2018 Spring/Summer VAM Voice Magazine

Voice

3126 W. Cary St., #447 | Richmond, Virginia 23221-3504 | 804. 358.3170 | www.vamuseums.org | Spring/Summer 2018

CONVERSATION STARTER

Bringing the VAM Conference Home MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Red Hill, The Patrick Henry Memorial ASK THE EXPERTS

A Followup with a VAM Affiliate Vendor MEET & GREET

Cameron Patterson

Director’s Corner say now that I feel energized and excited about working on new projects based on everything I learned.

But how to keep that energy going? Like all of you, I came back to deadlines, meetings, and lists of tasks a mile long. Our “conversation starter” article has some ideas for how to combat this loss of energy once you get home.

Dear Members, You might notice our VAM Voice looks a little different this spring. We’re trying out some new ideas for our signature magazine, and one of them is to have “theme” issues. Welcome to our first theme: the value of conferences. Coming on the heels of our recent 50th anniversary conference in Norfolk, this seemed an appropriate theme, so that we could share experiences from that conference, and talk about some work that is happening or continuing because of conversations that started at the conference. But our intention is to make this something more—we all get isolated and bogged down in our daily routines, crises, and details. Conferences (whether or not it is a VAM conference) give us the chance to take our heads out of our computer screens, get away from the office, and recharge.

They provide you with new ideas, and the energy to think about those ideas in an open forum. They introduce you to people and places you haven’t had a chance to see, and build lasting relationships that can help your current job and your career.

As someone who plans the VAM conference with my amazing staff, I don’t necessarily get to recharge and build energy at our conference. Having just come back from Phoenix and the American Alliance of Museums, though, I can definitely

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What am I doing? I made a list of people I met, and am writing personal notes to each of them, to keep those new relationships moving forward. Some might become VAM members, some might be able to help our members, and some will help me learn more about what is going on in our field. While the reality is that much of my excitement will be filed away with the conference program and handouts, and my energy will continue to be funneled to day-to-day requirements, going to the conference reminded me of my passion for this work, for the people I serve, and for museums in general. Having a chance to do that once a year? Priceless!

Sincerely, Jennifer Jennifer Thomas, Executive Director

Conversation Starter Bringing the Conference Home

by Jennifer Thomas

It is easy to get excited while you’re at the conference and talking with other museum professionals you don’t see every day.

the new information you brought home with you and all the exciting things you talked about so you can keep moving forward towards your new goals, big or small.

When you are away from your office and your overflowing inbox, it is easier to think big and get new ideas percolating.

Continue connections

Our statistics show that 93% of participants attend the VAM conference to improve their knowledge of issues in the field, and 76% attend to network with their colleagues from across the Commonwealth.

Once you’ve had those great meetups and discussions, and once you’ve discovered new information about topics relevant to you and your staff, how do you take your excitement home with you? How do you ensure that all the benefits you experienced during those three exhilarating days stay with you and can be incorporated into your professional world back home?

Here are a few quick tips for making your conference experience last long after the conference itself is over.

Extend the conference experience by sharing it with your staff 1. Directors and managers can’t send their entire staff to a conference, so spreading the wealth of information gained is important for many reasons. One way to make sure that what you learned stays with you is to provide a summary of the conference sessions at a staff meeting.

What facts did you learn that other staff members might benefit from?

Write up this summary to pass out, or create a Powerpoint presentation with what you’ve learned. Writing things down will cement the information for you and provide good information for your staff.

2. Invest in the power of your team by sharing the excitement you felt when you engaged in compelling conversations about the field. Sharing new perspectives and bringing those conversations back to the staff helps to create a unified team that feels valued. By including your staff in the conversations that got you thinking, by listening to and discussing their questions, you extend their insights and yours, too – a win-win way to keep the benefits going strong for everyone, not to mention maximizing the value of your conference dollars spent.

Build a plan of action I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to a conference and taken copious notes about new ideas to follow up on, and then I get back to the office and file all those notes away as I promptly return to dealing with daily crises and problems. One way to avoid doing that is to take 10 minutes the first day back in the office and lay out specific steps you are going to take – don’t make them too big, or they become overwhelming. For example, making a goal of “create a brand new program based on what I learned” is too time intensive to accomplish easily, and can discourage you from follow up. The steps could be as simple as “call x museum and get a copy of their education program so we can review it,” or “talk to your director or leadership team about purchasing the new software you heard about at the conference.” Include in your plan the next steps, too, towards the end goal you have in mind. Just writing down these steps will remind you to make use of

What new connections did you make that might help you or other staff meet stated goals? Networking is easy at the conference. How many business cards did you bring home with you? But it is too easy to put those business cards in a pile of others on your desk to “get back to them later.” Instead, choose 3 or 4 cards from your pile and plan a way to reconnect with those specific folks. Are you close enough to meet for coffee? Does this new connection do the same job you do, or maybe the job you WANT to be doing? Can this new connection help you with a program you want to work on? With the others you met but don’t select to follow up with right away, make sure you take notes on their card or the conference participant list about what you learned about them and how they can be a helpful connection in the future before you set their cards aside.

