VAM 2012 Conference Final Program

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Newport News • 2012 Annual Conference


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2012 Conference

V IRG INIA ASSOCIATION OF MUSE UMS

N E W P O RT NE W S

AT C IT Y C E NT E R

COVER IMAGE

Perspective map of Newport News, Va., county seat of Warwick County 1891. American Publishing Co. (Milwaukee, Wis.), 1891. Colored map, 43cm Ă— 86cm. Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress. LC-DIG-pm-009570 3


2012 Conference

V IRG INIA ASSOCIATION OF MUSE UMS

MEETING AT A GLANCE Saturday MARCH 17 11:30am– 5:00pm 1:00pm – 3:00pm 5:30pm – 7:00pm

Registration Floral Designs in a Green Way and Behind the Scenes at Hampton University Museum An Evening at Fort Monroe (Scholarship Reception)

Sunday MARCH 18 10:00am – 5:30pm 1:00pm – 4:30pm

Registration CEO Summit and Reception Workshops: Visitor Research and Evaluation that Makes a Difference Have No Fear: Exhibition Installation for Small Museums 1:00pm – 2:30pm Concurrent Sessions I: Casual Visitors, Exceptional Experiences Bringing History Alive: The Right Way to Include Films inYour Museum Reconnecting with Traditional Media 2:30pm – 3:00pm Afternoon Break in Exhibit Resource Hall 3:00pm – 4:30pm Concurrent Sessions II: Building a Membership Program From Scratch We The People Reflecting on Practice: A Professional Development Program for Informal Educators 4:30pm – 6:00pm Exhibit Resource Hall Welcome Reception 6:00pm – 8:30pm Cruising Through the Arts 9:30pm – ? Hospitality Suite

Monday MARCH 19 7:30am – 5:30pm 8:00am – 8:30am 8:30am – 10:30am

Registration Continental Breakfast Town Hall Meeting: Brave New World of Museums Business Meeting and Certificate Graduation 9:00am – 5:30pm Career Center Open 8:00am – 7:00pm Exhibit Resource Hall, Silent Auction and Wifi Café Open 10:30am – 11:30am Morning Coffee Break in the Exhibit Resource Hall 11:30am – 12:30pm Top Ten Sessions: Launching a New Museum The Use of Fiction and Art in Creating Museum Bag Programs The Top Ten and the Virginia Collections Initiative Career Planning for Emerging and Mid-Level Professionals Hear from the Institute of Museum and Library Services 12:30pm – 1:45pm Lunch with the Exhibitors and Affinity Roundtables

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VAM 2012 CONFERENCE • NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINA

Pearl Ballroom II Blue Point I Pearl Ballroom I Blue Point II Pearl Ballroom III

Pearl Ballroom I Ball Point II Pearl Ballroom III

Exhibit Resource Hall Pearl Ballroom

Blue Point I Pearl Ballroom I Pearl Ballroom II Pearl Ballroom III Blue Point II


2:00pm – 5:30pm

Workshops: Capital Campaigns: Build for Your Future Taking Down the Walls: Museum-based Programs for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Memory Loss 2:00pm – 3:30pm Concurrent Sessions III: The Benefits of Going Green: Sustainability and Museums Ready or Not… Money-Making in Museums: Where Educators Fit In 3:00pm – 4:00pm Afternoon Break in the Exhibit Resource Hall 4:00pm – 5:30pm Concurrent Sessions IV: Theft Prevention and Recovery The Little Museum That Could: How the Virginia Museum of Transportation Survived Analyzing Social Media Connections 5:30pm – 7:00pm Exhibit Resource Hall Closing Reception (and end of silent auction) 7:00pm – 9:30pm A Warwick Welcome

Pearl Ballroom I Pearl Ballroom II

Pearl Ballroom III Blue Point II Blue Point I

Blue Point I Blue Point II Pearl Ballroom III

Tuesday MARCH 20

7:45am – 8:30am VAM Second Annual 3K Circuit Walk 8:00am – 9:00am Certificate Student Breakfast 8:00am – 12:00pm Career Center Open 9:00am – 12:30pm Workshops:

