Voice
3126 W. Cary St., #447 | Richmond, Virginia 23221-3504 | 804. 358.3170 | www.vamuseums.org | Fall 2013
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The Continuum of Excellence
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A demonstration of professionalism
MEMBERSHIP
The foundation for excellence
A commitment to the field
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A roadmap for improvement
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Member Profile: The Science Museum of Western Virginia
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A mark of distinction
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Which Excellence Program is Right for My Organization?
Graphic courtesy of the American Alliance of Museums
The Continuum of Excellen The Continuum of Excellence • What are museum standards, and how can my museum learn more about them? • Are the standards relevant to my museum, and can my museum really meet them? • How can we engage our staff and board in seeking to improve our organizations? • What options exist for museums like mine to receive national recognition?
Cover Story
Museums like yours have been asking for more options for recognition, more pathways to understanding standards and a more flexible accreditation program. The American Alliance of Museums (the Alliance) heard these concerns and worked with the field to build a new model to address these considerations — the Continuum of Excellence. The Continuum is a collaborative, inclusive, and accessible framework of standards-based programs and resources from across the field that supports, motivates, and recognizes museums in their efforts to professionalize and operate according to standards and best practices. Virginia museums are already participating in programs that fit nicely within the Continuum of Excellence. VAM programs like technical assistance, Collections in Action, Priority: Disaster Planning Workshops and Circuit Riders programs are based on national standards and fit within the framework of the Continuum of Excellence. Museums that have participated in these programs have already taken steps on the Continuum of Excellence and committed to standards. The idea is to allow museums to build on what they’ve already accomplished and choose the programs that will work best for them. This model is not exclusive to
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the Alliance but is truly the field’s Continuum of Excellence. It is a way to tie together collective efforts to advance the field and make sure that museums of all sizes and types find a place on the Continuum. Whether a museum is already accredited or taking the first step in its professional journey, the Continuum of Excellence provides multiple entry points and customized assistance for all museums to reach higher levels of recognition.
tends beyond the Alliance by linking to other standards recognition and assessment programs, such as American Association for State and Local History’s StEPs program, Heritage Preservation’s Conservation Assessment Program, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Accreditation. These cooperative partnerships reduce the time and steps needed for Alliance Accreditation.
The new Continuum offers opportunities for various levels of assessment, feedback and recognition that build on one another. Programs along the Continuum include (but are not limited to) the following:
The Pledge of Excellence is the first step on the Continuum. It’s a quick, easy, free, and achievable step along any museum’s path to excellence. Museums can showcase their commitment to the field by joining a national, public list of museums who’ve already taken the Pledge. The museum pledges that, in fulfillment of its educational mission, it will strive to operate according to national standards and best practices to the best of its abilities and in accordance with its resources.
• Pledge of Excellence • The Standards and Excellence Program (StEPs) • Museum Assessment Program (MAP) • Conservation Assessment Program (CAP) • Core Documents Verification • Accreditation (Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and Alliance) The foundation of the Continuum is based upon the following principles: • Accessible: Museums of all sizes and categories benefit from the recognition and improvement available through the programs. • Flexible: Two new programs—Core Documents Verification and the Pledge of Excellence—promote professionalism and offer recognition for your commitment. Our Museum Assessment Program (MAP) helps small and mid-sized museums through self-study and site visit. •Efficient: The streamlined, online Accreditation process will take about 50% less time to complete. • Collaborative: The Continuum ex-
Pledge of Excellence
73 museums in Virginia have already taken the Pledge of Excellence. We invite you to become the next Virginia museum to take the pledge. You can turn it into a public relations opportunity and spread the word to visitors, staff, policy makers, funders and peers. It’s also a good way to increase your staff and board’s awareness of museum standards and ethics. Bring it up in your museum’s next staff or board meeting and use it as an internal reminder of your institutional goals and values. Finally, sign the Pledge for the good of the field. A critical mass of museums signing the pledge sends a strong message to the public and policymakers that the field is professional, accountable and committed to shared standards and ethics—making it worthy of support. More information is available at www.aam-us.org.
nce by AAM’s Jill Connors-Joyner StEPs
The American Association for State and Local History runs the Standards and Excellence Program (StEPs) for small and mid-sized history museums, historic houses, sites, historical societies, and other organizations. StEPs is a self-study program based on national standards. The self-study uses questions and performance indicators to help museums better rate their policies, practices and how well they are meeting standards. Museums can clearly identify strengths and can get specific recommendations for what they should be doing in order to meet national standards. There are six standards sections and museums can choose to complete them in any order. It is self-paced and has no eligibility requirements to apply. Currently thirteen museums from Virginia are signed up for StEPs. More information is available at www.aaslh.org/steps.