Engage with VAM 1. Once you’ve mastered some of these other techniques, a great way to extend the value of your conference experience is to engage with VAM in a meaningful way throughout the year. Maybe you want to make your conference attendance count toward a certificate in Museum Management. Or maybe your follow-up plan with some of your new colleagues includes meeting up at a VAM Happy Hour. Perhaps you could volunteer on a committee that interests you. VAM asks for committee members throughout the year to help plan workshops, Advocacy Day, Virginia’s Top 10 Endangered Artifacts, and you could even help plan the next conference. Have fun! Get involved!

2. VAM provides several outlets for continuing the conversations started at conferences and in the news. Engage with topics posted on our social media sites. Tag us on your social media posts so we can jump in, too! Join our LinkedIn Group and participate in our conversations.

Post a blog or share a resource on our website’s disaster response wiki or engage in our Community Conversations webpage.

Plan Ahead for Next Year There are a lot of ways to make sure that all the new information you pick up at a conference sticks with you, and some involve planning before you even get to the conference. Research says that if you make sure to leave yourself quiet time during a conference, your brain has a better chance to take in and retain the information you’ve collected. Taking notes ahead of time can help you focus your attention on what it is you want to retain as well – look at the program. What specific question do you want x session to answer for you? Review that program with your fellow museum staff who are not going to the conference with you. Is there a session they would like you to go to for them, or handouts they’d like you to collect for them? Look at the participant list – is there a specific person you want to make an effort to meet? Planning these elements out before you get to the conference will give you the motivation to remember and take control of that new information – you become a more active learner. d

Spring/Summer 2018

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Keynote Perspective

Member Perspective

Wam, Bam, Thank You VAM: Looking to the Future VAM’s Annual Conference

Controversy: Civil War Interpretation in 2018 and Beyond By Doug Horhota

By Julia Kennedy

I have a confession to make – I love conferences.

So when I heard in Roanoke two years ago that VAM’s 2018 Annual Conference in Norfolk was the 50th Birthday Party, I was pumped.

Admittedly, conferences are long and exhausting; they also are equally as exciting and inspiring. I adore time to focus on my field, my people, and my career – and to me, this all culminates at conferences.

I work for Museum Hack, a renegade tour and museum consulting company. We are some of the most enthusiastic museum nerds you’ll meet. This year Museum Hack was invited to come keynote to think about what the next 50 years in the museum field might look like. Between my colleague Dustin Growick and I, we participated in as much of the conference as we could.

Here’s some highlights from VAM’s Annual Conference Beyond Best Practices: Using Social Media Creatively – First up, I loved teaming up with some of my favorite #MuseSocial-ers, Jenna Dill from the Mariner’s Museum & Park, and Liz Williams from Gadsby’s Tavern Museum.

I didn’t want this session to be a standard Social Media 101. Instead, we focused on three case studies to show off creative use of three different social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Then we turned it over to the audience for an activity to get them thinking about how to strategically and creatively use social media at their own sites.

After all, social media has the word social in it for a reason, right? The goal of the session was to think about each museum’s collection and strengths, and pair it to an appropriate platform to reach its audience in a new way. Social media is also an awesome way to stay in touch with your fellow museums, build relationships, and keep important conversations going.

Pop Up: The State of EMPs – I’m fortunate enough to have connected with some amazing, passionate people that are the founding members of the new Virginia EMP (Emerging Museum Professional) Chapter in a short pop-up session to discuss the state of EMPs. The bulk of the session centered around an open forum for dialogue and discussion over what is missing in resources for EMPs. One interesting idea that came out of the session was the concept of flipping the script and asking what it means for an institution or association to be EMP-Friendly. Job listings and all kinds of resources can contribute to the idea that an organization is committed to sustainable careers and a fair and diverse pipeline of candidates. At Museum Hack, we’ve already

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made the commitment on our job listing site, Museum.Jobs, to uphold this set of standards. These include paid internships, defined years of experience required, and anticipated hiring range. We believe there needs to be more transparency for job seekers, and a responsibility on employers to fairly advertise their openings.

Looking Towards the Future – My colleague Dustin Growick is a Senior Creative Consultant and Team Lead for Science at Museum Hack, and he was excited by the chance to think about what comes next for the museum field. The 50 Forward conference theme challenged us and attendees to predict what museum best practices will be like heading into the next 50 years of museums. What will the actual future of museums look like in 2060?