Connecting Beyond the Walls with Videoconferencing You Are the Voice of Your Museum 9:00am – 10:30am Concurrent Sessions V: Dealing with Difficult Volunteers Conservation as a Public Draw Shrinking Budgets and Nowhere to Cut 9:30am – 1:00pm Silent Auction Item Pick Up 10:30am – 11:00am Coffee Break 11:00am – 12:30pm Concurrent Sessions VI: Collections Forum: Day to Day Collection Issues and Solutions Having a Management Plan Financial Roundtable/ Discussion

Off-Site Blue Point I Pearl Ballroom I Blue Point II Pearl Ballroom II

Pearl Ballroom I Blue Point II Pearl Ballroom II

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2012 Conference

V IRG INIA ASSOCIATION OF MUSE UMS

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EXHIBITORS Avitecture, Inc. Band NY, Inc. Blair, Inc. Bellfor Restoration Services Capitol Exhibit Services, Inc. Centennial Contractors Enterprises, Inc. Cinebar Productions, Inc. The Creative Company CuraTour Design 3 Design Masters The Design Minds, Inc. The Donning Company Publishers Dorfman Museum Figures, Inc. Douglas Mund Design Group EXPLUS, Inc. Gaylord Bros. GLASBAU HAHN America Glavé & Holmes Architecture Gropen, Inc. HealyKohler Design Highway Information Media LLC Hollinger Metal Edge Institute of Museum & Library Services Keith Fabry, Inc. Lionheart Filmworks Management Concepts

02 15 10 48 01 14 46 42 07 31 47 38 33 37 26 19 09 43 32 13 41 34 45 24 20 40 11

Markel Mark Lencke Fiduciary Consulting MBA Design & Display Products Corp. Museum Rails Museum Works National Trust Insurance Services OnCell Optima Health Peninsula Museum Forum Photoworks Creative Group Quatrefoil Associates, Inc. Re:discovery Software, Inc. Riggs Ward Design Rudinec & Associates – Request A Print Spacesaver Storage Solutions Stories Past Studio AMMONS Studio Displays, Inc. Stumpf & Associates, Inc. Tiffin Metal Products Tour-Mate Systems U.S. Art Company, Inc. Virginia Association of Museums Virginia Collections Initiative The Virginia Shop Worth Higgins & Associates

23 39 27 30 49 25 21 52 53 36 29 28 06 05 18 08 12 35 03 22 44 04 51 50 17 16

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Q: How Do You Define “Museum”?

A: Merriam-Webster: An institution devoted to the procurement, care, study, and display of objects of lasting interest and value Wikipedia: An institution that cares for artistic, cultural or historical artifacts and makes them available for public viewing The Curtis Group: An institution that preserves and celebrates art, history, science, or culture; a place that engages, entertains, educates, and enriches the lives of the community Since 1989, The Curtis Group has worked with a variety of museums across Virginia. We are a full-service fundraising consulting firm committed to promoting philanthropy by helping nonprofits plan their future, build awareness, and raise substantial amounts of money. The Curtis Group is the only Virginia-based member of the Giving Institute. At The Curtis Group, we define ourselves as a firm committed to the success of our clients. We can help you define your goals and then set out to achieve them… definitively.

757.496.2224 curtisgroupconsultants.com

info@curtisgroupconsultants.com

facebook.com/thecurtisgroup

twitter.com/thecurtisgroup


The Virginia Association of Museums would like to thank all of our sponsors and the following individuals who have contributed to the success of this conference.