CAP Heritage Preservation’s Conservation Assessment Program (CAP) helps small to mid-sized museums of all types obtain general assessments of the condition of their collections, environment, and historic buildings. A professional conservator will conduct a two-day site visit, examining the policies, procedures and environmental conditions affecting the care and preservation of collections and facilities. The conservator then writes a report outlining priorities to improve the care of collections and historic structures. CAP supports assessor professional fees, travel costs and on-site expenses. CAP is affordable because it is supported by a cooperative agreement between Heritage Preservation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Between 2010 and 2012, eleven Virginia museums participated in MAP. The next
application deadline is December 2, 2013. More information is available at www.heritagepreservation.org/cap.
• Disaster Preparedness/Emergency Response Plan • Collections Management Policy
MAP
Many museums already have these policies and plans in place, so the Core Documents Verification Program is an opportunity to receive national recognition for that hard work. The program is also a way to motivate staff to revisit the key documents that are essential for a professionally run museum. The Alliance has created resources to assist museums in developing or self-assessing documents, including reference guides, sample documents and a webinar series focusing on each document.
The Museum Assessment Program (MAP) is a powerful tool designed to support small and mid-sized museums of all types. Through a one-year process of self-assessment, institutional activities and consultative peer review, museums emerge with an analysis of their strengths, weaknesses and opportunities. After a one to two-day site visit with a peer reviewer, the museum receives a report with prioritized recommendations for improvement. Museums can use MAP to strengthen operations, plan for the future, meet standards, improve collections stewardship, and better serve their communities. There are three types of assessments: Organizational, Collections, and Community Engagement. Also based on national standards, it complements the other programs on the Continuum. MAP is free or low cost to museums because it is supported through a cooperative agreement between the IMLS and the Alliance. Between 2010 and 2012, nine Virginia museums participated in MAP. The next application deadline is December 1, 2013. More information is available at www.aam-us.org/map.
Core Documents Verification Core Documents Verification is another new Alliance program on the Continuum. This review program verifies an institution’s educational mission and affirms that core museum-specific plans and policies meet the standards of professional museums. Core Documents Verification analyses five key documents: • Educational Mission Statement • Institutional Code of Ethics • Strategic Institutional Plan
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Use Core Documents Verification at any time, such as part of the implementation of MAP or CAP recommendations or for third-party vetting of documents created as part of earning StEPs certificates, and if you’re going for accreditation, it is a required step for first time applicants. Because documents have to be reviewed every five years, it’s a good accountability measure for museums. The more museums that have these documents in place helps strengthen our case that we’re a professionally-run field. The more museums that are verified as professionally run, the stronger the case. Learn more at www.aam-us.org.
Accreditation As the museum field’s mark of distinction, accreditation offers high profile, peer-based validation of museum operations and impact. Accreditation increases a museum’s credibility and value to funders, policy makers, community and peers. Accreditation is a powerful tool to leverage change and helps facilitate loans between institutions. The Accreditation process consists of a self-study, site visit by two peer reviewers, and a decision by the Accreditation Commission. (Continued on page 11.)
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Technical Insert
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Which Excellence Pro My Organization? cour Pledge of Excellence
StEPs
Museum Asse Program (MA
Program Purpose
Show your commitment to ethics, Starting point for small- and midnational standards and best practices. sized history organizations that are not ready for other programs. Selfpaced, self-study.
Consultative p to assess their nesses, meet m build capacity future.
How do I participate?
Check a box.
Sign up anytime.
Submit Dec. 1 o pay fee to part
How does this program relate to the others?
Pledge to follow the standards (National Standards for U.S. Museums) that are used in all the excellence programs. Required before doing Core Documents Verification.
Uses the same standards (National Standards for U.S. Museums). A good precursor to MAP.
