OCTOBER 2006 NEWSLETTER
September 29, 2006-- Quality of Life? Find out for yourself on Oct. 9 what could make Mayor Martin Chavez oppose this tax, less than 7 weeks before its election. David Campbell, an Albuquerque attorney and volunteer with the Quality of Life initiative and Pamela Chavez, co-chair of the QOL, an Albuquerque group that supports the passage of the referendum in Albuquerque's Nov. 7 general election, will talk about what the referendum is and how arts and culture groups can secure and spent the funds. Terri Cole, president & CEO of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and Sherman McCorkle president & CEO of Technologies Venture Corporation (TVC) will offer reasons not to support this initiative in its current form.
Passage of the ballot item would add a 3/16th of 1 percent increase to Albuquerque's gross receipts tax to generate income for hundreds of organizations to enhance and expand their arts programs.
Local arts groups are scrambling to learn how to get the money for their own groups at the same time that those against the referendum are opposing its timing, the increase in taxes, or questioning the management of the funds.
Both Cole and McCorkle are on record as opposing the tax for its method, geography and business implications.
Join us to hear from the trenches about the fight for passage of this first-of-its-kind initiative. Luncheon begins at 11:45 a.m. at the Sheraton Uptown hotel. Members $15, nonmembers $21. Reservations: contact Janet Ford by Wednesday, Oct. 4th at 720-7821 or E-Mail. Please tell Janet if you want a vegetarian meal. Your reservation is our commitment to have a lunch for you and your commitment to pay.
Celebrate 25 Years! Steve Ranieri, Executive Director of Channel 27, the city of Albuquerque's only community access cable station, will speak at lunch about the mechanics of the station and the station reaching its milestone of 25 years on the air. Also, Channel 27 recently sponsored the Freedom of Speech Essay Contest for students and will talk about how students can become involved in next year's contest.
Drawing for a Prize--We have been given a nifty, SubZero cooler capable of holding 48 cans of cold soda or the equivalent in other picnic goodies that will be raffled off by APW as a fundraiser for the scholarship fund. Tickets will be sold for $1.00 each or 5 for $3.00. We will sell the tickets during the APW luncheons in October, November, and December, with the drawing held at the December luncheon. Need not be present to win. If you can't use the cooler yourself, it will make a great holiday gift.
New Officers for a New Year--In September, APW elected its officers for the coming two years. Dan Mayfield, arts assistant editor at the Albuquerque Journal will be the President. Elizabeth Staley, local public advocacy attorney, was elected vice president; Denise Tessier, freelance journalist and editor, was reelected secretary; and Doug Swift, freelance technical communicator, was elected treasurer. Diana Sandoval, technical writer, NM Workers' Compensation Administration, will continue service on the board as immediate past president.
Other board members include Susanne Burks, membership chair; Janet Ford, meetings & reservations and Web site chair; Laurie Mellas Ramirez, UNM liaison; Susan Walton, publicity chair; and Christine Burroughs, at large.
Member perks--Check out our Web site (abqpw.org) wherein members may promote their services. If you wish to be included, send your information by e-mail to Janet Ford. Members may also have a link to their own Web sites, if they wish, at no charge.
Fashionable Pens--We have really professional pens as gifts for our speakers. They are embossed with www.apqpw.org and have a soft grip surface. They are available for sale at the sign-in table at meetings. For just $10, they are an appropriate gift for the writer in your life, and you help our chapter at the same time.
Membership News--We hope all of you will try to join us for this luncheon to support the group and to network. Please feel free to invite friends and associates to attend! Remember our special membership offer is join APW now ($35 a year for ABQ-only membership, or $10 a year if you are an NFPW and NMPW member) and get membership through the rest of 2006 and all of 2007!
You have news for this EGRAM, please send it to Susan Walton, swalton@sandiaprep.org
October, 2006 E-GRAM (close window)