CONFERENCE SPONSORS

Jeanne Niccolls

VAM COUNCIL

Blair, Inc

Rob Orrison, Prince William County Historic Preservation

President:

Cabot Creamery Cooperative Capitol Exhibit Services, Inc Cinebar Productions, Inc

Pam Pettengell, Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation

Joe Gutierrez, Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Vice President, Planning & Resources:

Sean Fearns, DEA Museum

The Creative Company

Joseph Rainer, TRADOC Military History Office

The Design Minds, Inc

Laura Roder

Tracy Gillespie, Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority

Donning Company Publishers

Barbara Rothermel, Daura Gallery, Lynchburg College

Secretary:

Dorfman Museum Figures Ecorite Imaging Glavé & Holmes Architecture HealyKohler Design Hollinger Metal Edge

Kyra Swanson, Washington & Lee Jennifer Tabor, Nauticus

Director, Central VA:

Markel Insurance

Co-Chairs

Melissa Mullins, Norfolk Botanical Garden Teri Toepke, College of William & Mary

Peninsula Museums Forum Riggs Ward Design

Bethany Austin, Hampton History Museum

Rudinec & Associates – Request A Print

Shelley Brooks, Visual Arts Center, TCC Olde Towne

St. George’s Brewery Studio AMMONS Stumpf & Associates, Inc VAM Council

Donna Davis, Newsome House Museum

Page Hayhurst, Virginia Living Museum Anna Holloway, Mariner’s Museum

Dina Linn, Army Transportation Museum

Director, Southwest & Blue Ridge:

Charlotte Whitted, Historic Crab Orchard Director, Southern:

April Cheek Messier, National D-Day Memorial Director Mountain & Valley:

Diane Dunkley, DAR Museum Director, Art:

Robin Nicholson, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Director, Historic House Museums/Sites:

Gary Sandling, Monticello Director, History:

Anna Holloway, Mariners Museum

Claire Samuelson, Casemate Museum

Director, Nature, Science & Planetaria:

Al Schweizer, Children’s Museum of Virginia

Tracy Gillespie, Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority

Sheri Shuckhall, Christopher Newport University

Conny Graft

Winter Smotherman-Rush, Casemate Museum

Colleen Higginbotham, Chrysler Museum of Art

Jennifer Turlington, Virginia Living Museum

Elizabeth Maurer, Re-Living History

Melanie Mathewes, Hermitage Museum and Gardens

Colin Romanick, Newport News

Steven Blashfield, Glavé & Holmes Associates

Jenee Lindner, Friends of Laura Ratcliffe

Director, Tidewater/Eastern Shore:

Director, District of Columbia:

Charlotte Klamer, Historic St. Luke’s Church

Meghan Kuhman, Portsmouth Museums

Gretchen Bulova, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum

Pat Gooch

Martha Katz-Hyman

Kris Iden, UVA Art Museum

Director, Northern VA:

Patrick Farris, Warren Heritage Society

Trish Balderson, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Barbara Batson, Library of Virginia

Norman Burns, Maymont Foundation

Alice French, Westmoreland County Museum

PROGRAM COMMITTEE

Bill Barker, Mariners Museum

Treasurer:

Al Schweizer, Children’s Museum of Virginia

Lynchburg College

Savant Ltd.

Barbara Batson, Library of Virginia

Jennifer Schero, Chrysler Museum of Art

LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS COMMITTEE

OnCell Systems

Vice-President, Programs:

Don Buma, Norfolk Botanical Garden

Director Specialized Audience Interests:

Lin Ezell, National Museum of the Marine Corps Director-at-Large:

Page Hayhurst, Virginia Living Museum Director-at-Large:

VAM STAFF

Cheryl Robinson, Legacy Museum of AfricanAmerican History

Margo Carlock, Executive Director

Past President:

Jennifer Weiskotten Thomas, Deputy Director

John Verrill

Christina Newton, Project Director, VCI Heather Widener, Communications Director Su Thongpan, Bookkeeper

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2012 Conference

V IRG INIA ASSOCIATION OF MUSE UMS

LAUNCHING NEW 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!


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!

