URGENT: SENATE MAY END FUNDING FOR OHS LOCAL HISTORY AND EDUCATION

Senate action removes funding for local history, other educational activities
On Friday, May 29 the Ohio Senate made big budget cuts that once again targeted the Ohio Historical Society. More than $700,000 was eliminated from the Society's budget that serves teachers, students, local history organizations and Ohio communities. The Senate changes reduced the Society's Outreach and Partnerships line item (Line 509 in the Society's state budget) from $703,638 to $0.

• Teacher training and educational programs that leverage federal funding - Zeroed out!
• National History Day in Ohio (national program that originated in Ohio) - Zeroed out!
• The Local History Office that serves 400 local history organizations - Zeroed out!
• Coordination of the Civil War Sesquicentennial (2011-2015) initiative - Zeroed out!
• Local historical markers program - Zeroed out!
Here is a link to the OHS Legislative Update website that will provide you with all the information you need to communicate with your Senator (as well as the Governor and your state representative): http://capwiz.com/ohiohistory/home/ (After landing on this page, click on the Take Action button or scroll down for information on how to contact your legislator.)

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR STATE SENATOR TODAY!

At a minimum, please email and phone your State Senator immediately. If you have time, consider visiting your state senator’s local district office as this would have the biggest impact. The offices count the number of email and phone communications they receive on an issue. If we act together, we can make sure that funding for these important activities is restored. Please forward this email on to friends, colleagues or anyone else that would be willing to help us to protect community-based history programs in Ohio.

We at OHS will be working hard to communicate directly with the members of the Senate Finance Committee and others to change this action, but they also need to hear loud and clear from their constituents. If you’d like more information on this, please feel free to contact Todd Kleismit, our Government Relations Director at (614) 297-2355; tkleismit@ohiohistory.org.