vam annual conference 2012 program

Newpor News • 2012 Annual Confer nce

M A R C H 1 7 th – M A R C H 2 0 th

2012 ConfernceVIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS

LAUNCHINGNEW CONNECTIONS

Newport News has a rich shipbuilding heritage, and has launched countless ships into the world from its famous shipyards. As museum professionals, we launch into community partnerships, ambitious new museum projects, and sometimes unexpected collaborations every day. Just as modern shipbuilding demands innovation and cooperation, our museums need to explore new ideas and forge new relationships to stay vibrant and relevant. We hope you’ll join us to enjoy the hospitality of Newport News, and to launch a few new connections of your own. Your career, your

colleagues, your museum, and your community will thank you!

C O V E R I M A G EPerspective map of Newport News, Va., county seat of Warwick County 1891. American Publishing Co. (Milwaukee, Wis.), 1891. Colored map, 43cm × 86cm. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress. LC-DIG-pm-009570

3VAM 2012 ConferenCe • neWPorT neWS, VirginA

SATUrdAy, MArCH 17, 2012

Floral Designs in a Green Way!1:00pm to 3:00pm

PreregiSTrATion And exTrA fee of $25 required.

Use recycled, repurposed, and local botanicals to create a truly lovely design! Yes, you can—learn hands-on floral design with step-by-step instructions from Lifelong Learning Program Manager, Floral Designer, and National Garden Club Accredited Flower Show Judge Betty Ann Galway. Participants will also take away guidelines for use of botanical displays in museum environments.

Rare Peek: Behind the Scenes at the Hampton University Museum and Archives

1:00pm to 4:30pm

PreregiSTrATion And exTrA fee of $10 required.

Enjoy the rare opportunity to explore the collections of Hampton University. This tour will take you behind the scenes to see the Hampton University Archives, the Fine Art Collection, artifacts from the museum’s collection, and the International Review of African American Art. The two hour tour will be followed by a wine and cheese reception.

This year, we are trying something different in response to suggestions from last

year’s conference attendees. Rather than have all of our 3-hour workshops at the same time,

we are spreading these longer sessions out throughout the conference. That way, for those of

you who might not be interested in one of the more in-depth topics covered in a workshop,

there is still plenty for you to do during every piece of the conference!

Scholarship Reception at the President’s House

5:30pm to 7:00pm

PreregiSTrATion And fee of $50 required.

All ProCeedS benefiT The VAM ConferenCe SCholArShiP ProgrAM.

The 2012 VAM Scholarship Reception will be held at The Mariners’ Museum’s President’s House. Situated on the banks of the James River, with stunning sunset views, this charming 1948 Wannamaker Kit House has been home to the Museum’s directors since its construction. Decorated with a maritime flair, this house features objects from The Museum’s utility collection as well as cunningly crafted reproductions.

4 VAM 2012 ConferenCe • neWPorT neWS, VirginA

mount needs. Have no fear: help control bullying in your cases! This workshop is a primer for everyone who does the work of a preparator without the title. You are encouraged to attend the entire workshop; however, the first half will be presentation and the second half hands-on, so you could learn from either piece if you choose to move around.

CONCUrrENT SESSIONS 11:00pm to 2:30pm

Facilitating Exceptional Visitor Experiences Speakers: Colleen Higginbotham, Director of Visitor Services,

Chrysler Museum of Art; other speakers tbd.This session helps Visitor Services and similar departments create great experiences for visitors who are not on a guided tour. Topics include training staff/volunteers in creative ways to engage visitors in all Museum spaces, self guided activities for all ages and hands on interactions.

Bringing History Alive: The Right Way to Include Films in Your Museum

Speakers: Kevin Hershberger, Director/ Producer, Lionheart Films; John Pagano, Historical Interpretation Supervisor,

Henricus Historical Park; Keith Gibson, Executive Director, VMI Museum; Steven Lyons, BES Television.

Integrating the latest HD and interactive museum film and audio-video elements into your museum with authenticity, historical truth and with an eye toward smart budgeting and an emotional, worthwhile impact for your visitors.