Visit our Career Center! The Career Center is located next to the Registration Desk this year, and will be open Sunday afternoon, all day Monday, and Tuesday morning. Visit the Career Center to find resume and interview tips, meet up with your Resume Reviewer, or find our job board.

The Virginia Collections Initiative The VCI will have its own booth at the conference this year, so drop by to hear about some of the exciting programs that are a part of this program. The booth will be in the pre-function area of the exhibit hall, near the VAM booth.

SPONSORED BY THE MUSEUMS STUDIES PROGRAM AT LUNCHBURG COLLEGE

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VAM 2012 CONFERENCE • NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINA


SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012 11:30am – 5:00pm Registration is Open 1:00pm – 3:00pm Floral Designs in a Green Way!

or surprising successes they are experiencing in a facilitated discussion. And over cocktails, everyone’s assignment is to engage with his/her colleagues and discuss at least one “winner” idea that came up during the session--remember, we want to keep this session positive! Come prepared to add your problems and successes to the flip charts. SPONSORED BY GLAVÉ & HOLMES ARCHITECTURE.

PREREGISTRATION EXTRA FEE OF $25 REQUIRED. BUS WILL LEAVE FROM PEARL BALLROOM ENTRANCE.

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.

Behind the Scenes at the Hampton University Museum PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED. BUS WILL LEAVE FROM PEARL BALLROOM ENTRANCE.

5:30pm – 7:00pm Scholarship Fundraiser: An Evening at Fort Monroe PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED.

1:00pm WORKSHOPS

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

WE WILL CARPOOL TO FORT MONROE. PLEASE MEET IN THE HOTEL LOBBY.

ROOM: PEARL BALLROOM II

SPONSORED BY CABOT CREAMERY COOPERATIVE AND ST. GEORGE’S BREWERY.

10:00am – 12:00pm VAM Council Meeting

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.

ROOM: PEARL BALLROOM II

IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THIS WORKSHOP, PLEASE DO PLAN TO ATTEND THE ENTIRE WORKSHOP.

1:00pm – 4:30pm 2012 CEO Summit: Managing Positive Change in a Not-So Positive Time

Have No Fear: Exhibition Installation for Small Museums

SUNDAY MARCH 18, 2012 10:00am – 5:30pm Registration is Open

PREREGISTRATION AND EXTRA FEE REQUIRED. THIS PROGRAM WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE VIRGINIA LIVING MUSEUM. VANS WILL DEPART FROM THE MAIN LOBBY OF THE MUSEUM.

Since 2008, museums have faced the increased challenges of the economy. The down-turn has had an impact on donor contributions, the availability of grants, and support at the local, state, and Federal levels, and it has spawned new or proposed legislation that threatens museums’ economic health. How do museum leaders manage change in the face of so much bad news and maintain a positive attitude and a positive spin? Join Lin Ezell, Director at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, and Ron Axelrod, leadership instructor from Management Concepts, as they lead CEOs from VAM’s member museums in a discussion of what works and what doesn’t. Ron will lead the group in a review of the basics of how to lead dynamic organizations during times of duress and change. Most importantly, we will want to hear from the attendees about especially knotty problems

ROOM: BLUE POINT I

Speakers: Scott Scholz, Museum Curator, Dumbarton House; Lindsay Borst, Independent Museum Professional; Dale Kostelny, Exhibit Preparator, Virginia Historical Society. 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 concern 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 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.

