order to Ban Wireless Microphones from Operating in the 700 MHz Band
As anticipated, the FCC has adopted an order that will primarily impact the use of wireless microphone systems operating in the 700 MHz band. According the FCC, “These unlicensed devices [wireless microphones] cannot continue to operate in this band because they may cause harmful interference to public safety entities and next generation consumers devices that will be utilizing the 700 MHz frequency.” The FCC is providing a sunset period until June 12, 2010, one year from the DTV Transition, for wireless microphones to vacate the 700 MHz band.
Read the press release here: http://www.danceusa.org/uploads/Spin/700MhZOrder011510PressRelease.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

Innovative Arts in Education Programs. Dept of Education
The U.S. Department of Education has allocated $7,700,000 for innovative arts in education programs. The Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination Program (AEMDD) will offer an estimated 28 awards of approximately $275,000 each for innovative elementary and middle school arts education initiatives. Nonprofit organizations and local education agencies are eligible to apply.
Check eligibility and application requirements here: http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2010-1/011510b.html
Application and other details found here: http://www.ed.gov/programs/artsedmodel/applicant.html

Arts Stakeholders Meeting, Department of Education
On Wednesday January 20, the Department of Education held an Arts Stakeholders meeting to hear input from the arts community on reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (formerly called No Child Left Behind). Dance/USA attended this meeting and spoke in support of maintaining the arts as a core academic subject and reauthorizing the Arts in Education Programs.

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