November 21, 2017
The Utah Nonprofits Association strongly urges your outlet’s editorial board to take a firm position against a provision in the House tax bill that would remove longstanding protections legal protections that allow nonprofits and religious organizations to focus on and advance our missions. This provision would divert attention and limited resources from nonprofits and religious organizations to the demands and whims of political candidates and special interest groups. It would destroy the nonpartisan nature nonprofit work of our work, which is essential to motivating donors to give and working with people of all political ideologies to solve problems in our local community.
Proponents of weakening the Johnson Amendment generally focus on perceived restrictions on preachers who say they want to speak out about issues of the day and endorse candidates from the pulpit. Most commentators, however, emphasize the legal reality that charitable nonprofits, including religious congregations, already are free to speak on important matters of the day and advocate on public policy issues and legislation. Section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code merely prohibits campaign intervention, defined to include endorsing or opposing candidates for public office, publishing or distributing statements for or against candidates, or diverting tax-deductible and other resources to support partisan campaign activities.
The Washington Post took such a strong position Sunday: “The House tax bill unleashes a dangerous avalanche of campaign cash.” In doing so, it joined multiple other newspapers around the country that have opposed this dangerous proposal, a position consistent with the views expressed in dozens of op-eds, and even more public statements from nonprofits, religious organizations, and foundations across America.
Joining this opposition to weaken, what has been law for over 70 years, the Johnsons Amendment are more than 5,500 charitable nonprofits, religious organizations, and foundations from all 50 states, more than 4,200 religious leaders, 100 religious and denominational organizations, and – for only the third time in its history – the organization of state law enforcement officials who oversee and regulate nonprofits.
Moreover, opposition to repealing or weakening the Johnson Amendment is consistent with the views of 72 percent of the American public and 89 percent of Evangelical pastors.
The Utah Nonprofits Association, which represents the over 6,000 nonprofits across our state, firmly opposes the harmful proposal in the House tax reform bill. We have been communicating the harmful effects of weakening the Johnson Amendment to our members and nonprofits across the state all year long. Here is a list of the Utah organizations that signed the national Community Letter in Support of Nonpartisanship. This list includes small organizations, large ones, religious organizations, foundations and every other type of nonprofit. Here is a link to our webpage, with our statement and other resources we have been providing to our members. The Deseret News published an op ed from me, on behalf of the organizations in our state, and here is the link.
Newspapers, nonprofits, religious institutions, and UNA agree, altering the Johnson Amendment would fundamentally change the way nonprofits and religious organizations operate in the community. Weakening the Johnson Amendment will adversely affect every one of your readers. We urge you to publish a strong editorial against this proposal that would erode our ability to advance our missions and further polarize our communities and country. Tell Congress to strike the harmful and inappropriate language from the House-passed tax bill, and never let this this bad idea see the light of day again.
Have your readers thank Chairperson Hatch for preserving the Johnson Amendment and keeping the nonprofits we love and serve on a daily basis safe.
Pasted below are links to additional resources. We would be happy to speak with any members of the editorial board to share more about this issue and the urgency for you to inform your readers and join other media outlets from across the country in opposing this measure. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
· General background: www.GiveVoice.org.
· Milwaukee Public Radio Report: Nonprofit Groups say GOP Tax Bill Would Discourage Giving (Nov. 3, 2017)
· KUT 90.5 Austin’s NPR Station: GOP Tax Plan Could Hurt Donations To Austin Nonprofits (Nov. 13, 2017)
· Op-ed: Nonprofits oppose the provision: “Don’t Tread on Us: Keep Toxic Partisanship Away from Nonprofit Missions,” Nonprofit Quarterly (July 7, 2017).
· Op-ed: Religious Organizations oppose the provision: “There’s a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing Hiding in the GOP Tax Bill,” The Hill (Nov. 8, 2017).
· Op-ed: Foundations oppose the provision: “Keep Partisan Politics Out of the Nonprofit Sector,” The Hill (March 22, 2017).
· Op-ed: State Law Enforcement Officials oppose the provision: “Congress, defend the common law and common sense of nonpartisanship,” The Hill (Sept.7, 2017).
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ICARUS THE OWL
Releases "The Renaissance of Killing Art"
Streaming Now on Substream Magazine
New Album Rearm Circuits Out Dec 1st
Pre-Orders Available Now At: icarustheowl.com
Recently Featured on Alternative Press,
Metal Insider, New Noise Magazine & More
Portland, OR - November 21, 2017 - Portland-based Icarus The Owl are thrilled to share their brand new single "The Renaissance of Killing Art," from their forthcoming album Rearm Circuits. Fans can check out the track now on Substream Magazine, here: https://goo.gl/BkDY4t. Rearm Circuits is set to be released December 1st, 2017 via Blue Swan Records. For more information or to pre-order the new album, please visit: www.icarustheowl.com
"I wrote about the urgency you feel when the proverbial hourglass rears its ugly head and tells you that your time to make art is running out," singer Joey Rubenstein explains."Of course, that's bullshit and I'll write music until I die."
The band will be supporting Dance Gavin Dance on tour this December. The run kicks off on December 4th in Reno and wraps up on December 15th in Sacramento.
Icarus The Owl formed in 2009 and wasted no time in completing their debut album, The Spotless Mind, which sold over 10,000 copies while they followed the 2009 Vans Warped Tour. Over 20 tours and 2 more self-released albums later, the band signed a deal with Will Swan of Dance Gavin Dance's label, Blue Swan Records, in 2015. They released their Blue Swan debut, Pilot Waves, in October of 2015, placing them on the Billboard Heatseeker's chart for the first time in their career.