No one can can’t predict that, but Dustin inspired us to be the movers and shakers in our institution by starting to enact change and not just talking about it.

We’re obsessed with the live experience at Museum Hack, so, of course, our keynotes are no different. We’ll get you out of your seat to model out our best practices and VAM attendees were no exception. In fact, they looked pretty good!

These moments made VAM’s Annual Conference so impactful and inspiring to me. Conferences provide a unique platform to share ideas, engage in dialogue, and meet amazing colleagues. There’s still a ton of work to do for the rest of this year, but I’m already looking forward to what awaits VAM attendees and me in Lynchburg. d

On August 13th, 2017, the events which occurred in Charlottesville, Va. grabbed the nation’s attention.

to guide the conversation; it was my primary task to allow the attendees the opportunity to speak and share.

While there have been arguments, protests, and killings for the past 150+ years since the Civil War ended regarding the “proper” interpretation of the era, seeing marchers with torches, chanting Neo-Nazi slogans, and three dead in the ensuing violence was a wake-up call unlike any seen in decades. While not present at the events last August, I was quickly on the front lines of the controversy.

It didn’t take long to realize the session was cathartic for many. The opportunity to share the experiences of last August, especially those attendees from Charlottesville, provided an opportunity to release strong emotions. I learned that referring to the event by the place, as most people do, particularly the national media, is a disservice to the community where it occurred. Within minutes of beginning the hour forum, we were all referring to it as August 13th, and this article will be the last time I use the place name. The session shared how we can move forward and what our role as educators should be utilizing the trust held by the general public toward museums.

Every year the City of Manassas holds a Civil War Weekend commemorating the events that occurred in the immediate vicinity a century and a half ago. The event features all aspects of the conflict including the causes and aftermath of the war. Two major battles were fought in Manassas, but we also have shared with our visitors all aspects from logistics to Presidents and from medicine to music. Since the war’s conclusion, commemorations have been held in Manassas to bring together former foes from the Blue and the Gray. The first major commemoration, the Peace Jubilee, was held in 1911. Manassas is very proud of the rebuilding efforts its citizens took after the war to built this community regardless of their state allegiance. (In the interest of full disclosure, I was born and raised in New Jersey.)

Our Civil War Weekend in 2017 was scheduled to be held less than two weeks after the riots. As many other organizations and communities chose to do in the ensuing weeks, exercising discretion was the correct path to follow. Though disappointing, the City chose to cancel the weekend’s activities to allow time to heal the rift caused by this latest controversy. However, as the Programs Coordinator for Manassas, whose responsibility it is to organize and oversee the Civil War activities annually, it left me in a quandary.

This was not the first time a national event caused such trepidation.

Dylan Roof’s horrific crime of shooting church parishioners in South Carolina in 2014 and the photograph of him draped in a Confederate Battle Flag caused consternation, but that event happened with a greater time lag that allowed Manassas to prepare and go forward with the event in 2014. What would the events of last August mean going forward? Should museums and communities plan events regarding controversial history and rely on hope that nothing controversial happened? Where does it end?

History IS controversial and whether it is the American Civil War, the bombing of Hiroshima, or the decimation of Native populations throughout the world, we can’t and shouldn’t shy away from our primary role as educators.

When you may not know the answer to questions, as was the case with me last summer and fall, one way to find them is to seek out others and get their input. Of course I was not alone. Many communities and museums are struggling with what to do. As is often the case, one conversation leads to another and I was asked to have a conversation at the recent Virginia Association of Museums (VAM) conference this past March. Going in I knew one thing, having a moderator was imperative

It doesn’t take much thought to see that the events of August 13th were in part a result of a disengaged audience unfamiliar with our shared history. The controversies regarding statues and the legacy of the Confederacy in our national conscience are strong. Despite attempts to counter the historical arguments revolving around whether the war was about slavery and whether there was an economic or racial component, the fact remains it was about slavery. However, it should not be overlooked that the Union also committed horrific acts during the conflict and those have not gotten the attention they deserve.

As the session wrapped up, the comments were all positive. While some expressed their thanks for the healing aspects of talking about August 13th and how they impact our profession, others left with a desire to continue the conversation and establish a partnership regarding Civil War interpretation. A number of ideas have been shared about how we can best prepare ourselves and our organizations for future Civil War events including finding re-enactors, sharing safety procedures, addressing generational and regional differences in how the era is perceived, and integrating our organizations so we can adopt a cohesive storyline that provides a larger scope of information for the general public.

