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Continuing necessity of the Civic Education Project . With each of these efforts, our group has attempted to fill a genuine need expressed by teachers or local government officials. Over the past decade, teachers have developed confidence in our materials. We want to ensure that teachers at all grade levels continue to have available accurate information on North Carolina's local governments, but this requires our active involvement and attention to the teachers' requirements. There is an ongoing need to monitor the proposed changes in the State's K-12 social studies curriculum, inform new teachers about our materials, respond to requests for textbooks and lesson plans, and share ideas for classroom activities on local government topics through the newsletter and the upcoming local government seminar. With new people moving into our communities every day, many having little or no familiarity with the functions of local government in North Carolina, it's more critical than ever that we promote an understanding of county and municipal functions and local issues. Partnership for the future NCCCMA was proud to serve as a founding partner in the NC Civic Education Consortium when it was formed within the Institute of Government in 1997. We welcomed the chance to coordinate our efforts with those of other groups and individuals across the state working to foster civic involvement by young people, and we continue to serve as a lead pa~-hxer through the involvement of our Civic Education Committee and part-time coordinator. We are currently working with the leadership of the Consortium to seek long-term State or foundation funding for our joint efforts, but-in the meantime-our original project funding is about to expire. As managers ourselves, we recognize that the State's revenue shortfall has created budget difficulties for local governments for the rest of this fiscal year and possibly for next year as well. Yet the purpose of the Civic Education Project is so vital, and the amounts requested of each jurisdiction so small, that we have' chosen to proceed with this appeal for a five-year commitment by counties and municipalities to the Civic Education Project. The amounts requested are based on population categories and are relatively modest, as shown on the attached contribution form. If your jurisdiction would prefer to make a one-time contribution in lieu of annual contributions over the next five fiscal years, we will be sure to make an accurate record of your payment and will not contact you again. In addition, jurisdictions that are willing and financially able to double their annual contributions will be recognized as "Local Government Champions" in all published lists of our supporters. In closing, we would like to thank the leaders of the many jurisdictions--89 counties and 304 municipalities--who believed in this project ten years ago and enabled us to make available so many new resources on the role of local government. We ask for your continued support to extend the project until a more permanent source of funding can be obtained. If you have any questions about the project or this request, please contact Committee Chair Brian Hiatt at (704) 789-2500 or Civic Education Coordinator Jan Boyette at (919) 220-2552. Thank you for your consideration of our funding appeal, Respectfully, Edward A. Wyatt President Brian Hiatt Chair, Civic Education Committee