Uses the same Standards for U ums can use M accreditation
It’s free. Show me the money. What does this program cost?
$150 one-time payment no matter how long it takes to complete the program. Only AASLH institutional members receive certificates.
Free for organi expenses of $1 ed for other ins worth of servic
How much time is needed A few minutes. to complete it?
Self-paced so time varies.
Completed wit
How is this program structured?
Six separate sections can be undertaken in any order.
Four possible a comprehensive visit, report & i
Why should my institution • It’s an easy step to commit to museum standards. use this program?
• Offers education and awareness of standards for paid and unpaid staff, board and governing authority members, and the community.
• Understand s nesses • Get recomme ment • Learn about s practices • Use report as gic planning an
What is the program outcome?
A public commitment to standards and best practices.
Self-completed workbook helps with planning; certificates for meeting performance indicators.
Self-completed from surveyor prioritize need tions.
Where can I obtain more information?
American Alliance of Museums www.aam-us.org
American Association for State and Local History www.aaslh.org
American Allia www.aam-us.o
Discuss the pledge with staff and board and then take it.
• A precursor for participating in other standards assessment and recognition programs
ogram is Right for
rtesy of the American Alliance of Museums
essment AP)
Conservation Assessment Program (CAP)
Core Documents Verification
Accreditation
program helps museums strengths and weakmuseum standards, and by planning for the
Provides consultative report that museums can use to develop strategies for improved conservation care and provide a tool for long-range planning and fund-raising for conservation.
Receive recognition validating your museum’s mission and core policies meet national standards for professional museums.
Provides recognition for meeting national museum standards and ethics, and commitment to continued institutional improvement.
or July 1 application or ticipate anytime.
Submit annual application.
Apply anytime.
Submit application anytime; reviewed at designated times of the year.
Uses the same standards (National Standards for U.S. Museums). Museums can use CAP to prepare for re/ accreditation.
A required step before Accreditation. An opportunity to receive recognition for the plans you’ve created in StEPs, MAP or CAP.
Uses the same standards (National Standards for U.S. Museums).
izations with operating 125,000 or less; proratstitutions. Over $4000 ces provided.
Participants should budget $400 $1,000 to cover potential additional costs. At least $3,390 worth of services are provided.
Between $150-$500 depending on membership level with the American Alliance of Museums. (Membership not required)
Annual participation fee : $250-$575 Every ten years: review fee and costs for site visit.
thin one year.
Completed within one year.
A few months.
12-18 months. Must undergo reaccreditation every 10 years.
assessments offer a e self-study, peer site implementation.
Two day site visit followed by assessor’s report.
A review of the required elements in the five core documents.
One comprehensive study of the entire institution via a Self-Study, a site visit, and review by the Accreditation Commission.
strengths and weak-
• Distinguishes the museum as a professional member of the field and an educational entity. • Acts as an accountability tool for keeping policies up to date.
s a tool to guide stratend fundraising.
• Understand conservation strengths and weaknesses, • Get recommendations for improvement, • Learn about conservation standards and best practices, • Use report to guide conservation planning and fundraising.
Results in: • Sustainability and a Stronger Institution • Credibility and Accountability • A Clearer Sense of Mission • National Recognition
d workbook and report that helps museums d and improve opera-
Report from assessor that helps muse- National recognition ums prioritize conservation need and improve conservation.
Award or denial of Accredited Museum status.
ance of Museums org
Heritage Preservation www.heritagepreservation.org
American Alliance of Museums www.aam-us.org
standards (National U.S. Museums). MuseMAP to prepare for re/
endations for improve-
standards and best
American Alliance of Museums www.aam-us.org
Fall 2013
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VAM Workshop Series 2013-2014 HERE A RISK, THERE A RISK, EVERYWHERE A RISK, RISK!