One thing was unanimous. While tragic and dangerous, this moment in history is an OPPORTUNITY for educators to step into a breach to inform and increase the discussion and not to sweep history under the rug. For those of us who know it so well, please read Freeman Tilden’s six principles – again.

In looking at the last 8 months and reflecting on my knowledge and the input of countless others, I think the only way to move forward as a society and as a nation is to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard and shared regarding controversies such as those revolving around the Civil War. This is our task, what we must strive to do day-in and day-out: tell the full, complete, unadulterated story.

We are just getting started. I look forward to hearing from you and exploring ways we can work together to educate the public about controversial topics in history. d Doug Horhota is the Programs Coordinator for the City of Manassas.

He can be reached at dhorhota@manassasva.gov or 703-257-8265.

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Member Perspective An EMP’s First VAM Conference Experience By Chelsea Kashani I was thrilled to see how many of the sessions applied to our museum, The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design, this past December when I reviewed the Virginia Association of Museum’s Annual conference program. Designed by noted architect, John Russell Pope, our museum is housed in historic Branch House at 2501 Monument Avenue in Richmond and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Our mission is to elevate awareness of the transformative power of architecture and design throughout Virginia and we do this through exhibits, lectures, and educational programming.

This summer 2018 we are hosting our first Branch Architecture Camp.

This week-long program immerses campers in the world of architecture and design. The city is their workshop as they visit architectural landmarks old and new, meet architects and designers, learn technical skills, and participate in hands-on building challenges. Implementing a new program, especially one where you are in charge of children for 5 days can easily be intimidating. Do we provide lunch? What are some relatively inexpensive options to market our camp? How much do we charge for a week of camp?

When I saw the Education Vacation: How to Start a Summer Camp at Your Museum session I knew we had to send a representative from our museum to participate in the conference. The session was EXACTLY what we needed, and I could tell by the number of people participating in the session that there was a need for something like this in the museum community. I came with a list of questions from our program coordinator at The Branch and left with answers and other ideas we could utilize for our camp. The willingness of the presenters to give guidance and advice on the “dos” and “don’ts” of summer camps included sharing their own handouts, tools, and curriculum ideas. It was a tremendous help.

and I am already using ideas from this session at the museum. Some of the greatest ideas that I will implement included looking for reader rail tables at IKEA, and this magnificent inexpensive poster making tool called posterninja.com by Keith Fabry (which I have since used).

During the conference I planned for some “unplanned time” and wanted to avoid cramming my schedule. I’ve been to conferences where I have planned excessively and this gave me an opportunity to mingle in the Exhibit Hall and check out the silent auction. Meeting other museum professionals at the Opening Reception and the Birthday Bash gave me a great opportunity to introduce our museum to people who have never heard of The Branch before and when I started talking about our upcoming Architecture Camp many people enthusiastically handed over their business cards and generously offered any assistance they could give.

Overall, it’s wonderful to have a group of colleagues that I can reach out to with questions or if I am needing guidance. This was a very valuable experience for our museum. Thanks VAM, and see you in Lynchburg! d

Chelsea Kashani is the Development and Membership Manager for The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design. She can be reached at ckashani@branchmuseum.org.

The large conference program was balanced to accommodate the many different types of museum professional jobs from development, education, visitor services, preservation, programming, human resources, and building and grounds. There is a little bit for everyone! I often found myself having to pick between two sessions at the same time.

As the Development and Membership Manager of The Branch I attended the Creative Donor Cultivation session with The Curtis Group and left with some inventive tips to use in my day-to-day development operations. It was also eye-opening see examples of how creative donor cultivation worked on a large scale with organizations like Norfolk Botanical Garden, Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, and Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center.

Additionally, I used the breadth of session topics as an opportunity to broaden my horizons and attended sessions that fall outside of my job description. For example, I attended the Amazing Exhibits with Little Money and Barely and Space and discovered some great ways to make exhibits happen with a limited budget. Space at The Branch is not necessarily a problem for us, our small museum is housed in a 27,000 square foot building, but exhibits with a limited budget is really why I attended this session

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Flat Files

Member Perspective An AMP’s Thoughts on the VAM Conference Experience By Jeanne Niccolls This VAM conference was the best conference ever!

I know I say that every year–and as an AMP, I’ve been to many–but really the 2018 event was amazing! All of the sessions I went to were just excellent, and during the breaks I kept hearing people around me saying the same thing about sessions they had attended. I went to several sessions on collections of course, and especially found the discussion on Government Collections Conundrums fruitful. Changing gears for me, I went to Measuring What Matters and came away with useful information to take back to a local arts organization where I’m a board member.

One thing I’ve noticed over the years is how the sessions have changed to include non-traditional formats. Also, the topics are more universally applicable to art and science museums as well as history museums and historic sites.