Reconnecting with Traditional MediaSpeakers: Kathryn Fisher, Executive Director, Old Coast Guard Station; David Schleck, Beacon Editor, The Virginian Pilot; Diane

Rogic, Senior Account Manager, WHRO.In an ever changing, technological world, traditional media can still be one of the best ways to reach the public. Community sections of the local paper and public radio often target the same audiences as museums. But there are problems. You sent a great press package, but no one wrote a story about your new exhibit. Advertising can be costly, beyond your budget. Do you ever wish you understood what the media wanted, and, in turn, they understood what you had to work with? In this session, you will learn how developing a personal rapport with the media can best serve your organization, your publicity efforts, and help you find great advertising opportunities. Also includes a Do and Don’t list for writing press releases. Practical discussion with professionals from the media field.

Sneak Peek Coffee Break in the Exhibit Resource Hall

2:30pm to 3:00pm

S P o n S o r e d b y d o r f M A n M u S e u M f i g u r e S

SUNdAy, MArCH 18, 2012

Registration is Open10:00am to 5:30pm

VAM Council Meeting10:00am to 12:00pm

2012 CEO Summit1:00pm to 4:30pm

SPonSored by glAVe & holMeS ArChiTeCTure.

PreregiSTrATion And exTrA fee required. STAy Tuned for More deTAilS.

WOrkSHOpS 1:00pm to 4:30pm

These sessions will run from 1:00pm to 4:30pm, with a break from 2:30pm to 3:00pm. Please read the descriptions carefully; some will be divided into two sections so that if you choose to leave during the break to go to another session, you can still benefit. Others

are intended solely for those who plan to stay the entire 3 hours.

Visitor Research and Evaluation that Makes a Difference

Speaker: Conny Graft, Principal, Conny Graft Research.This workshop is geared for staff and volunteers who want to learn about, discuss and practice ways to incorporate evaluation into the planning process for programs and/or exhibits. This workshop is for beginners as well as those who are doing surveys/interviews/focus groups and want to find ways to ensure that the data collected is actionable. The first hour will be a review of the different types of evaluation (front end, formative and summative) available as planning tools and an overview of a process you can use to plan an evaluation. The last two hours the groups will be separated into 2–3 working groups and will use the 7 steps in planning evaluations to actually plan an evaluation. If you plan to attend this workshop, please do plan to attend the entire workshop.

Have No Fear: Exhibition Installation for Small Museums

Speakers: Scott Sholz, Museum Curator, Dumbarton House; Lindsay Borst, Independent Museum

Professional; final speaker tbd. [ Beginner Workshop ]

Do you really know your collections? friends? They may not be as good as you wish or believe they are. Off gassing and microclimates are both controllable troublemakers and mounts are either your best friend or your biggest bully. First, learn about off gassing and microclimates and why and when you should be concerned about them. Then learn how to mitigate or control their effects and how they associate with exhibition mounts. Get tips on how to make your own mounts and when you should outsource your


New this year!J o i n u S i n T h e e x h i b i T h A l l T h r o u g h o u T T h e C o n f e r e n C e f o r o u r W i f i

C A f é , S P o n S o r e d b y C A P i To l e x h i b i T S e r V i C e S , i n C . T h e C A f é i S T h e

P e r f e C T P l A C e To C h e C k e M A i l , o r J u S T S i T A n d C h AT W i T h C o l l e A g u e S A n d

e x h i b i To r S . T h e C A f é W i l l b e o P e n T h e S A M e h o u r S A S T h e e x h i b i T h A l l .


Building a Membership Program from Scratch

Speakers: Megan Frost, Membership and Development Manager, Hermitage Museum and Gardens; Melanie Mathewes,

Executive Director, Hermitage Museum and Gardens. [ Beginner session/ Small Museum focus ]

The Hermitage existed for 70 years without a standard membership program. By 2007 the museum launched a passive program that led to approximately 200 members. The first membership program had a list of benefits to include simple things like receiving newsletters—things so simple the museum didn’t even have them. This panel will discuss the need to develop programs and prepare the institution to receive members. A polite discussion of the slap in the face when we were told that there was no proof that the public cared if the Hermitage was here or not. Programs such as creating a friend-raising atmosphere and a discussion of the support needed to satisfy the program-donor databases, membership cards, on-line membership, etc.