Program Updates
Monday, September 23, 2013 Walkerton Tavern; Glen Allen, VA Meet Mike. Mike helps those seeking peace of mind and security to pursue their goals without fear of unexpected setbacks. Attend this interactive workshop to explore how cultural institutions can better protect everything you deem valuable and wish to protect from damage/harm (staff, volunteers, visitors, exhibits, and collections). Understand today’s risky realities, identify the risks under your own roof, gauge the impact of these risks, and implement the steps you can take to lessen those risks. Co-sponsored by Markel Insurance Certificate Credit: Internal Affairs
VISITORS OF THE FUTURE/ REACHING NEW CONSTITUENTS Thursday, November 7, 2013 Lynchburg College/Daura Gallery; Lynchburg, VA Getting a handle on future visitors will ensure sustainability for your museum. Examine how changing demographics impact your museum. Find out how you can conduct visitor research – even on a budget. Find ways to reach out and explore creative partnerships that open the doors of your museum to those in your community who might not have a cultural tradition of visiting museums and cultural sites. Learn from future museum goers and museum professionals about reaching out in unconventional ways to stay relevant within our changing communities. Certificate Credit: Education/Outreach
WRITING EFFECTIVE MUSEUM LABELS FOR THE PUBLIC (NOT FOR SCHOLARS) Wednesday, December 4, 2013 NASA Langley; Hampton, VA Have you ever approached an artifact or piece of art only to be driven away by an indecipherable exhibit label?
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As we seek new audiences and try to engage our community, it’s important to think about how to approach exhibit labels. We’ll discuss the notion of Plain Language, audience needs, and cultural bias in the creation of museum labels. Type up and bring along some verbiage from your own collection as we’ll have opportunities to work on creating or improving our own museum labels.
a crate, plus learn from VMFA staff who will walk us through the process of retrofitting a crate, which is a great choice for those on a tight budget. Co-sponsored by Richmond Registrars Group $25 fee, member or nonmember Certificate Credit: Collections Management
This workshop will also include a lunchtime talk by NASA, explaining all they have to offer museums, and a post-workshop tour of the base (very rare, and awesome opportunity!) Certificate Credit: Exhibitions
with John Tyler Community College
THE MUSEUM ENVIRONMENT Monday, April 7, 2014 Salem Museum; Salem, VA Certificate Credit: Collections Management
THE STORE: CREATING AND MANAGING A MUSEUM STORE ON A BUDGET Monday, May 5, 2014 Library of Virginia; Richmond, VA Co-sponsored by the Museum Store Association Certificate Credit: Internal Affairs
DIGITAL FOOTPRINT
ONLINE CLASSES RETURN FALL 2013
Enjoy the quality training you’ve come to expect from VAM from the comfort of your desk. No matter where you are, you can now take advantage of our new online class series and because they are so detailed, the classes also count as two credits for the Virginia Certificate in Museum Management program. To find out more or to sign up, go to www.vamuseums.org and click on Online Training under the Training tab.
Registration Fees:
VAM Members $50 single workshop $250 series of six workshops Non-Members $75 single workshop Join VAM and start saving today!
June 2014 Charlottesville, VA (date & location TBD) Certificate Credit: External Affairs
$15 box lunch per workshop (optional)
PLUS the special workshop…
10am – 3pm *unless otherwise noted
CRATING 101: CONSTRUCTING NEW & RETROFITTING OLD
Register Today:
Wednesday, December 11, 2013 9am-5pm* Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; Richmond, VA Learn from a vendor about various types of crates, the material that is used to make crates, and what you need to think about when purchasing
Workshop Hours:
Online: www.vamuseums.org Call: 804-358-3173 Email: cnewton@vamuseums.org Workshops provide credits toward the Virginia Certificate in Museum Management
Conference 2014: Opening Doors Join us March 15th - 18th in Alexandria 2014 will be VAM’s first visit to Alexandria since 2000, and if the wonderful events being planned are any indication, the local museum community is as excited about that as we are! Even before the official start of the conference, there will be plenty to do. If you can add Saturday to your itinerary, you can choose from a Civil War tour of Historic Alexandria, or a Historic House Museum Symposium at Gunston Hall. Wind down after your busy day by attending our 2014 Scholarship Fundraiser at the DEA Museum in Arlington.
stop on their way home from the conference to take a distillery and gristmill tour. Two other tours will be available for the adventurous on Tuesday afternoon, one to downtown DC, and the other a “factory tour” of Blair Inc, one of our local business members. See how they fabricate exhibits, and talk to their staff!
