VAM Voice Winter 2011 Newsmagazine and Annual Report

Voice

200 S. Third St. | Richmond, Virginia 23219 | 804.788.5820 | www.vamuseums.org | Winter 2011

Perspectives: Why You Should Advocate for Your Museum i Tools to Help You Hit it Out of the Park on VA Museum Advocacy Day 2012 VAM FY 2011 Annual Report

VAM representatives at the first Virginia Museum Advocacy Day, 2011 (from left: Charlotte Whitted, Joe Gutierrez, Tracy Giliespie, and Margo Carlock)

Perspectives - Why You Should Every one of us has a representative in the state legislature and a representative in the U. S. Congress. We each have senators, too. They were elected to represent their constituents’ viewpoints and concerns. That is their job, and they need our help to do it. With both Virginia Museum Advocacy Day and AAM Museums Advocacy Day coming up, we thought we’d hone in on the topic of advocating for your museum, and why it is more important than ever to be an advocate.

Cover Story

We talked to three experts with three very different jobs related to advocacy. Ember Farber is the Advocacy Manager for The American Association of Museums; Gretchen Bulova is Director of Gadsby’s Tavern Museum and Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum (and a VAM Council member), and David L. Bulova (Gretchen’s husband) is a Virginia Delegate representing Fairfax City and parts of Fairfax Co. (see box, page 3 for Mr. Bulova’s perspectives on advocacy).

While each of these professionals views advocacy through a different lens, each agrees that it is essential to advocate for your museum and educate our legislators and community leaders about museums and their important place in our community.

VAM: In your opinion, why is it important to take time to advocate for your museum, particularly when you are overwhelmed with other duties?

GB: Regardless of whether you work in a large or small museum, your site makes a difference in your community! Be sure to let your elected officials know about your economic impact in the community, your success stories, how your programs are unique and serving the community. Also, let your elected officials know how they can assist you! [It can be with] something

2

as small as an auction item for your annual fundraiser and something as major as a legislative initiative.

EF: Advocating for your museum is more essential than ever. With large ideological divides among Members of Congress about how public dollars should be spent, and the overall budget situation facing the country, legislators need to know about the essential services the museums they represent provide. This year alone there have been significant funding cuts for agencies that support museums, and continued threats [to funding]....[M]any legislators do not fully understand the broad value of the museums in their community, and it’s the job of all museum supporters to share that with their legislators ideally before threats arise. We know many museum professionals are already wearing many hats at their museum, but it’s critical that policy makers are also aware of all the ways museums are economic engines, community centers, and key parts of the educational systems in their communities.

VAM: How would you recommend someone ‘start’ the advocacy process, if it’s something they’ve never done before, or if they are uncomfortable with the idea?

GB: One easy way to start is to join VAM for the 2012 Virginia Museum Advocacy Day in Richmond on January 25th. Be part of a team, so you can watch and learn from your Virginia museum peers.

Also, be sure you add your elected officials to your newsletter and events list, and invite your elected officials for a private tour of your facility and talk about your issues, success stories, and hopes for the future. These are all

great ways to get your feet wet in the realm of advocacy.

EF: An advocacy day, either AAM’s Museums Advocacy Day or VAM’s Virginia Museum Advocacy Day (or both!) is a GREAT way to start to get involved, especially if you have any anxiety about engaging for the first time. They provide the perfect “safe space” to get involved by giving you effective advocacy skills, key issue briefings, a network of fellow museum advocates to coordinate and make legislative visits with, and the support of the national or state organizations in scheduling visits and related events.

Museums Advocacy Day participants often report back that they find the experience transformational, and that the mix of participation of new and more seasoned advocates only adds to the value of the experience.

VAM: What has been your greatest “payback” or reward as far as being an advocate for your museum (or museums in general)?

GB: I am so proud to hear “history” and “museums” mentioned in public addresses and conversations by my elected officials. The fact that they are promoting our site, our activities, and our value in the community is the result of advocacy!