Fast forward to present day, Icarus is gearing up for the release of their 5th studio album, Rearm Circuits. Icarus The Owl was put to the test both personally and musically during the making of Rearm Circuits. From being on tour in Paris during the tragic terrorist attacks to taking an unplanned 7 month hiatus, Icarus has been put through the ringer and is ready to rearm their circuits, so to speak. "So much has happened to us in the last two years. I am ecstatic that we made it out the other side with what I feel is easily our best record," says Rubenstein.
Rearm Circuits will be released on December 1st via Blue Swan Records. Pre-order bundles are available now at icarustheowl.com
For more information, please visit:
Website: www.icarustheowl.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/icarustheowl
Twitter: www.twitter.com/icarustheowl
Instagram: www.instagram.com/icarustheowl
Rearm Circuits Tracklist
1. Failed Transmissions
2. Dream Shade
3. Ghosts of Former Lives
4. The Vanishing Point
5. Coma Dreams
6. DoubleSleep
7. Do Not Resuscitate
8. The Renaissance Of Killing Art
9. Hidalgo's Secret Hideout
10. Burial Vows
11. Dimensions
12. Shadowboxing
Upcoming Tour Dates w/Sianvar
11/30 - Fresno, CA @ Strummer's
12/1 - Camarillo, CA @ Rock City Studio
12/2 - Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction
12/3 - Sacramento, CA @ Holy Diver
Upcoming Tour Dates w/Dance Gavin Dance
12/4 - Reno, NV @ Jub Jub's Thirst Parlor
12/5 - Las Vegas, NV @ Vinyl at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
12/6 - San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park
12/8 - San Antonio, TX @ Alamo City Music Hall
12/9 - Dallas, TX @ Canton Hall
12/10 - Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
12/12 - Albuquerque, NM @ El Rey Theater
12/13 - Mesa, AZ @ Nile Theatre
12/14 - Los Angeles, CA @ Regent Theater
12/15 - Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
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THE VIEW FROM
T O R R E Y H O U S E
November 2017
Only one week left to submit to Breathing Stories: Utah Voices for Clean Air
For those who live in Utah, it’s no secret that our state ranks among the worst for air quality. Environmental groups, moms, doctors, activists, and concerned residents of Utah have tirelessly advocated for clean air for years. To build on this important work, Torrey House Press is partnering with local clean air groups to create an art-as-advocacy chapbook called Breathing Stories: Utah Voices for Clean Air. Utah officials know the statistics on our polluted air, but to fully emphasize the gravity of the problem, we need your story. We will deliver the chapbook to every member of the Utah State Legislature and relevant city and county councilmembers, and will use your words to inspire and empower our community to act for clean air.
Learn more about the project and submit your story by November 27th.
We would like to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all of our Torrey House Press friends and family! We are so grateful for this community of readers, writers, and supporters.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, please consider a tax-deductible contribution to Torrey House Press on Giving Tuesday, November 28th. By donating on this international day of giving, you will help us continue to publish voices for the land. Now more than ever, we need powerful words to inspire the change and action needed to protect our last wild places. Torrey House Press is the only literary press focusing on conservation, uniquely addressing critical environmental issues.
We need your help to reach our end-of-year goal of raising $15,000 so we can keep bringing you the best in conservation through literature. Celebrate good books and the fight for the planet by making a donation or signing up for a subscription to receive (or give!) Torrey House Press books throughout the year.
PhD student in Forest Ecosystems and Society at Oregon State University
“You are forced to notice the rise and fall of land. You are forced to sweat up the hills and smile as you speed down them. The bugs, and rain, and heat ride along with you. The speed of travel allows you to notice as sage turns to juniper turns to aspen. You are afforded a 360-degree view of the land. There are no blind spots.”
Through the trials of life, a young writer finds she's fighting for our spirit. Read the Bell Prize winning essay from THP's Environmental Humanities Fellow, Brooke Larsen, in High Country News.
OPEN HOUSE & HOLIDAY MARKET
December 13: 5:30-8:00 p.m. Come see our new space and meet our staff, board, and authors, plus get 25% off THP books with free gift wrap at Impact Hub Salt Lake, third floor!
NOVEMBER'S NEWS AND EVENTS
On November 18th, in collaboration with the Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Kirsten Allen moderated a discussion with Lyle Balenquah and Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk at the Cortez Cultural Center in Colorado. The conversation was heartening and the attendance exceeded expectations—the Cultural Center ran out of chairs and Torrey House Press ran out of Edge of Morning and Red Rock Stories! Lyle discussed how the Hopi are using archaeology to corroborate and support oral traditions. Regina discussed how she and others are using the Antiquities Act, a tool that had previously been used against Ute Mountain Ute people at Mesa Verde, to reclaim a cultural landscape. The audience was encouraged to share their stories on the landscape too. (And you should share your stories as well!)
Watch the video above to get the full Cortez event experience!
November 14th was the launch of Nature Love Medicine: Essays on Wildness and Wellness edited by Thomas Lowe Fleischner! On November 11th, Fleischner read at Point Reyes Books, and on November 14th he was joined by contributors Gwen Heistand, Edie Dillon, and Sarah Juniper Rabkin for a lecture and discussion at the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve at Stanford University.
This month Edge of Morning events continued with Jacqueline Keeler in Oregon! She had a pop-up table for reading and signing at Wordstock: Portland's Book Festival on November 11th. On November 19th, she chatted and signed at the Wild Arts Festival Book Fair.
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