For those looking for something to do on Sunday morning before sessions begin, you can either see Alexandria in the era of the War of 1812 by bike or by foot. All conference participants are welcome to join us that evening to see all of Old Town Alexandria, where buses will drop you at various stops in town, and seven local museums will be open with food and refreshments (Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, Carlyle House, Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, The Lyceum, Friendship Firehouse, Alexandria Black History Museum, and the Lee Fendall House Museum).
Need to Budget? Here are some of the basic fees you need to know about to get ready for Alexandria 2014:
After a long day of sessions on Monday, participants will get the chance to spend the evening at Mount Vernon, touring their brand new National Library for the Study of George Washington, the Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center, and the mansion. Mount Vernon extends their generosity again on Tuesday, for anyone wishing to
(Right, top to bottom: The Hilton Mark Center in Alexandria; the DEA Museum; and the Alexandria Black History Museum (with our friend Virgil))
Whatever your interests, you are sure to find something amazing in Alexandria. The doors are open for you—you just have to walk on in! d
Hilton Mark Center room rate: $145 (amazing for DC area!) Member Full Conference Registration: $250 (includes coffee breaks, exhibit hall receptions, all sessions, and Monday lunch)
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The Science Museum of We
OmniGlobe offers visitors hundreds of images of Earth and our Solar System.
Member Profile
Chartered in 1970 as the first science museum in Virginia, the Science Museum of Western Virginia (SMWV) was feeling its age in 2010 at 40 years old. Its technology and exhibits were outdated. And its space inside downtown Roanoke’s Center in the Square was in need of a facelift. “We were just ‘tired’ in every respect,” says executive director Jim Rollings. No more. In May 2013, following a twoyear $30 million renovation to its home, the SMWV reopened as one of western Virginia’s premier educational and tourist attractions. “We are now a destination for people of all ages,” says Rollings, whose 30-year career has included museum leadership with Heifer Village in Arkansas and the NASA Langley Visitor Center before joining SMWV in 2011. Previously housed in Center in the Square’s 4th floor, the SMWV today includes the 5th floor as well, doubling its space to nearly
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70,000 square feet. The exhibit floor is arranged into three major galleries: Healthy Bodies, Healthy Earth, and How It Works! SMWV raised more than $3 million – and partnered with regional leaders such as Carilion Clinic, Virginia Tech, Steel Dynamics, and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) – to design and fabricate new STEMbased exhibits. Featured among these are:
But the crown jewel of the SMWV’s “reinvention” is its new Butterfly Garden. The 3,000-squarefoot indoor tropical habitat is home to hundreds of native and exotic species from around the world, some with wingspans of eight inches. Lead animal care specialist Derek Kellogg was recruited from a museum in Rochester, NY, to oversee the butterfly garden. Kellogg, who holds a Master’s degree in entomology from the University of Kansas, also supervises the museum’s Living River, Touch Tank, and Animal Care Center. “You can’t run a butterfly exhibit without taking care of your plants,” says Kellogg, who has begun working with local orchid societies to introduce dozens of orchid varieties into the habitat. Kellogg is also creating new educational programs through the museum’s partnership with nearby Virginia Tech. In addition to its transformed space and exhibits, SMWV has
• Walk Thru Digestion that lets visitors follow the journey of their food. • Under Your Skin, depicting actual human organs which have been plastinated by the VCOM labs. • Journey Underground that explores Virginia’s geological foundation. • OmniGlobe, a 4-foot sphere that offers hundreds of different images of Earth and the solar The Touch Tank at the Science Museum of system. Western Virginia is always a favorite stop for visitors!
estern Virginia by Michael Hemphill
The new 3,000 square foot butterfly garden at the Science Museum of Western Virginia is home to hundreds of species from around the world!
developed a series of new special events to broaden its audience to young professionals and older adults. Butterflies@5 is a monthly after-hours program in which Kellogg leads visitors on a behind-the-scenes presentation and butterfly release. Enhancing each event is a program by one of SMWV’s “cultural partners” such as Opera Roanoke, Roanoke Symphony and Roanoke Ballet. The weekend of Sept. 20-21, SMWV is bringing Apollo 14 Astronaut Edgar Mitchell – the sixth man to walk on the Moon – to Roanoke for a series of presentations at the museum and Virginia Tech. Then, October 25-26 will find SMWV transformed into Haunted Lab, a family-friendly Halloween experience. d
The Science Museum of Western Virginia is located at: 4th Floor of Center in the Square One Market Square, SE Roanoke, Virginia 24011 General Info: 540-342-5710 Hours: Mon. - Fri.: 10:00am - 5:00pm Saturday: 10:00am - 6:00pm Sunday: 1:00pm - 6:00pm For more information, please visit www.smwv.org.