EF: Through Museums Advocacy Day and other year-round advocacy efforts, we have seen some important results, and individual museums and museum advocates have too. During the multi-year efforts around the reauthorization of IMLS, national, state and regional organizations worked together to support a unified approach to reauthorization to Members of Congress, and when the

d Advocate for Your Museum legislation reached the House and Senate floor in December 2010 Members of Congress included recognition of the museums they represent, and the organizations that represent museums, in the successful reauthorization effort.

Following Museums Advocacy Day and other similar outreach to legislators, museums have been invited by their legislators to participate in district hearings about the work of museums, or to host their Congressional district’s art competition, or have garnered new federal grant funds.

Successful advocacy is not a one-time or once-a-year activity - it’s a series of (often small and manageable) actions that help create positive relationships with legislators and their staff and increase museums’ visibility in their community. I encourage museum professionals and advocates to visit the “Voices for Museums,”“E-Advocacy,” and “News and Events” sections of www.speakupformuseums.org to see some examples and get additional ideas.

In addition to the AAM resources listed above, VAM’s website offers Tips for Effective Advocacy, as well as Advocacy Talking Points for Virginia’s Museums. Also, see the Technical Insert on page 5, entitled, Tools to Help You Hit it Out of the Park on VA Museum Advocacy Day 2012 to get started as your museum’s advocate today!

VAM would like to thank Delegate David L. Bulova, Virginia’s 37th House district; Gretchen Bulova, Director, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum & StablerLeadbeater Apothecary Museum; and Ember Farber, Advocacy Manager / Government Relations, American Association of Museums for their contributions to this article.

We asked legislator David L. Bulova the following questions, to get a sense of museum advocacy from a legislator’s point of view. Mr. Bulova represents Fairfax City and parts of Fairfax County in the Virginia House of Delegates, 37th District. Find out more at www. davidbulova.com.

What do you know about the museums in your district? Would hearing from your museum constituents be of interest/helpful to you?

I have several wonderful museums and historic properties located in my district, including the Blenheim House in the City of Fairfax (c. 1858-60), the Fairfax County Courthouse (c. 1799), and Mount Gilead in historic Centreville (c. 1785). All three are integral parts of the character of the surrounding communities. Hearing from my museum constituents and the historic preservation community is very helpful to me.

In fact, it is how I became aware of the need for HB1963, which passed in 2011 and allows local governments to create resident curator programs to manage historic properties.

From your perspective as a legislator, what is the most helpful information a museum constituent can provide for you?

Museums are an important part of protecting our cultural heritage and it is important that we make the investments necessary to preserve historic objects and properties for future generations. Especially in tight budget times it is critical to hear from constituents about the importance of museums, and their contribution to our economy, since they are competing with many other services and programs throughout Virginia.

It is also helpful to hear about creative ideas for preservation and programming that do not involve funding, or that capitalize on public-private partnerships. The resident curator program was a great example of out-of-the-box thinking.

What would be your advice to a person who has never been involved in the advocacy process, but is interested in starting?

Make an appointment to sit down with your legislator several months before session, which starts on the second Wednesday of January. Most legislators love to discuss the legislative process and can help a constituent develop an advocacy plan. Before making an appointment, think through what you are interested in accomplishing.

Do you have a specific idea? Do you want to create greater awareness? Remember that in Virginia, legislators are part time and only meet a couple of months out of the year. If you have a specific idea, think through whether it will cost money and who will likely support or oppose the idea. Touch base with other stakeholders to see what they think as well. Be patient and understand that your legislator will help out if at all possible, but that legislators also need to be strategic about what they introduce, and when. Timing is everything, especially when trying to get an idea through the committee system. Finally, remember that advocacy is about relationship building. Stay in touch with your legislator and invite him or her to special events and functions in the museum community. Your legislator won’t be able to make all of these events, but will appreciate being given the opportunity to participate.