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Museum Planning Exhibition Design Media Design Environmental Graphics 301.466.1741

th@healykohler.com

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VAM 2012 CONFERENCE • NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINA

www.healykohler.com


1:00pm – 2:30pm CONCURRENT SESSIONS I

Casual Visitors Exceptional Experiences ROOM: PEARL BALLROOM I

Speakers: Colleen Higginbotham, Director of Visitor Services, Chrysler Museum of Art; Camilla Clough, Public Program Producer, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History; Mary K. Macko, Daily Programs Floor Manager, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History Many institutions focus a lot of time preparing for planned groups of visitors (guided tours, programs with pre-registration, etc.), but what about the family, couple or individual that walks through your door on their own? How can we prepare for these visitors if we don’t know exactly who they will be? Can we use our staff and volunteers in a different way? What kind of engaging activities can we offer beyond a highlights tour? This session will concentrate on the visitor experience, including identifying and preparing for various types of visitors, retraining your staff and volunteers, providing a variety of experiences, and evaluating the experience of your visitors to consistently improve.

Bringing History Alive: The Right Way to Include Films in Your Museum ROOM: BLUE POINT II

Speakers: Kevin Hershberger, Director/ Producer, Lionheart Films; John Pagano, Historical Interpretation Supervisor, Henricus Historical Park; ; Steven Lyons,Free-lance Director & Director of Photography; Mark Remes, Executive Producer, BES Studios. Integrating the latest HD and interactive museum film and audiovideo 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 Media ROOM: PEARL BALLROOM III

Speakers: Kathryn Fisher, Executive Director, Old Coast Guard Station; David Schleck, Beacon Editor, The Virginian Pilot;.; Winette Jeffrey, Public Relations. Younger generations flock to social media, but traditional media is still integral to the publicity plan for any museum. Developing a good relationship with local media sources (newspaper, television, etc.) is key. In this session, experts from the media field and museum public relations will discuss how to cultivate that relationship and give insight to the actuality they deal with on a daily basis as opposed to unrealistic expectations. We will cover top Do & Don’t suggestions for writing a press release, how to make a good experience for a reporter, and how to always be ready when the press call upon you unexpectedly. Q&A encouraged!

2:30pm – 3:00pm Sneak Peek Coffee Break in the Exhibit Resource Hall GRAND BALLROOM

SPONSORED BY DORFMAN MUSEUM FIGURES

New this year: The WiFi Café

JOIN US IN THE EXHIBIT HALL THROUGHOUT THE CONFERENCE FOR OUR WIFI CAFÉ. THE CAFÉ IS THE PERFECT PLACE TO CHECK EMAIL, OR JUST SIT AND CHAT WITH COLLEAGUES AND EXHIBITORS. THE CAFÉ WILL BE OPEN THE SAME HOURS AS THE EXHIBIT HALL. SPONSORED BY CAPITOL EXHIBIT SERVICES, INC.

3:00pm – 4:30pm CONCURRENT SESSIONS II

Building a Membership Program from Scratch ROOM: PEARL BALLROOM I

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 to create a friendraising atmosphere and a discussion of the support needed to satisfy the program- donor databases, membership cards, online membership, etc.

We The People ROOM: BLUE POINT II

Speakers: Dr. Ted McCord, Professor, George Mason University; Jenee Lindner, history consultant; Catherine Slusser, Virginia Department of Historic Resources; Dottie O’Rourke, advocate. 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 Educators ROOM: PEARL BALLROOM III

Speakers: Karen Burns, Education Specialist, Virginia Aquarium; Cari Paulenich,Gallery Educator, Virginia Aquarium. From novice to expert, informal education practitioners typically have limited opportunities to reflect effectively 15


to intentions to thoughts to threads to water to tales

to space to light

to hearts

to dreams

to aspirations

to you.

Interpretive Planning historic preservation exhibit design architecture wayfinding graphics maps web

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VAM 2012 CONFERENCE • NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINA


upon their practice as a means to inform and improve their communication skills. Reflecting on Practice is a wholedepartment 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.

MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012 7:30am – 5:30pm Registration Open 8:00am – 8:30am Continental Breakfast in the Exhibit Resource Hall GRAND BALLROOM

8:30am – 10:30am VAM Town Hall: Brave New World of Museums PEARL BALLROOM BUSINESS MEETING AND CERTIFICATE GRADUATION

6:00pm Evening Event: Cruising Through the Arts

Town Hall Speakers: Mark Howell, Moderator; James Chung, Reach Advisors; William Hennessey, Museum Director, Chrysler Museum of Art. 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 also the audience in a freewheeling talk show format.

PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED BUSES WILL DEPART FROM THE PEARL BALLROOM ENTRANCE.

SPONSORED BY STUMPF & ASSOCIATES, INC

4:30pm Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Resource Hall GRAND BALLROOM

SPONSORED BY SAVANT LTD.

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.

9:30pm Hospitality Suite

10:30am Morning Coffee Break in the Exhibit Resource Hall GRAND BALLROOM

SPONSORED BY STUDIO AMMONS

11:30am TOP TEN SESSIONS

Launching a New Museum

ROOM #1034

ROOM: BLUE POINT I

SPONSORED BY CINEBAR PRODUCTIONS, INC

Speakers: 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.

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The Use of Fiction and Art in Creating Museum Bag Programs ROOM: PEARL BALLROOM I

Speakers: Emily Kilgore, Educator, Children’s Museum of Virginia; Educators, Portsmouth Museums. This is an interactive discussion about enhancing the visitor experience of the history and art divisions of the Portsmouth Museums. You will explore contents of our free-to-borrow “Museum Bags,” the process on how and why they were created, and how they bring a hands-on element to museums that are mainly text or visually based. You are encouraged to discuss other types of interactive, self guided interpretation as well as provide feedback on the Museum bags and your own experiences.

The Top Ten and the Virginia Collections Initiative ROOM: PEARL BALLROOM II

Speakers: Christina Newton, Project Director, Virginia Collections Initiative; Heather Widener, Communications Director, Virginia Association of Museums. Come hear about VAM’s new Top Ten Endangered Artifacts program. Staff will review the first year of the program, including challenges and benefits for the nominees and winners, and talk about how your museum can participate in 2012.

Career Planning for Emerging and Mid-Level Professionals

insights on its new strategic plan and anticipated changes in museum funding programs for 2013, encouraging dialogue with the audience to foster a greater understanding of what it takes to submit a successful application to these competitive funding opportunities.

12:30pm Lunch in the Exhibit Resource Hall and Affinity Lunches GRAND BALLROOM

A “dine-around” lunch will be served at stations in the Exhibit Resource Hall. Several groups will be meeting in affinity roundtables during lunch. All affinity tables will be set up in the conference rotunda. Groups with affinity tables: • MEST Members (any MEST in the state welcome!) • Technical Assistance Committee • Peninsula Museums Forum and South Hampton Roads Museums Forum

2:00pm WORKSHOPS

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 Future

ROOM: PEARL BALLROOM III

ROOM: PEARL BALLROOM I

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.

Speakers: 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.

RUBRICS WILL BE PROVIDED.

Hear from the Institute of Museum and Library Services ROOM: BLUE POINT II

Speaker:Steven Shwartzman, Senior Program Officer, Institute of Museum and Library Services. The Institute of Museum and Library Services has adopted a new mission, vision, and strategic plan that will support its continuing efforts to assist museums in meeting the needs of their communities. IMLS grants advance the museum field by funding successful projects, ranging from professional development to conservation and to educational programming, in a wide variety of museums. IMLS will share

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VAM 2012 CONFERENCE • NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINA


Taking Down the Walls: Museum-based Programs for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Memory Loss ROOM: PEARL BALLROOM II

Speakers: 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 or memory loss. 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 changed our understanding of the ways these adults 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.

2:00pm - 3:30pm CONCURRENT SESSIONS III

The Benefits of Going Green: Sustainability and Museums ROOM: PEARL BALLROOM III

Speakers: Steven Blashfield, Director of Cultural Studio, Glave & Holmes Associates; Melanie Mathewes, Executive Director, Hermitage Museum amd Gardens;Natasha Sienitsky, Thomas Jefferson Foundation. 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… ROOM: BLUE POINT II

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; Tracy Gillespie, Historic Site Supervisor, Aldie Mill Historic Park. 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 ROOM: BLUE POINT I

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 moneymaking 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.

