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CSF Role in Foundations on the Hill
Foundations on the Hill 2010 will soon be upon us. The delegation from the Conference of Southwest Foundations will travel to Washington, D.C. beginning Monday, March 15th and meet with legislators through Wednesday, March 17th. Our focus this year will be on key legislators within our region. While maintaining existing relationships with those who continue to support the efforts of foundations is important, we have identified the Representatives and Senators who serve on committees which play a pivotal role on the issues affecting foundations. A list of these individuals may be accessed by contacting Dawn Townsend. Soon, we will be reaching out to some of you to assist with our appointments schedule. Stay tuned for more information from Dawn in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, you are encouraged to register for Foundations on the Hill through www.foundationsonthehill.org. On that website you will also find an agenda of the events sponsored by the Council on Foundation and Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers. Hotel arrangements are available at L'Enfant Plaza, where the FOTH events will take place. The Council and Forum have secured room blocks at the L'Enfant Plaza for $259.00 per night for FOTH participants. To register online, book online reservations at the L'Enfant Plaza hotel, view a draft agenda and more information about the event, visit the new Foundations on the Hill website.

In preparation for visits to some key legislators, CSF would like to prepare a brief white paper focusing on the impact foundations have had within their communities during the economic downturn of 2008 – present. Despite significant reduction in assets, we all know stories of how foundations have stepped up to assure food pantries are stocked, homeless shelters are staffed and vital nonprofit organizations remain viable within our communities. These are the stories we wish to tell and we are asking for our members' assistance. A survey, whichwas sent to all CSF members, is available by contacting Dawn Townsend. I encourage you to think about your foundation's activities over the past year and a half and respond to the survey, regardless of your plans to join us in Washington, D.C.

Key Dates
To prepare registrants for this year's FOTH event the Council and Forum will host a delegation captain conference call and three registrant conference calls. During these calls we will provide tips on assembling a delegation and scheduling Hill visits, review and provide an update of our agenda for the event, provide a legislative overview and suggested talking points for Hill visits and answer any questions, comments and concerns registrants may have.

• Tuesday, February 16 at 2pm ET/1 pm CT- Regional Association Members Call
• Wednesday, February 24 at 2pm ET- Second Participant Call (agenda, logisitics, legislative update)
• Tuesday, March 9 at 2pm ET- All Registrants Call

Dial-in information and an agenda for each call will be posted on the Foundations on the Hill website prior to the aforementioned conference call dates.

Registration & Hotel Reservations
Registration for FOTH is $95.00. As mentioned above, this year's event will take place at the L'Enfant Plaza hotel. The Council and Forum have secured room blocks at the L'Enfant Plaza for $259.00 per night for FOTH participants. To register online, book onlinel reservations at the L'Enfant Plaza hotel, view a draft agenda and more information about the event, visit the new Foundations on the Hill website.

Delegation Dinner
CSF's delegation to Foundations on the Hill will join the Ohio Grantmakers Forum and the Minnesota Council on Foundations for dinner on Tuesday, March 16th at L'Enfant Plaza. Watch your email for details about the featured speaker and registration details.

FOTH Tweeting Now Available
Help us move the Foundations on the Hill conversation online. Share your personal FOTH experiences and stories. We'd love to hear from you! Follow the conversation around FOTH by following the Council's Twitter feed at twitter.com/cof_, and join in by using the hash tag #FOTH in your tweets before, during and after FOTH.