We The PeopleSpeakers: Dr. Ted McCord, Professor, George Mason University;

Jenee Lindner, history consultant; Win Meiselman, President, Friends of Laura Ratcliffe; Catherine Slusser, Deputy Director,

Department of Historic Resources. How a small grass-roots preservation organization conceived and mounted a successful campaign to pass an innovative bill in the 2011 General Assembly for the benefit of the entire State preservation effort. This bill, HR 1963 (otherwise known as the Merrybrook Bill) enables any jurisdiction in Virginia to set up a Resident Curatorship Program to help preserve historically significant homes and other structures through a combination of public and private resources.

Reflecting on Practice: A Professional Development Program for

Informal EducatorsSpeaker: Karen Burns, Education Specialist, Virginia Aquarium.

From novice to expert, informal education practitioners typically have limited opportunities to reflect effectively upon their practice as a means to inform and improve their communication skills. Reflecting on Practice is a whole-department professional

development program for museum educators that is informed by research on learning and teaching in informal environments. The program engages staff in activities and discussions on learning and teaching to encourage participants to reflect on their practice, and works towards building a professional learning community within the department. Session participants will be introduced to this program through fun, engaging activities designed to lead to introspection about their own practice. Activities draw on current research on learning and teaching in museums, and include topics: learning styles, constructing knowledge, and conversations. Discussions encourage participants to reflect upon individual, programmatic, and institutional practices. Activities based on programs designed by the Lawrence Hall of Science and funded by IMLS and NSF.

Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Resource Hall

4:30pm

Evening Event: Cruising Through the Arts6:00pm

PreregiSTrATion required, buT no AddiTionAl fee.

Take a “fantastic voyage” through the Arts at the beautiful Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center. Located in the historic East End of Newport News, Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center will be a hub of arts related activities. Guests will be treated to musical acts throughout the building; interactive art classes; performances in the Ella Fitzgerald Theater; thought provoking exhibits in the Anderson Johnson Gallery; and opportunities to win exciting door prizes. Shuttles will be available to transport guests to tour the nearby nationally recognized historic landmarks, the James A. Fields House and The Newsome House Museum. Heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be available.

Hospitality Suite9:30pm

S P o n S o r e d b y C i n e b A r P r o d u C T i o n S , i n C

MONdAy, MArCH 19, 2012

Registration is Open7:30am to 5:30pm

VAM Town Hall: – Brave New World of Museums –

– Business Meeting – – Certificate Graduation –

8:30am to 10:30am

In five years white, non-Hispanic Virginians under 18 will make up less than 50% of that segment of the population. In 1960, one


in two American households was composed of a married couple with children. Today, that number is one in five. In addition, the current economic firestorm is threatening the sustainability of museums. These are issues museums cannot ignore. This town hall will examine the changing world around us and look at new business models that can help museums cope with the new millennium. Our moderator will engage not only our worthy panelists but the audience as well in a freewheeling talk show format.

Morning Coffee Break in the Exhibit Resource Hall

10:30am

TOp 10 SESSIONS11:30am

Career Planning for Emerging and Mid-Level Professionals

Speakers: Laurie Baty, Museum Manager at National Capital Radio and Television Museum; Liz Maurer, Creative

Director at Re-Living History.In today’s marketplace, employees and candidates must be able to clearly demonstrate the acquisition of skills and articulate how those skills benefit the organization in order to progress in their careers. This presentation will teach participants how to keep a career journal to document achievements and how to translate achievements into winning cover letters and resumes and effective interviewing. Rubrics will be provided.

Launching a New MuseumSpeakers: Lin Ezell, Director, National Museum of

the Marine Corps; Patrick Farris, Executive Director, Warren Heritage Society.

[ Beginner session ]This session will move the participant through the process of opening a new museum from vision and planning to funding and building. The panelists will share their experiences and offer tips and experienced guidance that will prepare museum planners for a successful launch of a new museum.

The Use of Fiction and Art in Creating Museum Bag Programs

Speakers: Rob Lauer, Museum Educator and Playwright, Children’s Museum of Virginia; Amanda Outcalt, Educator and Artist, Children’s Museum of Virginia; Emily Kilgore, Educator,

Children’s Museum of Virginia.Explore the use of art and of fictional characters in bag programs for historical museums and art galleries.

Finding the Top Ten with the Virginia Collections Initiative

Speakers: Christina Newton, Project Director, Virginia Collections Initiative.

This session will review the first year of our Top Ten Endangered Artifacts program, and discuss how your site can be involved in the 2012 program.