The best part of the VAM conference for me–always–is seeing friends and colleagues from across the state that I’ve gotten to know over the years. I met them through serving on a VAM committee or on Council, presenting sessions and workshops together, volunteering at the conference, and during the Circuit Riders project. So, even though I’ve been retired from a full-time museum job for a while now, I’m always amazed at the number of people I know and run into over the course of the conference.

That includes some of the exhibitors.

They’re an important part of the VAM community and some of them have become old friends. I enjoyed catching up with Betty Jo Kaveny from Blair and talking about her travels. I always look to see what new gorgeous jacket Abby Show from Hollinger Metal Edge is wearing. And, yes, I also checked out new products and services useful for small museums, especially any new collections and exhibit programs. Our field has really changed. I used to marvel at all the “new” printed graphics and exhibit furniture displays.

Now there are so many wonderful ways to exhibit collections digitally and online using technology like touchscreens and 3D imaging, etc.

But what was especially gratifying to me as an AMP was to see all the EMPs taking part in sessions, volunteering, and attending the receptions. I connected with a few them I met last year or worked with in past years during the conference and on the program committee. But I have to say it was something of a surprise on that miserable sleety

night after that lovely event at the Chrysler, sloshing along the streets to the Barrel Room, wondering if anyone would be there, then opening the door and seeing a big group of EMPs talking shop, laughing, drinking, and getting to know one another and us AMPers. It’s been so much fun and so invigorating to meet the new faces and future of VAM. As always, the Hospitality Suite was a good place to run into people I hadn’t seen yet. Rich and Sherri from Cinebar Productions have been hosting this event and serving as bartenders for I don’t know how many years, giving everyone an opportunity to get together and wind down from the day. This year it was in a very small room, the smallest one I can remember! It reminded me of that old joke: How many people can you fit into a VW bug? How many VAM members can you get into one tiny hotel room? The answer is a lot, and they still have a blast! Thank you so much, Sherri and Rich!

I enjoyed listening to our keynote speaker, Dustin Growick, from Museum Hack. I thought he was entertaining and energetic, and he addressed one of the big issues for museums today: how to attract young adult and millennial audiences. I did wonder though how his suggestions might be adapted and used by small museums, historical societies, and house museums (someone asked him about this and it seemed to me his answer was somewhat cursory). But I found his overall message inspiring: be creative about what you have to offer and expand your horizons in thinking about different kinds of programs.

I’m grateful for getting a few quiet minutes to reminisce with Margo Carlock about some of our more memorable VAM moments, like Fundamentals Forum, the Connecting to Collections initiative that spawned Top Ten and Circuit Riders, and highlights from past conferences. I have to thank Margo, Jennifer, and Christine for letting me be part of these great programs.

As an AMP, staying involved in museums has become increasingly important to me.

At the close of the business luncheon, Rich and Sherri’s VAM anniversary video literally brought tears to my eyes. VAM isn’t just the place to call for help or to come to for professional programs and resources.

It isn’t just the organization that advocates for museums in Virginia or that has great conferences with fun events. We can be proud of all that VAM has accomplished over the past decades. But above all, the video reminded me that VAM is a community, and I feel very fortunate to be a part of it. d

Jeanne Niccolls is a retired museum professional who served as a collections manager. She is now a valued member of VAM’s Advising Member Panel.

Spring/Summer 2018

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Asking the Experts

A Followup with a VAM Affiliate Vendor

By Jonathan Tunner, Realtime Accounting Solutions My friends tell me I have the gift of gab. My partner accuses me of being a depression-era “carnie” capable of selling the most boring of things to the weary masses. He says • “Yup, I can see it now – a carnival set up just outside a north • Texas town. Dusty, hot, land so flat you could watch your dog run away. For a week! Waiting for evening to come so you can sell hopes and dreams for just a nickel to hard working folk eager to part ways with their money for a momentary respite from the dust bowl landscape.” Sigh. How romantic. Thanks, John!

Well, the recent VAM conference in Norfolk, Va. was a far cry from that scene, but it was, in its own way, a carnival with exhibitors lining up taking stock of the landscape. Where will our booth be? What sort of intro line should we use to get them to our booth? Are we wearing the right clothing? Pre-game nerves. Nope, be confident Jonathan, you and John are good at what you do! Sweaters with leather elbow patches, some swag to use as distractors while “picking the pockets” for intel, some promotional pins and buttons to disarm even the most wary of executive directors. Oh, and of course the ringer–a framed, dried out frog licked by Henry Ford on a double-dog dare by his cousin. No, really. eBay. The carnival was alive with noises and commotion. We waited for our chance and were able to separate out a young archivist from the rest of the herd.