Winter 2011

3

by Melissa A. Mullins

Program Updates

VAM Annual Conference 2012 will be March 17th - 20th at the Newport News Marriott at City Center

4

Launching New Connections is more than just the theme of the next VAM conference—it refers to an essential activity for museums and museum professionals in the 21st century. Museums, cultural centers, schools, and organizations are relying more and more on connections with each other to expand their programs and remain a vital and vibrant part of their communities.

Museum staff members also need to expand their connections to other individuals in order to grow professionally. What better way to launch some new connections than in Newport News? The 2012 conference will offer numerous opportunities for participants to connect with new colleagues, reconnect with current ones, and learn more ways to advance their organizations’ mission and grow professionally.

Tidewater Virginia is home to a thriving shipbuilding industry, museums of every category, cultural amenities, military installations, NASA, and many other exciting places and activities. Not to mention more than a few dedicated members of VAM. Newport News is minutes from Williamsburg, Hampton, and Yorktown and a short drive to Norfolk and Virginia Beach. The tagline listed on the web site for the City of Newport News is “where great things are happening.” This March be a part of that and launch a few new connections in Newport News. It is where great things are happening!

• VAM’s 2nd Annual 3K Circuit Walk will let you exercise for VAM while engaging with your friends and colleagues.

• Join us for an incredible behind-thescenes tour of one of the oldest museums in Virginia—the Hampton University Museum & Archives. Explore a world-class collection of art and artifacts followed by a Wine & Cheese Meet and Greet.

• Get your Passport ready and explore the Tidewater Peninsula! Various museums in the area are opening their doors for conference participants. Whether you are interested in history, science, art, culture, nature, etc., you will get to pick your passion.

• “Floral Designs in a Green Way!” Learn how to make your own floral arrangements for any occasion. Participants will take home their own unique piece at the end of the class.

• The always popular Hospitality Suite returns for another year!

• “Cruise Through the Arts” Sunday evening at the Downing Gross Cultural Arts Center, The Newsome House, and the Fields House. Music, dance, art, food, and fun for all to enjoy with a special performance by the Virginia Lyric Opera.

• “A Warwick Welcome” on Monday will feature art, history, and maritime splendor at The Mariners’ Museum, the Virginia War Museum, and the Peninsula Fine Arts Center.

• Don’t forget to bring your competitive spirit for bidding at the Silent Auction, ...and much more. See you there!

Here are a few of the opportunities available to network and explore:

Photos, from top: James A. Fields House, Marriott City Center, Virginia War Museum, Peninsula Fine Arts Center, The Mariners’ Museum.

• VAM Scholarship Reception at a unique Wannamaker Kit House! The house is owned by The Mariners’ Museum and is located on the shore of the James River.

You won’t want to miss it!

VAM thanks Melissa A. Mullins, Executive Assistant/Grant Writer for the Norfolk Botanical Garden for authoring this article and for serving as chair of our local arrangements committee for this year’s conference.

i

Tools to Help You Hit it Out of the Park on Virginia Museum Advocacy Day 2012

When planning for advocacy, it’s important to take stock of who you have on your ‘team,’ what your message and talking points for legislators will be, and how you will deliver your message most effectively.

Your Advocacy Team First, stakeholders and other allies are vitally important as you prepare to make your case in front of legislators, elected officials or community leaders. The people in each of the following groups are your allies for different reasons, and they each benefit from your museum in different ways. It’s important to consider these potential supporters and their viewpoints as you prepare to be an advocate.

Core Team • Members - museum members are selfselected supporters. They have made an investment in your institution and will want it to succeed.

compiled by Heather Widener

schools they serve and teachers count on museum programs.

• Convention and Visitors Bureau Museums and historic sites are major players in tourism, and tourism officials want to maintain a good mix of attractions to promote.

Save the Date: Virginia Museum Advocacy Day 2012

• Chamber of Commerce - when a business is looking to expand or relocate, one of the key considerations in their decision is the area’s quality of life.

Additionally, these are people who share your mission or have similar goals: • Other Institutions - museums share concerns and challenges and have a reason to work together.