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Exciting Changes are Afoot at VAM There have been some big, exciting changes at VAM this year. Our executive director of 19 years, Margo Carlock, left us in April for a new position with the National Association for Interpretation. In June, Jennifer Thomas was selected to take over as executive director. Then, in August, Christina Newton, who has managed our IMLS ‘Connecting to Collections Statewide Implementation’ grant project, was selected as our assistant director. While you likely already know both Jennifer and Christina, we thought we’d share a little bit of their backgrounds, to help you get to know them even better (of course, they’d love to chat with you at an upcoming VAM event as well!). Jennifer has been with VAM for 13 years. Prior to that, she was director of the Saratoga County Historical Society in New York, and director of public programs at the Valentine Richmond History Center. She has degrees from William & Mary and the Winterthur Program at the University of Delaware. She lives in Richmond with her husband, three dogs, and two PT Cruisers (come see them at a car show sometime!). Jennifer had this to say about her new role at VAM, “I am excited and honored to have been given this opportunity to pick up the reins of this wonderful organization that I have served for 13 years and am looking forward to working with all of the members of the Virginia museum community to ensure a bright future for VAM.” Christina has contributed to Richmond’s arts and cultural community for over two decades. She founded and directed the nonprofit Curated Culture and its First Fridays Art Walk program, and has worked at Artspace, the Black History Museum, and the Richmond Symphony. She is an alumna of Virginia Commonwealth University and Leadership Metro Richmond. She shares her love of museums with her musician husband and 5 cats. Christina had this to say about her new role at VAM, “I’m truly honored to have the opportunity to take on a permanent leadership role at one of the most well respected museum associations in the country and to continue to work with those who work so hard to make the museums, galleries, and historic sites in Virginia and DC world renowned.” At VAM we promise to provide the same high level of customer service, commitment, and loyalty to the museum community that you have come to expect as a member. While Jennifer and Christina have new roles with VAM, they are excited to take the reins of this wonderful association and move it into the future while still honoring the traditions that have helped make VAM great for the past 45 years. Please feel free to contact the VAM office anytime with comments or suggestions—this is your association, and your membership, so our doors are always open to you. d Phone 804.358.3172 (Jennifer phone) 804.358.3173 (Christina phone) Email Jennifer Thomas: jthomas@vamuseums.org Christina Newton: cnewton@vamuseums.org
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The Continuum of Excellence
continued from page 3
In the late fall of 2013, the Alliance will introduce a streamlined reaccreditation process that will maintain its rigor and same high standards Organization Name City Year while significantly reducing (up Hampton History Museum Hampton 2010 to 50%) the time needed for comEdith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Foundation & Museum Wytheville 2010 pletion. The Alliance will unveil a streamlined process for new appliLittle England Chapel Hampton 2010 cants in 2014 that maintains the University of Mary Washington Art Galleries Fredericksburg 2011 same standards while significantly re- Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection Charlottesville 2011 ducing the time needed for comple- Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum Staunton 2012 tion. Museums that previously wonCherry Hill Farm Falls Church 2012 dered if Accreditation was achievable George C. Marshall Research Foundation Lexington 2012 can now take different paths on the The Menokin Foundation Warsaw 2012 Continuum of Excellence to attain Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum Alexandria 2012 their goals.
Recent Virginia CAP Participants
As with the other programs on the Continuum of Excellence, the more museums that are accredited translates to a stronger and more unified field. Currently, there are 57 Accredited museums in Virginia.