Us: “Hi.” Her: “Um, hi.”

] . [Agreed nd funny a l o o c their PA’s are ggle with e u tr I think C s ts fi t non-pro stems because th now tha ng sy time. A I didn’t k d reporti the first n y a tl c g e n rr ti co getting accoun ot set up resolved by just n s a w re be stems. softwa ues could g accounting sy s is f o r e numb f existin inlity out o by mainta d e s u a c better uti e . Simple ity can b complex chart of accounts g n ti n u plex • Acco verly com ing and o ting is better. mine exis insights to re a w lytics soft to amazing new ology to zing ana ethod an lead • Utili a great m holders. fit data c is ro o -p ls n a o n ke s. It ortunitie to Boards and sta and opp g n ti r mbers n repo nthly nu o tuse whe m te ra n drama ccu geting, a ancials cuts dow riting d u b s u ro rant w mely fin • Rigo aration, g ance of ti and issu adaches, tax prep he ically on ng. tell ll reporti ra e ll going to v ti s m and o a I n-profits fake, but frog was ys really know no e th for all w o ou gu resource y • I kn o t -t a o th g s a d g to be my frien ays willin lw a re a d an mbers.

VAM me

Accounting, payroll, and reporting: it’s all a pain.

Us: “How are you?”

Her: “Ok.” Silence. She looked at her shoes to avoid eye contact. She was confused. Sweaters with elbow patches. Smiles. But something was wrong. Senses reeling.

If you have any questions and are suffering, give us a call.

We are always happy to help VAM members just because, and who knows –

maybe you will come to love us, too.

Oh, no! Separated and alone with CPAs! We had to put her at ease or she would spook.

“Do you like history?” (the oldest pick up line in the book.

Works every time, 60% of the time.)

“Well, yes I do.”

d

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And the rest is history.

Email: info@rta-solutions.com

Yes, she survived her encounter with the CPAs and learned some good lessons. She wrote us a letter the following week, stained with tears of gratitude, which is summarized as follows:

Office is open: 8:30am - 5pm, Monday through Friday

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Member Meet & Greet Howdy! I’m Cameron Patterson Managing Director Robert Russa Moton Museum in Farmville, VA The best part of my job is:

Being a caretaker for such an important story in my community and our nation.

Also working alongside those whose stories we tell at the museum.

I have participated in these VAM activities: The 2018 VAM Advocacy Day and the 2018 VAM Conference as a presenter with my colleagues. I hope to become involved in the planning for the VAM 2019 conference.

I enjoy being a VAM member because: VAM provides a wonderful opportunity to network and stay current with best practices in the museum profession.

What I do when I’m not at work:

You can find me after work sitting with friends at the Catbird Rooftop Terrace which recently opened in the newly renovated Historic Hotel Weyanoke. The environment is so relaxing and the view is the best in Farmville!

What I’m currently listening to: The Hamilton Mixtape Album.

My favorite quote:

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

Community Involvement:

Farmville Area Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Farmville, Farmville Lions Club, and the Farmville Jaycees.

Who I follow on Twitter:

I follow a ton of news outlets for my daily dose of sports and political action.

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Blast from the Past

Handcrafting VAM’s Conference

By Christina Newton

What does it take to bring a conference together? Well, I

thought I knew. I’d planned all types of events before working with VAM. Exhibitions, performances, street festivals, fundraisers, and receptions are no match for all the details and logistics that make up meeting planning. (Did you know that you can have an event in a meeting, but not a meeting in an event? Me either.) But that’s a detail of meeting planning of which I now have under my belt. So I thought I’d share a little insight into what it takes to pull VAM’s annual meeting together.

We start thinking about where we might hold a conference about three years in advance, taking into consideration locations around the Commonwealth that feature hotels large enough to offer meeting space and accommodations for our large number of guests and vendors. It’s been a tried and true system since VAM started hosting conferences in 1976. But these requirements limit our options, so we’re going to try something new and experiment with a “citywide” setting and spread the meeting spaces and accommodations across multiple venues when we’re in Lynchburg next year. While our typical conference features “off-site” locations for special activities, this new format will highlight a number of venues in downtown Lynchburg’s walkable district.

While contracts are usually signed over a year in advance for a conference hotel, the real dive into logistics starts almost immediately after we put a conference to bed.

The educational program and local arrangements committees are formed in June, and discussions are underway for potential events. The request for proposals is out in July and sessions are selected in August.

So we’ve made great headway by the end of summer thanks to the work of the committee volunteers and host venues. Over the fall, you may not hear as much about the conference but work is feverishly taking place in the office to reach out to potential vendors and sponsors, and communicate with session presenters and local arrangements committee to confirm details for the program and events so we’re read to announce the preliminary schedule and open registration in December.

