Since Minnesota Orchestra concerts have just been canceled through April 27…
And since you’ve certainly already signed the petition asking the MOA to Play and Talk…
Want to write some letters and/or emails? I want to make it easy for you.
Some of you have lots of time that you want to devote to lockout activism. Others care deeply, but just don’t have the time. So depending on how much time you have, pick and choose individuals from this list to contact. This could be either a huge project for you, or a little one. You get to choose how much you want to take on. Bonus points if you’re a constituent of any of these guys.
Here’s a sample letter. Feel free to adapt this one or to write your own.
Dear [Politician],
I am writing to express my concern about the effects of the Minnesota Orchestra lockout. This tragedy has been devastating to countless Minnesotans, including thousands of students. If decisive action is not taken soon by our community leaders, one of our greatest cultural institutions will be destroyed.
Please do everything you can to end the lockout. Contact the parties involved (including audience advocacy group Orchestrate Excellence), apply pressure where you can, and use your position of leadership to inform your constituents about the ongoing tragedy.
There is a petition circulating at chn.ge/100cypl . It asks the Minnesota Orchestral Association to resume the season using a portion of the funds it has saved by not paying musicians since October first. Please sign and share.
Sincerely, [Your Name]
Minnesota House of Representatives – http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/housemembers.asp
Minnesota Senators – http://www.senate.mn/members/index.php?ls=#header
Governor Dayton – http://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/
Mayor Rybak – http://www.minneapolismn.gov/mayor/contact/index.htm
Song of the Lark 
Thanks for posting this, Emily. We want to make this as easy as possible for everyone involved! :-)
“We will soon mark one full year since the start of our negotiations, and we renew our call to the musicians to issue a counterproposal that helps resolve the Orchestra’s financial challenges. It is confounding that over the last 11 months the Union has neither been willing to suggest a proposal of their own nor accept ours,” said Minnesota Orchestra Board Chair Jon Campbell. “In order to initiate progress earlier this winter, the Board agreed to participate in an independent financial review suggested by the musicians, and we shared all future financial projections the Union had requested. We stand ready to meet with the Union at any time in order to negotiate a settlement and resume concerts, but we can only do so with a willing partner.”
“The Board has suggested that the review should focus on testing the accuracy of the organization’s Fiscal 2012 results, as well as the forward-looking financial assumptions upon which the organization’s strategic plan is based. Discussions between the Board and Union are ongoing to agree to terms for the analysis.”
The information above is part of what appeared on the MOA website today. So misleading! I find it incredible that they have the nerve to put this out there when they have not given a response to the musicians suggestion for a second indiviual in addition to the boards suggestion to oversee the financial analysis. The MOA insists on stalling! They are ruining a Minnesota institution!
Yes, thanks for posting this!!
I am also writing Sen Frankin/Klobachar, as well as my rep. MOA gets money from the Nationsl Endowment for the Arts (although my quick search couldn’t find out how much). A congressional hearing into the (mis)use of those funds would be delightful!
When are the patrons who have bank accounts, going to show up at the Bank of this hatchet man with their withdrawal slips and transfering their money to somewhere else. Money transfers talk.