• State / Regional / National Organizations - museum service organizations can advise you and recruit grassroots support.

January 25th Richmond, Virginia

For more information, contact Margo Carlock at 804.788.5821. tional institutions and are important to the quality of education in Virginia.

• Affinity Groups - active segments of the museum world that are already organized • Museums partner with libraries and schools to provide life-long learning and can assist in grassroots advocacy. experiences to people of all ages

• Staff and Volunteers - museum staff, paid and unpaid, are passionate about Advocacy Day Talking Points what they do, and have a financial and emotional stake in the game. They can be When it comes down to a meeting with a legislator, you probably won’t have the your most reliable teammates. luxury of a lot of time. Be sure to have • Frequent Visitors / Program Participants your talking points ready. If you only have - like your members, these are individuals a few minutes, be sure that you have who have chosen your museum and have prioritized your talking points so that you hit upon the most important elements a stake in its success. of your message. Here are some talking • BOARD - Your strategic high command. points for Virginia museums: Board members can be particularly • Museums are major players in the life helpful because of connections they of our communities. They are the only may have made with members of the legislature (as contributors to campaigns, educational institutions that also serve as service together on other boards, travel in engines of economic development. same social circles, etc.).

• Museums and historic sites anchor Virginia’s $17.7 billion tourism industry.

Supporters These are people with whom your institu• Museums support Gov. McDonnell’s tion interacts on a regular basis – and calls for increased funding for tourism who can be your biggest fans. promotion • School Board / PTA / Teachers - Muse• Museums are first and foremost educaums build strong relationships with the

Winter 2011

• Museum education programs have been found to foster academic achievement among students and improved instruction by teachers • Museum educational programs help teachers address the Standards of Learning. There are nearly 1,000 museum SOL programs listed on VAM’s web-based SOL directory • The VFH provides project funding support for museums in Virginia, but has been cut severely in recent years. VAM supports restored funding for the VFH, and restored funding for the African American Heritage and Virginia Indian Heritage programs.

Virginia Museum Facts to Know • There are over 1,000 museums, galleries and heritage sites in Virginia.

• There are 307 sites on Virginia’s African-

5

Technical Insert, continued...

American Heritage Trail.

• The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, encompasses 8 historic sites and art centers crucial to the development of American music.

office all year; they can be really helpful.

card or other contact information.

When you visit, take multiple people with you to the meeting—a show of numbers is sometimes really powerful, as long as the message is clear and one person is spokesman.

• Thank your legislator for his/her time and consideration. Ask for their support for your issue one more time.

Feel overwhelmed? We know that, these days, an increasing number of museum professionals are taking on additional tasks within their institution. At the same time, advocacy has never been • There are over 100 art museums and more important. To get started, pick just • Introduce yourself and indicate what galleries in Virginia. group (mention number of members) or one advocacy event or task that seems do-able within your schedule. Take small institution you represent.

• Virginia is home to 4 Smithsonian Affilisteps at first, and before you know it, ate museums.

• Thank your legislator – for SOMETHING: you’ll be one of the pros at advocating for for past support of the arts and humani- your museum.

• Five of the 28 National Trust Historic ties, for past support of your museum, Sites are located in Virginia. That is more for past record of support for issues of than in any other state. concern.

• Virginia residents and visitors can enjoy over 1,000 acres of botanical gardens and When you finally have the ear of your arboreta. legislator, keep in mind the following:

• Seven Virginia museums are National Trust Partner Places.

• Ask for something specific: i.e., favorable consideration on an issue or support for a budget amendment.