Lunch in the Exhibit Resource Hall12:30pm

WOrkSHOpS 2:00pm to 5:30pm

These sessions will run from 2:00pm to 5:30pm, with a break between 3:30pm and 4:00pm. Please read the descriptions

carefully; some will be divided into two sections so that if you choose to leave during the break to go to another session, you

can still benefit. Others are intended solely for those who plan to stay the entire 3 hours.

Capital Campaigns: Build for Your FutureSpeakers: Keith Curtis, President, Curtis Group Consultants; Page Hayhurst, Executive Director, Virginia Living Museum; Laura Vaughan, Executive Director, Barrier Island Center;

Annie Vogt, Director of Education Foundation, Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.

This workshop will begin with a presentation on the ins and outs of capital campaigns, and move to an engaging panel discussion between three nonprofit executives that have successfully completed or are effectively moving through a capital campaign. This learned panel of museum executives will share their observations, advice and stories from their own campaign experiences. As a member of North America’s 35-member Giving Institute, an organization which stands on the forefront of promoting philanthropy and thought leadership in the United States, The Curtis Group will bring a unique and valuable connection to national philanthropy as we take you through the four phases of a major campaign to help you understand how to build for your organization’s future. Conducting a capital and endowment campaign is an exciting time for any nonprofit. However, for campaigns to be successful in this market environment, being thoroughly prepared is vital. This workshop is most beneficial if you attend both sections. However, if you would like to attend only part of the workshop, please plan to attend the first half.

Taking Down the Walls: Museum-based Programs for Adults

with Intellectual DisabilitiesSpeakers: David Bearinger, Director of Grants and Public Programs, Virginia Foundation for the Humanities; David Niebuhr, Executive Director, Watermen’s Museum; Laurie

Kincaid, Director, Lifeskills Learning Center; P.G. Ross, Senior Marine Scientist, Virginia Institute of Marine Science Eastern

Shore Laboratory; Sharon Celsor Hughes, Creative Arts Director, Alzheimer’s Association, Central and Western Virginia Chapter;

Melinda Hope, Docent, UVA Art Museum.This double-session will explore the practical challenges and rewards of museum-based programs designed specifically for adults with intellectual disabilities. It will highlight two model programs, one at the Watermen’s Museum in Yorktown serving young adults with a variety of developmental disabilities including autism and Down’s Syndrome; the other at the University of Virginia Art Museum, focusing on older adults with Alzheimer’s and similar conditions. Panelists will discuss how and why these


programs were created and their transformative impact—both on the participants and on the museums themselves. The first 90-minute session will present the two projects as examples and potential models, also addressing broader questions of how these programs have changed the way museum professionals and volunteers see their work. It will also consider “the tyranny of low expectations,” and how these two very different programs have brought a revolutionary impulse to our understanding of “disability” in relation to how the participants experience museums. The second session will discuss the challenges of developing and implementing programs like these in a traditional museum setting, potential problems to avoid, resources and support networks, potential partners, what does and doesn’t work and why. Session Two in particular is designed to offer practical advice and to address questions raised by the audience. You may attend just one of these sessions and still gain practical knowledge of the subject.


The Benefits of Going Green: Sustainability and Museums

Speakers: Steven Blashfield, Director of Cultural Studio, Glave & Holmes Associates; Melanie Mathewes, Executive Director,

Hermitage Museum amd Gardens; final speaker tbd.Over the last decade the concept of incorporating green technology, environmental sensitivity and instituting healthy building practices has become the source of great popular discussion. There are a lot more reasons to jump on the green bandwagon then just to follow the latest popular trend. This session will serve as a primer on sustainability and discuss how green technology can be successfully integrated into your museum, how third party certifications can help you achieve fundraising success, and how sustainable features can ultimately improve your operations costs. Come prepared with your questions and see how other Virginia museums are successfully integrating sustainable practices into their facilities.

Ready or Not…Speakers: Mike Henry, Site Administrator, Fairfax County Park Authority; Scott Harris, Director, James Monroe Museum; Doug

Harvey, Director, Lynchburg Museum System; Robin Reed, Executive Director, National D-Day Memorial Museum.

Change is a constant. Managing change in new situations and positions requires skill, flexibility and adaptability. Three panel members (no strangers to change) will share what new challenges they encountered and what lessons they learned as they managed the mutable aspects of museum careers. Thinking about a job change or maybe heading in a new direction? This session will help you get ready.