How to Participate The Continuum of Excellence unites time-tested programs like MAP, CAP and Accreditation with newer programs like the Pledge of Excellence, StEPs, and Core Documents Verification to create a variety of options for every museum. Now museums have opportunities to receive recognition, encouragement and assistance on their paths to excellence. The new Continuum provides the building blocks to connect these programs. Hundreds of Virginia museums have participated in these programs already. Consider the program that will work best for your museum. And if you need help figuring out where to start, feel free to contact me at jconnors-joyner@aam-us.org or 202.289.9111. d
Giles County Historical Society Pearisburg 2012 Reynolds Homestead Critz 2013 Eleanor D. Wilson Museum Roanoke 2013
Recent Virginia MAP Participants
Organization Name City Year AMA Museum and Alumni House (O) Fort Defiance 2011 American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar (O) Richmond 2010 Black History Museum & Cultural Center of VA (CE) Richmond 2012 Casemate Museum (O) Ft. Monroe 2011 Hermitage Museum & Gardens (O) Norfolk 2011 Historic Sandusky (O) Lynchburg 2011 Radford University Art Museum (CS) Radford 2012 Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest (O) Forest 2011 University of Mary Washington Galleries (CE) Fredericksburg 2011
O = organizational MAP; CS = collections stewardship MAP; CE = community engagement MAP
Virginia StEPs Enrollees July 2013
Organization Name City
Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation Aldie Town of Blacksburg Blacksburg Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre Bristow Friends of Laura Ratcliffe Fairfax James Monroe Museum Fredricksburg Thomas Balch Library Leesburg George C. Marshall Research Foundation Lexington Manassas Museum System Manassas Giles Co Hist’l Soc Pearisburg The Petersburg Museums Petersburg Portsmouth Museums Portsmouth Reedville Fishermen’s Museum Reedville Virginia Beach Maritime Museum, Inc. t/a the Old Guard Station Virginia Beach
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Director’s Corner Our Governing Council President, Tracy J. Gillespie VP, Planning & Resources, Al Schweizer VP, Programming, Gary Sandling Secretary, Anna Holloway Treasurer, Norman Burns Past Presidents, John Verrill and Scott Harris Ex-Officio Members, Robert C. Vaughan and Robin Nicolson D i re c to r s Eric App Gretchen Bulova Donald Buma Diane Dunkley Patrick Farris Charles Grant Debi Gray Tramia Jackson Lisa Martin Melanie L. Mathewes April Cheek-Messier Robert Orrison Dana Puga Barbara Rothermel Charlotte Whitted
Dear Members, I am honored to be writing my first director’s corner. After thirteen years at VAM, it has been a great privilege to be selected to follow Margo’s very large footprints, and to get the opportunity to serve the organization I love in new ways. I am excited, too, that Christina Newton is taking over my membership and programming duties—she is quickly coming up to speed, and will be an integral part of our new team at VAM. She is, in fact, attending her first workshop as assistant director as I sit down to write this. While it feels odd to be missing out on the camaraderie of a workshop—and I certainly will miss sharing box lunches with all of the workshop attendees!—I feel confident that Christina will serve our members as well, if not better, than I did. (And I will still turn up at some workshops, just to say hello to everyone). Whenever I have been asked over the years why I stay in one place
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for so long, the O u r Sta f f Executive Dir., Jennifer Thomas answer is easy: Assistant Dir., Christina Newton it is the people. Communications Dir., Heather Widener VAM’s members, and the Virginia museum community as a whole, are loyal, dedicated, and generous. I am proud to be considered a part of that community, and hope that I will remain so for many years. I hope that each of you feel welcome to visit my office in Richmond whenever you are in town—whether you have a question, or would like to share a suggestion or comment about VAM. You can also always reach me via email, at jthomas@vamuseums.org.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Jennifer Thomas Executive Director Virginia Association of Museums
Accountant, Su Thongpan O u r Vo i ce VAM Voice is a member benefit published quarterly for museum professionals and volunteers. The editor encourages readers to submit article proposals. Contact the Communications Director for more information. O u r Co nta c ts Phone: 804. 358.3170 Fax: 804. 358.3174 www.vamuseums.org jthomas@vamuseums.org cnewton@vamuseums.org hwidener@vamuseums.org su@vamuseums.org O u r N e ws D e a d li nes Spring: February 15th Summer: May 15th Fall: August 15th Winter: November 1st Our Mission The mission of the Virginia Association of Museums is to serve as the resource network of the Virginia and District of Columbia museum community through education, technical assistance, and advocacy.