• Eighty-six museums in Virginia interpret military history, including 10 official U.S. • Keep your message brief and to the Armed Forces museums. point. Do not stay longer than 10-15 minutes. You should prepare a one-page • Virginia is home to 33 National Park Ser- fact sheet to leave behind with your main vice Parks, Memorials and Historical Sites. points and any additional

information you think Sesquicentennial Talking Points you might not have time • Virginia has more Civil War-related mu- to convey. seums, battlefields and historic sites than any other state. They are actively involved • Use anecdotes and realin the planning and events commemorat- life situations if possible ing the Sesquicentennial of the American – the impact of a VFH or Civil War. VCA grant on your museum; the uniqueness of • The Virginia Civil War Trail encompasses an organization’s cultural 388 sites, an active museum community programming; the organitying in to the Sesquicentennial of the zation’s participation in American Civil War. vital research.

• Acknowledge the difficulty in stretching the state’s resources to address all of its needs.

Point out that support for museums and the Delivering “The Message” arts should be considWhen you finally have the ear of your ered an investment in an legislator, keep in mind the following: economic and educational resource which will It is important for a new advocate to provide a positive return. understand that when they go to “see Note the importance your their legislator”, they probably won’t institution has to local actually see their legislator, but an aide, and that’s okay. In fact, you’ll want to stay tourism. in touch with your legislator and their staff throughout the year—send emails • Offer to serve as a resource for information, and invites to the local office—and get and leave your business to know the aides that stay at the local

Take Your Message to Washington!

AAM* Museums Advocacy Day 2012

• Museums are telling the whole story of our nation’s civil conflict, helping to promote understanding and historic accuracy.

6

February 27th & 28th Washington, DC For more information, contact Margo Carlock at 804.788.5821, or visit the *American Association of Museums’ advocacy website at

www.speakupformuseums.org.

Virginia’s Top 10

Endangered Artifacts Program a Resounding Success!

2011 was the inaugural year for Virginia’s Top 10 Endangered Artifacts program (www. vatop10artifacts.org), part of the Virginia Collections Initiative (VCI)*. The purpose of the program is to raise public awareness about care of collections in Virginia and D.C. It does not provide monetary prizes, but rather offers participating museums, libraries, and archives an opportunity to increase that awareness. Winning institutions receive training, recognition, and publicity, raising appreciation of their sites and understanding of the ongoing, expensive care required to maintain their collections.

VAM received 25 outstanding nominations from collecting institutions across the state.

From flags to hand rails, battleships to tapestries, all types of items needing a variety of care were nominated this year. Each artifact told a compelling story, and each is worthy of saving.

Without the support of - and faith from - our nominating institutions, we could never have had such an incredible first year.

The program features a twofold review process.

Much like Preservation Virginia’s ‘Most Endangered Historic Sites’ program, VAM formed an independent peer review panel to evaluate the nominations for inclusion in the final “Top 10” list. But to engage a broad spectrum of the public, near and far, VAM added a second facet – an online public voting campaign.

This component was integral to the program’s success and is in keeping with our goal of raising awareness by giving collecting institutions the tools needed to rally support around conservation. It also caused a ripple effect in marketing, since all 25 nominees were reaching out to their audiences to encourage votes for their objects, while VAM and its marketing partner, ToMarket, were reaching out to the media to publicize the public voting opportunity and the overall program. The program went viral, magnifying the message and raising awareness among stakeholders who care deeply about Virginia’s irreplaceable collections. Actually, we didn’t realize just how deeply they did care. When our public voting period ended, we tallied nearly 100,000 votes cast (98,609 to be exact). Clearly, the nominees captured the public’s interest and heart.

While it is the peer review panel, and not the public voting, that determines the final Top 10 list of winners, the votes were taken into consideration by the panel. Some museums had such incredible voting numbers that a ‘People’s

Choice Award’ was bestowed along with two Honorable Mentions - in addition to the Top 10!

But the best news is still coming in – we have gained unprecedented media coverage in print, online, and broadcast media outlets.

From The Washington Post to The Associated Press, to television and radio interviews in Richmond and Roanoke, we have documented 55 press clippings for the “Top 10” project and participants, and we’re still counting! The power of the media has already helped Booker T. Washington National Monument find an expert in cellulose nitrate negatives to volunteer to help them in their conservation efforts. But whether a “Top 10” winner or not, institutions can use their impressive voting numbers when courting donors or applying for conservation grants. For example, The Virginia Museum of Transportation’s impressive voting results led to an award of $10,000 from Trains Magazine toward the conservation of their nominated artifact – the Norfolk & Western SD45 Diesel Locomotive #1776.

