Manage Your Awards - Thank Your Elected Officials

manage your award thank your elected officials

It is very important to take a few minutes to thank those elected officials responsible for appropriating funds to the CCI. Whom to write to:

Contact your Federal and State Representatives and Senators.
Find your legislators
Find your legislator contact information

Steps for Setting up the Event with Legislators

It is very important to take a few minutes to thank those elected officials responsible for appropriating funds to the CCI, showing them first hand how economically and culturally vital you are to your community. Giving the legislators the opportunity to be publicly thanked in front of their constituents has proven successful in getting them to these events.

Pick an event

It is best to invite the legislators to an event that has to do with the actual grant you received, though that is not a necessity. The best events are in your district (that way your State Representatives can present in front of their constituents), and have the largest audience possible (the opening or closing night of a performance, for example).
The check-presentation ceremony has been done before or during intermission of a play or concert, at fundraiser dinners, at receptions for art exhibit openings, board meetings, and much more.
After you pick the event, tell CCI about it so they can try to get a representative there. For the event we need to know the date and time, location and directions, a contact person and info, and a brief description of the event.

1-2 months prior to event

Send a letter to your elected officials inviting them to say a few words and present an oversized check at the event. What your letter should include, as well as further tips for writing this letter can be found on Write Thank You Letters.
Invite both your Federal and State Representatives and Senators, as we receive funding both on the state and national levels. (You can find your legislators at www.vote-smart.org.) We also ask that you invite the leadership at the State House. This means you will be inviting

1. Your Colorado Legislators (House and Senate)
2. Governor John Hickenlooper
4. President of the Senate Brandon Shaffer
5. House Speaker Frank McNulty
6. U.S. Senators Mark Udall and Diana L. DeGette

Send the contact letters to their office at the capitol, as well as to their home address

Send a copy of all these letters to CCI at 1625 Broadway, Suite 2700, Denver, CO or coloarts@state.co.us (subject Legislative Letters)

2-3 weeks prior to the event

Invite the press (news stations, newspapers, etc.) to attend the event.
Follow-up with legislators by phone and e-mail to encourage them to attend the event
Let CCI know who is planning on coming
Order an oversized check for the event

1 week prior to the event

Make any final contacts with legislators or press to ensure that they will attend the event.
Make sure that those who are coming have the proper directions, tickets at will call, etc.

For the Actual Check-Presentation Ceremony

· Be sure to talk about…

Who CCI is and how we receive funding from our state and national legislators
What our grant money goes towards
How important it is for people to use their vote to support the arts

Introduce any legislators in attendance and invite them forward to present the check

It is often appropriate to give the legislators a few minutes to speak as they present the check.

Oversized Check:

Download PDF. Save Zip file to desktop, double click on file, double click on icon to open. Save PDF to PC.

FedEx Kinko's charges .75 cents per square foot for oversize black & white ($6 for 4’ x 2’). For mounted (on 1/8” poster board) it’s $5 per square foot ($40 for 4’ x 2’). Click here for a location near you.