By the first of the year, things really ramp up on event and meeting planning.

Whether we’re processing registrations, soliciting and scheduling volunteers, ordering supplies, making final edits to the conference program, or working with the planning committees and host sites to finalize catering orders and transportation needs, we’re full-steam-ahead on conference planning January through March.

You can get in on the planning too by keeping an eye out for upcoming opportunities to take part, such as submitting a session proposal, nominating someone for an annual award, applying for a scholarship or to volunteer, or simply by saving the date to join us for #VAM2019 in Lynchburg, Virginia on March 23-26, 2019! d

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Member Spotlight

Red Hill, The Patrick Henry Memorial

By Myra Trent

Do you want to get off of the interstate and just get away for a day or two? Do you want to take a drive away from the hustle and bustle, spend a day with your family or friends, learn something you never knew and not spend a fortune? If so, drive 45 minutes south of Lynchburg (no interstates here) where you will find a hidden gem – it’s actually a national memorial – where the modern world fades away (and sometimes cell phone service, too).

The place you are looking for is Patrick Henry’s Red Hill.

We are in Campbell County and Charlotte County and just across the river from Halifax County. We claim them all and they claim us!

The beauty that surrounds Red Hill will still your heart and take your breath away all at the same time. Patrick Henry referred to Red Hill as the “garden spot of the world.” Red Hill sits on over 600 acres of Henry’s original 2,950 acres. This is where Patrick Henry lived the last five years of his life, where two of his seventeen children were born, and where Henry is buried. Here at Red Hill, we tell Henry’s life story from birth to death. Red Hill, the Patrick Henry National Memorial is a non-profit organization full of a passion that reflects that of the man whose legacy we strive to safeguard for future generations.

On a typical day you will be welcomed and taken into our Visitor Orientation Room where you learn about Patrick’s family and the history of Red Hill from the time Patrick bought it until present day. You are encouraged to watch our recently produced orientation film (about 14 minutes) to learn more about the “Voice of the Revolution,” America’s patriot and Virginia’s first elected governor (Henry served 5 terms as the Governor of Virginia).

After the film, we encourage everyone to go explore the grounds and buildings on a self-guided walking tour with the Red Hill Visitor Guide. Along the way you will see our national champion Osage Orange tree. This tree is over 340

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years old and is the largest of its species in North America. Most of the buildings on the grounds are reproductions (Henry’s original house burned in 1919), however Henry’s original law office is still here and interpreted. The family graveyard is where many people reflect on everything they have just learned about Patrick Henry and his family. Walking back up the pebble path to the Visitor Center we notice that people’s “hurry up” walking pace has turned into a slow stroll. Back at the Visitor Center go into the museum to see a truly remarkable collection of Patrick Henry artifacts. The museum also houses Peter Rothermel’s original 1851 painting of Patrick Henry giving his speech against the Stamp Act in 1765. After the museum there is shopping, including books, toys, locally made pottery, Red Hill items (including Red Hill wine) and Patrick Henry boxwoods.

It is common to find non-profit organizations with their eyes fixated forward, but when was the last time you visited a non-profit and saw a legacy more clearly than the time you were standing in? While Patrick Henry’s Red Hill is certainly future-minded in our educational programming and visitor experience, visiting the grounds gives visitors a glimpse into the foundations of what would become The United States of America. Patrick Henry’s legacy permeates our foundation’s very core. His legacy is what Red Hill strives to protect and promote in our mission. In 1775, Patrick Henry stated, “I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past.” It is this resolve that drives our foundation to provide quality, low-cost educational programming to students, research and develop new scholarship, and provide visitors with an unforgettable look into the birth of our nation.

Because our educational opportunities are growing we are adding the new Eugene B. Casey Education and Event center. The grand opening will be in April of 2019, so stay tuned for updates.

The staff and numerous volunteers at Red Hill are passionate about learning. The Patrick Henry Auxiliary was created with children in mind. For over fifteen years, Campbell and Charlotte County schools have been able to bring their classes to Red Hill for a quality living history program free of charge. And those students who come from near and far with their classes for Living History pay only $3 per child.

Every student is able to engage in hands-on activities including spinning on a wheel and weaving on a loom, making pottery and ornaments, processing flax into usable fiber, helping to make nails in our blacksmith shop, playing colonial games, taking a grounds tour, and learning about colonial medicinal practices, among other stations. It is important to us to offer this type of programing and to never deny any school access to a field trip to Red Hill.