Money-Making in Museums: Where Educators Fit In

Speakers: Liz Maurer, Creative Director, Re-Living History; April Cheek-Messier, Director of Education, National D-Day

Memorial; Betsy Bowers, Deputy Director of Museum Education,

Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center; Rebecca Fulcher, School Program Specialist - Museum Programs, National Law

Enforcement Museum.In a recent online survey, only 35% of museum educators felt that generating revenue was their responsibility. Many assume that it is up to the development department or the president of the organization to lead the majority of money-making initiatives. Though museum educators already have a multitude of responsibilities, it is increasingly important that they explore creative money-making programs that educate but also generate a revenue stream. Hear some unique ideas on education programs that have produced not only informative educational events but revenue for the institution.

Afternoon Coffee Break in the Exhibit Resource Hall

3:30pm


Theft Prevention and RecoverySpeakers: Catherine Wright, Curator, Museum of the

Confederacy; Anne Miller, Curator, Department of Museums for Virginia Beach.

Although most museums have experienced thefts from their collections, it is something many professionals rarely want to discuss. Panelists will discuss policies and procedures that can protect collections and prevent theft (with particular emphasis on low-cost methods), as well as what to expect when fortunate enough to recover stolen property. The session will conclude with an audience discussion on if, and how, to publicize news of museum theft.

The Little Museum That Could: How the Virginia Museum of Transportation Survived

Speakers: Peg McGuire, Virginia Museum of Transportation; Bev Fitzpatrick, Executive Director, Virginia Museum of

Transportation; Don Moser, Assistant Director, Virginia Museum of Transportation.

In 2006, The Roanoke Times all but declared the Virginia Museum of Transportation dead. The roof had been blown off the building causing considerable damage and shutting down an important gallery. The Museum was having trouble meeting payroll. And the executive director at the time had resigned under a cloud of financial impropriety. That’s when the Board of Directors hired Bev Fitzpatrick as executive director of the Museum. And in the five years since, in the worst economy in 50 years, attendance to the Virginia Museum of Transportation is up 140 percent, staff has almost doubled, 90 volunteers have signed on and the Museum Store is profitable and creating a nice revenue stream. How did the Museum accomplish so much in five years? It took strategic planning, partnerships, hard-core budgeting, tough decisions, inexpensive guerilla marketing, social media, media relations and community outreach. This 90-minute session will be a case study of how a small Museum on the brink of death should make the tough decisions, hire key staff and think strategically.


Analyzing Social Media ConnectionsSpeakers: Dr Lynn Rainville, Director, Tusculum

Institute at Sweet Briar College; Liz Maurer, Creative Director, Re-Living History.

[ Beginner session ]Got Social Connections? Are you sure? This session will demonstrate tools for analyzing on-line “connections” using free tools, such as google analytics and Facebook Fan pages. We’ll also discuss free programs (Word Press, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, and more) that can be used to broadcast your message to a wide audience. Learn how third party rating sites such as Yelp and TripAdvisor influence visitor choices and expectations through peer-to-peer social networking and how museums can analyze and respond to visitor reviews. Finally, we’ll assess the pro’s and con’s of creating on-line identities for your organization.

Evening Theme Reception in the Exhibit Resource Hall

5:30pm

S P o n S o r e d b y r u d i n e C & A S S o C i AT e S , r e q u e S T A P r i n T

Evening Event: A Warwick Welcome7:00pm

PreregiSTrATion required, buT no AddiTionAl fee.

Take a trip down Warwick Boulevard for an evening of art, history and boatloads of yummy treats! Your evening will begin at the wonderful Virginia War Museum with light hors d’oeuvres and drinks, and a history lesson on the US Military from 1775 to the present as you tour their galleries. Then hop on a bus for a short ride down Warwick to The Mariners’ Museum for some nautical noshes and seafaring drinks, along with tours through the award-winning USS Monitor Center. Then it’s a few steps across the parking lot to the beautiful Peninsula Fine Arts Center to end the evening with yummy coffee and desserts and their Art and the Animal exhibition.

TUESdAy, MArCH 20, 2012

VAM “Second Annual” 3K Circuit Walk7:45am to 8:30am

PreregiSTrATion And fee of $10 required.