3:00pm Afternoon Coffee Break in the Exhibit Resource Hall GRAND BALLROOM

SPONSORED BY HOLLINGER METAL EDGE

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VAM 2012 CONFERENCE • NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINA


4:00pm - 5:30pm CONCURRENT SESSIONS IV

Theft Prevention and Recovery ROOM: BLUE POINT I

Speakers: 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 and Thrived ROOM: BLUE POINT II

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 Connections

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.

5:30pm Evening Theme Reception in the Exhibit Resource Hall GRAND BALLROOM

SPONSORED BY RUDINEC & ASSOCIATES AND REQUEST A PRINT

7:00pm Evening Event: A Warwick Welcome PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED. BUSES WILL DEPART FROM THE PEARL BALLROOM ENTRANCE.

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 7:45am – 8:30am VAM “Second Annual” 3K Circuit Walk PREREGISTRATION AND FEE REQUIRED. MEET FOR THE WALK IN THE MAIN LOBBY. WANT TO HELP, BUT DON’T WANT TO WALK? 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! You fee helps support VAM’s Circuit Riders Program. SPONSORED BY ONCELL SYSTEMS

ROOM: PEARL BALLROOM III

Speakers: 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

8:00am – 8:45am Certificate Breakfast PRE-REGISTRATION AND FEE REQUIRED. ROOM: ATRIUM

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

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VAM 2012 CONFERENCE • NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINA


9:00am

9:00am – 10:30am

WORKSHOPS

CONCURRENT SESSIONS V

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 WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT THE MARINERS MUSEUM. FOR DIRECTIONS, VISIT THE REGISTRATION DESK. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN TRANSPORTATION TO THE MUSEUM. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO JOIN THE WORKSHOP ONCE IT HAS BEGUN, AS IT IS OFF-SITE.

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. 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. SPONSORED BY PENINSULA MUSEUMS FORUM

You Are the Voice of Your Museum ROOM: BLUE POINT I

Speakers: 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,

Dealing with Difficult Volunteers ROOM: PEARL BALLROOM I

Speakers: 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 Draw ROOM: BLUE POINT II

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 Cut ROOM: PEARL BALLROOM II

Speakers: Charlotte Whitted, Director, Historic Crab Orchard Museum; Kim McCleskey, Senior Budget Analyst, Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. Sponsored by the Virginia Conservation Association 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.

10:30am – 11:00am Morning Coffee Break SPONSORED BY ECORITE IMAGING

BUT YOU CAN BENEFIT FROM JUST THE FIRST HALF OF THE PROGRAM.

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11:00am – 12:30pm CONCURRENT SESSIONS VI

Collections Forum: Day-to-day Collection Issues & Solutions ROOM: PEARL BALLROOM I

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: deaccession, 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 Plan ROOM: BLUE POINT II

Speakers: 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/ Discussion ROOM: PEARL BALLROOM II

Facilitators: 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.

1:30pm – 3:30pm Annual Meeting of the Virginia African-American Museums and Historic Sites Network ROOM: PEARL BALLROOM I

Join us for our post-conference program, “Future Focus”, as the network looks at what it wants to accomplish and where it wants to be in 3-5 years. Hear from Leondra Burchall, the new Director of African American Programs for the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, and reports from the regions.

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2012 Conference

V IRG INIA ASSOCIATION OF MUSE UMS

T HIS Y E A R ’ S

SPONSORS

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VAM 2012 CONFERENCE • NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINA



THE MUSEUM OF THE

CONFEDERACY- APPOMATTOX Opening April 2012 Featuring new exhibits designed by Riggs Ward Design

STO

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#6

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PLANNING • RESEARCH • EXHIBITS • INTERACTIVE • GRAPHICS


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