We’re looking forward to more reports like these, and to the excitement that year two of the program will bring. We are gratified in year one that the nominating institutions recognized the value of this increased awareness as a way to get the word out about their Endangered Artifacts, and about their fantastic sites and at VAM we are proud to be able to give collecting institutions the tools and the platform they need to showcase their artifacts and their conservation work for all to see through our new VCI. *Virginia Collections Initiative The VCI was created in response to A Public Trust at Risk: The Heritage Health Index Report on the State of America’s Collections. The VCI is a twoyear, statewide collaboration, spearheaded by the Virginia Association of Museums, aimed at ensuring the ongoing safety and stewardship of collections held by Virginia’s museums, archives, and libraries. The VCI is funded through a generous grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Partners in the VCI include the Library of Virginia, Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Virginia Conservation Association, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference, Preservation Virginia and John Tyler Community College. The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas.

Winter 2011

From top left - Virginia’s Top 10 Endangered Artifacts: Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection, UVA - Yolngu Bark Painting by Narritjin Maymuru, depicting Djarrakpi Story (Indonesian Trader Ship); Preservation Virginia - John Marshall’s Supreme Court Judicial Robes; Gari Melchers Home & Studio at Belmont - Wrought Iron Staircase Railing, East Porch of Belmont; Booker T. Washington National Monument - Photographs w/ cellulose nitrate negatives; Virginia National Guard Historical Society - 1846 Mexican War National Flag; Fairfax Station Railroad Museum - Railroad Semaphore; Hermitage Museum & Gardens - Korean 18th century Sakyamuni Triad Silk Tapestry; The Mariners’ Museum - USS Monitor’s Revolving Gun Turret; Historic Dumfries Virginia, Inc. - Wood Trunk Covered in Deerskin, c. 1800; Library of Virginia - Executive Papers of Governor Thomas Jefferson, 1879-1781.

People’s Choice Honorable Mention: Virginia Museum of Transportation - Norfolk & Western SD45 Diesel Locomotive #1776; People’s Choice Honorable Mention: Nauticus - Battleship Wisconsin/BB-64; People’s Choice Winner: Norfolk Botanical Garden - Collection of 11 sculptures created by artist, Moses Ezekiel .

7

Fiscal Year 2011 Annual Report for th

Annual Report 2011

The Virginia Association of Museums is a network of individuals with common interests and concerns, all working toward the stewardship of Virginia’s historic and cultural heritage. It was created in 1968 to promote and serve Virginia’s museums by providing training to staff and volunteers, serving as a resource and clearinghouse of information, and advocating on behalf of the museum community.

8

VAM is a close-knit group with a common bond – passion for museums and the work we do. Its members are serious about their careers and committed to being the best stewards possible of the Commonwealth’s historic and cultural resources. VAM gives cultural and historic sites in Virginia and the District of Columbia a forum to voice common concerns, share ideas, learn from each other, and grow stronger in the process.

VAM has taken a leadership role among museum associations and cultural institutions nationwide. Its interests were served during the fiscal year by two full-time and two part-time staff, and a governing board of twenty museum professionals from throughout the state representing all types of museums.

This report covers the fiscal year for VAM from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011.

Membership In a tough economic climate, it was encouraging that museums and historic sites in Virginia value their membership in VAM. Overall membership was slightly down from the 1,054 last year, but with a total of 998 members during the report period, VAM is still the largest and strongest state museum association in the country. This included 260 institutional members, 544 individual and staff members, 47 student and faculty members, 35 patron members and 112 business members. Members come from

throughout the Commonwealth, and reflect the great diversity in disciplines, job positions and demographics that are indicative of the larger museum community. The Virginia Association of Museums represents art museums and galleries, history museums, historical houses, historic sites and battlefields, science museums and discovery centers, children’s museums, botanical gardens, arboreta, zoos, natural history museums, and specialized audience museums including federal agency museums and military museums.