WAnT To helP, buT don’T WAnT To WAke uP ThAT eArly? be A SleeP-WAlker for $15!

Join your council members and colleagues on a 45-minute walk around the City Center area of Newport News. See the sights, get some exercise, have some fun! This walk will not be “extreme” or even exceptionally strenuous, but do wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes. Prizes—and surprises!—for all. Unlike any other walk you’ve ever done! Your fee helps support VAM’s Circuit Riders Program.

Certificate Breakfast8:00am to 8:45am

PreregiSTrATion And AddiTionAl $20 fee required.

If you are a current certificate student, have completed the program, or are interested in joining, this breakfast is for you!

WOrkSHOpS 9:00am to 12:30pm

These sessions will run from 9:00am to 12:30pm, with a break between 10:30am and 11:00am. Please read the descriptions

carefully; some will be divided into two sections so that if you choose to leave during the break to go to another session, you

can still benefit. Others are intended solely for those who plan to stay the entire 3 hours.

Connecting Beyond the Museum Walls with Videoconferencing

Speakers: Anne Marie Millar, Manage of Distance Learning, Mariners’ Museum; Anna Holloway, Vice President

of Museum Collections and Programs, Mariners’ Museum; Marc Marsocci, Manager of Digital Media and Exhibit

Technology, Mariners’ Museum.[ Workshop will be held at The Mariners Museum ]

With shrinking school budgets and limited transportation, many schools eliminate field trips in the first round of budget cuts. The impact on museums can be detrimental. But what if schools throughout the nation and world were only a few steps from your front door? With videoconferencing, more and more schools are that close; and the numbers are growing each year. Join The Mariners’ Museum as we demonstrate how you can benefit from an Interactive Videoconferencing (IVC) Program. Using our three IVC studios as the setting, we’ll walk you through how we got started, how we’ve grown to presenting approximately 350 programs a year, and what important lessons we’ve learned along the way, including the all-important what not to do! We’ll discuss technical requirements and resources, program development and marketing, and expanding audiences. Participants will enjoy demonstrations of various types of equipment, and we’ll make some connections of our own. Participants will walk away with practical information they can take back to their own institutions. Come discover the endless possibilities for what can be done in a museum setting, and how even small museums can launch their own IVC program! We recommend that you plan to attend this workshop in its entirety. You will not be able to join the workshop once it has begun, as it is off-site.

You Are the Voice of Your MuseumSpeakers: Gretchen Bulova, Director, Gadsby’s Tavern

Museum; Cal Whitehead, Whitehead Consulting LLC; Hon. David Bulova, 37th District, Virginia House of Delegates.

This workshop will cover the basics of how to be a good advocate for your museum, including why you need to advocate, how to advocate effectively, and how to approach legislators at every level of government. The workshop will also explore VAM’s advocacy plans and vision, and provide participants a chance to


role play advocacy scenarios so they will be more comfortable when it comes time to visit your legislator. Preferably please stay for the entire workshop, but you can benefit from just the first half of the program.

CONCUrrENT SESSIONS 59:00am to 10:30am

Dealing with Difficult VolunteersSpeakers: Patricia Balderson, Manager, Museum

Education, The Museums of Colonial Williamsburg; April Cheek-Messier, Director of Education, National D-Day

Memorial; Shandran Thornburgh, Volunteer Services Director, Virginia Living Museum.

What do you do when a volunteer consistently takes a group out on a two hour tour instead of 45 minutes? Do you have a volunteer who makes critical comments in front of visitors? How do you tactfully enforce the policies of the organization while keeping a volunteer engaged? At what point does the relationship become unhealthy for both the museum and the individual? Find out from others who have dealt with similar situations and discuss positive ways to discipline volunteers. Tips will be provided on how to say what needs to be said without offending volunteers and participants will gain concrete ideas on structuring policies and procedures that may prevent such problems from occurring at all.

Conservation as a Public DrawSPonSored by The VirginiA ConSerVATion ASSoCiATion

Speakers: Fred Wallace, President, Virginia Conservation Association; Emily Williams, Conservator, Colonial

Williamsburg Foundation; Will Hoffman, Conservator, Mariners’ Museum; Colleen Callahan, Independent Conservator.