For high school students, Red Hill provides scholarships in the category of Original Oratory at the National Speech and Debate Tournament each year. This is just another way for us to advance the legacy of Patrick Henry as “the Voice of the Revolution” and encourage students to further their education.

Everything Red Hill does revolves around education, including our annual events.

For thirteen years we have had a Naturalization Ceremony. On that very special day we having living history programs going on for the new citizens and their families to take part in.

July 4th has been a tradition for over forty years now. This is a day full of living history, music, family fun, patriotism, Patrick Henry (Patrick Henry’s fifth great grandson) giving the entire Liberty or Death speech and reading the Declaration of Independence AND a 20 minute fireworks show to end the evening.

Join us in Lynchburg!

March 23-26, 2019

On the first Saturday in November we have the Bluegrass, Barbecue & Brew Festival, this is an awesome day at Red Hill! Patrick did play the fiddle–so we listen to bluegrass; he hired a Scotch brewer to make a small beer while governor of Virginia–so we have Virginia craft beer; in the 18th century smoked meat was very common in southern Virginia–so we have barbecue! Jump ahead one month and on the first Sunday in December we welcome everyone to our Christmas Open House. We have tours, music, colonial crafts, stew, cookies and hot apple cider served from the hearth kitchen. We also sell our beautiful handmade boxwood wreaths made by the Auxiliary members to help raise money for the student scholarships.

So what is it about this place that leaves such awe and wonder in the eyes of our visitors?

Come see it for yourself while you are in Lynchburg for the VAM 2019 Annual Conference !

#VAM2019

Point of Honor

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Moving Forward Engaging the Future with VAM, Your Museum Association By Dana Metheny The way I look at it, conferences are for celebrating each other as we all

hunger for shared knowledge and new insights that might help us do our jobs better.

Conferences are about the future and exist for us to forge forward with confidence and hope that we can make a difference for upcoming generations.

If, like me, you took a good look around at the VAM Annual Conference, you saw hundreds of dedicated museum professionals with happy, eager faces as they bustled from session to session and to and from the Exhibit Hall. The diversity of professional roles, the depth of knowledge, and the willingness, no, need to share was a testimony to the power of community. Our community. The energy was palpable. The camaraderie was uplifting. The mission was unanimous. The future of our museums looked bright.

Now you are facing a long but promising summer of programs, interpretations, exhibits, lectures, and just plain fun activities for families, all in the name of GUEST ENGAGEMENT. While you are planning for and actively delivering guest engagement opportunities, don’t forget all those people you met, listened to, and shared ideas with at the conference. They are still “there” next to you, working for the same outcomes overall, and still caring about the future of not only their museum, but yours, too. ENGAGE WITH THEM! As a member of VAM, you have year-long opportunities to share ideas and continue the conference discussions and collaborations with colleagues either in person at workshops, meetups, and committee meetings, or even writing for this VAM Voice magazine. You can engage with our great museum community via forums, blogs, social media (click the logos below), webinars, and professional online groups, like VAM’s LinkedIn Group where our conversation starters could grow into a full-fledged exchanges and offer us the next great insight or actionable idea.

That great Conference Engagement Feeling. Bring it home! Engagement is good for our museum guests and for us, too. It’s what we all need, even after the conference is over. d

Join and watch for upcoming conversations on VAM’s LinkedIn Group https://www.linkedin.com/groups/2040511

ENGAGE with VAM

Our Governing Council President, Gretchen Bulova VP, Planning & Resources, Rob Orrison VP, Member Engagement, Dana Puga Secretary, Paige Gibbons Backus Treasurer, Jeffrey Nichols Past President, Gary Sandling Ex-Officio Members, Jeffrey Allison, Matthew Gibson Directors Steven Blashfield Jamie Bosket Andrew Coulomb Karen L. Daly Jaime Fawcett Charles Grant Joe Keiper, Ph.D. Susan Leidy

John Long Robin von Seldeneck Margo Smith Nathan Stalvey Scott Stroh Vanessa Thaxton-Ward, Ph.D.

Sarah Whiting Eric S. Wilson

Our Staff Executive Director, Jennifer Thomas Assistant Director, Christina Newton Communications Coordinator, Dana Metheny Membership Coordinator, Vacant Accountant, Su Thongpan Our Contacts Phone: 804. 358.3170 Fax: 804. 358.3174 www.vamuseums.org Our Voice VAM Voice is published three times a year for our members. The editor encourages readers to submit article proposals. Contact the communications coordinator for more information.

Our News Deadlines Fall: August 1st Winter: December 1st Spring/Summer: April 1st Our Vision A united museum community inspiring the world around us.

Our Mission The Virginia Association of Museums helps our museum community succeed.

VAM needs your support to keep developing the programs and services that serve members so well.

Thank you!

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