Activities involved in the conservation of collections often occur behind the scenes or during non-public hours at many museums and historic sites. However there is growing realization of a strong public interest in the particulars of conservation and collections care. Cultural institutions now increasingly have begun to make examples and discussions of conservation projects available for the visiting audience. On behalf of the Virginia Conservation Association, a group of conservators will describe how conservation programming and displays have been used as an attraction for visitors and as a means to solicit support and funding for collections care efforts.

Shrinking Budgets and Nowhere to CutSpeakers: Charlotte Whitted, Director, Historic Crab Orchard Museum; Joe Gutierrez, Senior Director, Museum Operations,

Jamestown Yorktown Foundation; Kim McCleskey, Senior Budget Analyst, Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.

Budgets are, in the best of times, a challenging nut to crack for any museum. But in today’s economy, when museums have already cut everything they can cut, and cannot rely on traditional donor bases or government support, where do we turn? What steps do we need to think about to stay on top of our budget needs?

This session will provide you with practical advice on how to bring in needed funds, and how to rethink the budgeting process going forward.

Morning Coffee Break in the Exhibit Resource Hall

10:30am to 11:00am

CONCUrrENT SESSIONS 611:00am to 12:30am

Collections Forum: Day-to-day Collection Issues & Solutions

Speakers: Bethany Austin, Registrar, Hampton History Museum; Mary LaGue, Collections Manager, Taubman Museum

of Art; Kathy Garrett-Cox, Collections Manager, Maymont Foundation; Kim Watson, Registrar, private collection.

This “town meeting session” will include one representative from four distinct types of collections. They are: small historical museum, large art museum, historic house and private collection. It will be an environment for dialogue and discussion on collections related topics. After a brief introduction by each panelist, the moderator will open the floor for discussion and questions on one or more of the following topics: deaccessioning, found in collections, storage issues, or policy & procedures. Audience members are encouraged to ask questions and present situations current in their museums during this session. The panelists will use their knowledge and experience to offer suggestions and solutions. Other audience members will also be welcome to enter the discussions offering situations that worked for them.

Having a Management PlanSpeakers: Mary Ellen Stumpf, Principal, Stumpf & Associates;

Charles Piper, AIA, Architect, BCWH Architects; Robert Sedivy, PhD, Consultant.

Museums, historical sites and cultural attractions at all levels and scope are facing unprecedented challenges with facility planning and management including: maintenance or deferred maintenance, renovations, new construction and more. Along with the physical challenges are the necessary planning and assessment tools and studies. How to manage it all--studies, assets and inventory, ongoing financing, revenue development, maintenance and capital expenses--is the focus of this session.

Finance Roundtable/ DiscussionFacilitators: Joe Gutierrez, President, Virginia Association of Museums; John Verrill, Past President, Virginia Association of

Museums.Join your colleagues for a frank and confidential discussion of finances in museums. What challenges are you facing? What successes have you found? This session is your chance to share with and learn from your colleagues who are dealing with the same issues you are.

This Year’s S p O N S O r S

Many thanks to all that helped make our 2012 Conference a success.

We have a special rate of $109 for our attendees at the conference hotel. Please

call 866-329-1758 to make your reservation, and mention the “Virginia Association

of Museums” rate. The last day to guarantee this low rate is February 24, 2012.

Newport News Marriott at City Center

740 Town Center Drive

Newport News, VA 23606

Hotel I N FO r M AT I O N

Name:

Title:

Institution:

Address:

City, State: Zip:

Phone: Fax:

E-mail:

Emergency Contact Person:

Day phone: Night phone:

Is this your first VAM Conference? Yes No

Please indicate dietary restrictions: Vegetarian No Dairy Vegan

Other: (Kosher, Halal, food allergies):

Membership

My organization is a member. [ Member number: ]

I have an individual, patron, staff or student/faculty membership. [ Member number: ]

I’d like to join or renew.

Become a member now, pay less to register!

Patron $115.00

Individual $45.00

Staff (of VAM member institution) $30.00

Student $25.00

Faculty $30.00

Please include a copy of your university ID card; student

membership is intended for full time students. Please indicate

whether you are a student or faculty member.

Registration Form2 0 1 2 VA M C O N F E r E N C E VAM 2012 ConferenCe • regiSTrATion forM A

Registration

Register by February 17th to take advantage of our early bird savings!

Please check the appropriate boxes for the conference and the events you plan to attend.

BEFORE 2/17 AFTER 2/17

Full Conference [ VAM Member ] $225.00 $250.00

Full Conference [ Special Rate Category ] $200.00 $225.00

Please check the appropriate special category:

Speaker Committee Member Patron Member

Full Conference [ Student—Please include copy of ID ] $175.00 $200.00

Full Conference [ Non-Member ] $275.00 $300.00

Single-Day Registration [ VAM Member ] $150.00 $175.00

SUN MON TUES

Single-Day Registration [ Non-Member ] $175.00 $200.00

SUN MON TUES

Single-Day Registration [ Student ] $125.00 $150.00

SUN MON TUES

Multiple Registration Incentive

VAM Member Institutions sending three or more representatives pay less.

Fill out separate registration forms for each attendee and fax or mail together.

BEFORE 2/17 AFTER 2/17

Full Conference [ Multiple Registration ] $200.00 $225.00

Confernce 2012 Special! Register three of your staff using the Multiple Registration Initiative, and

any additional people from your site can come for just $160. This rate is valid for full and part time staff, as well

as volunteers, so round up your crew and bring them all! This rate is not valid for online registration.

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Tours, Events and Meals

Tickets and pre-registration required for all of the following events, even if there is no additional fee.

Saturday, March 17

Tour: Hampton University Museum $10 × =

Class: Floral Designs $25 × =

Scholarship Fundraiser Reception at President’s House $50 × =

Sunday, March 18

CEO Summit $45

Evening Event: Cruising Through the Arts

This event has no fee for full conference or Sunday only registrants. Do you plan to attend?

Yes No

Guest Ticket $20 × =

Monday, March 19

Exhibit Hall Luncheon

This event has no fee for full conference or Monday only registrants. Do you plan to attend?

Yes No

Evening Event: A Warwick Welcome

This event has no fee for full conference or Monday only registrants. Do you plan to attend?

Yes No

Guest Ticket $20 × =

Tuesday, March 20

Circuit Walk Fundraiser $10 × =

Be a “sleep walker!” $15 × =

Certificate Breakfast $20 × =

I cannot attend the full conference this year, but would like to register for the following “stand alone” programs:

(Online registration not available for these categories.)

CEO Program on Sunday, March 17 $50 Member $70 Non-Member

Workshops on Tuesday, March 20:

Connecting Beyond the Museum Walls $30 Member $50 Non-Member

with Videoconferencing

You Are The Voice of Your Museum $30 Member $50 Non-Member

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Conference Guest Pass

If you are planning to bring someone with you to the conference, you might consider the Guest Pass. This allows your non-museum

professional guest to attend all 4 coffee breaks, both exhibit hall receptions, and both evening events. (Due to space limitations, we can

only accommodate a small number of guests at the luncheon; register your guest separately for this function.)

Name of Guest: $100.00

Add Lunch for my Guest: $35.00

Resume Review

VAM offers one-on-one confidential resume review. Check here to be paired with a reviewer during the conference.

I’d like to have my resume reviewed

Partner with a VAM VET

If you are new to VAM or the conference, sign up to be paired with a long-time VAM member who can show you the ropes.

Sign me up to be partnered with a VAM VET.

Send-a-Colleague Scholarship Fund Donation

VAM offers limited scholarships to members. Help us to send a deserving colleague to the conference.

Indicate amount: 10.00 15.00 25.00 Other:

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PAYMENT INFORMATION

Registration Fee:

Event Fees:

Donation:

Membership:

Total:

Payment Method:

Check enclosed, payable to VAM

Credit Card

Card No.:

Exp. Date:

Signature:

Image Release

The VAM staff takes photographs throughout the conference, and reserves the right to post them on our website, or use

them in promotional material.

If you do NOT want your image used in this manner, please check this box.

Questions?

Call 804-788-5823

Cancellation Policy & Deadline

Cancellation deadline: February 24th. Only refund requests for cancellations received in writing and postmarked by this date

will be considered. Refunds will be processed after the conference. A $75.00 processing fee will be deducted. VAM pays upfront

costs for each registrant. If you cancel after this deadline and have a balance due, you will still be responsible for that balance.

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vam annual conference 2012 program

Documents

conference newport news

museums collection

hospitality of newport

hampton university museum

newpor news

vam scholarship reception

museums utility collection

museum environments