Professional Training Professional development for museum staff and volunteers remains at the core of VAM’s mission to promote and serve Virginia’s museums. Overall, VAM program attendance registered a 23% decrease over the previous year – an indication that while professional training is a vital service, the economy has hit our members hard, and many are simply unable to attend workshops as they have in the past. In addition to its regular programs, VAM provides technical assistance and training to members on an individual basis.

We offered nine workshops during FY2011, including two emergency response training sessions. The workshops were scattered from Suffolk to Lynchburg and from Culpeper to Charlottesville. Our topics were just as varied as the locations. As we have for the past five years, we tied our workshop topics to the five core curriculum elements of our certificate program: internal affairs, external affairs, exhibitions, collections management, and education/outreach.

Our workshop on Developing Teacher Institutes, held at Fort Lee’s U.S. Army Women’s Museum, was the best-attended workshop of the season, closely followed by Grantwriting for Projects and What Makes a Good Exhibit. We were excited to be able to offer as our June workshop an educational tour of the Library of Congress multimedia storage facility in Culpeper. The site, not generally open to the public, is spectacular.

The staff gave us an extensive tour and covered many different facets of managing modern materials in a museum, including how to ensure survival of data on obsolete electronic media (Betamax,

anyone?). While our numbers were down this year, we were encouraged by the dedication to training that our participants demonstrated—many of them paying for the workshops themselves when their museums couldn’t.

2011 also saw the formation of a standing Workshop Committee. This committee, made up of members from all types of museums, as well as two VAM Council members, will assist with workshop planning and with ensuring that our programs continue to serve the needs of our membership.

The Annual Conference in 2011 was held at the Portsmouth Renaissance. For the first time, we worked with the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities to offer a special African-American Heritage Network track of sessions, culminating in a meeting of the new Heritage Network affinity group at the end of the conference. This was very popular, with over 50 people attending the sessions and meeting.

The Local Arrangements Committee in Portsmouth did an amazing job of organizing our local evening events—we got to see the Courthouse Galleries, the Visual Arts Center at TCC Olde Towne and The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame as well as the sites along the River—the Naval Shipyard Museum, the Lightship Portsmouth and the Riverview and Skipjack Galleries. While our overall attendance was down slightly from 2010, we were encouraged to see that there were 74 attendees for whom this was their very first VAM conference—almost 25% more first time attendees than we usually see. All of these first timers were very enthusiastic—a good sign for the future of our field!

2011 marked the sixth year of the Virginia Certificate in Museum Management, and the launch of our new Advanced Certificates in Public Sphere, Leadership, Development, or Collections Management. This new certificate is designed for those who have already completed our basic certificate, and wish to focus on one area of museum operations in more detail. Students are expected to complete a reading and write a paper on that reading, four one day workshops

he Virginia Association of Museums (VAM) Virginia Association of Museums Statements of Financial Position

Winter 2011

9

in their area, a mentorship, and a final project. As of June 30th we already had three students enrolled in this exciting new program.

Annual Report 2011:

The Certificate program also welcomed a new cooperating organization to our fold: the University of Virginia School of Continuing and Professional Education.

Our cooperating organizations sit on our Review Committee for the Certificate, and offer our students workshops that they can use toward their credits for the program.

10

IMLS Grant Project: Connecting to Collections Statewide Implementation Grant VAM was excited to learn that we had been awarded an Implementation Grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) for our Virginia Collections Initiative. The largest IMLS grant that VAM has ever received, this project will run for two years, and encompass professional training, technical assistance, marketing for collections, and disaster planning across the state.

We have been able to hire a full time Project Manager for the Virginia Collections Initiative, Christina Newton, who began work in June. As we finished out FY 2011, we were just beginning the process of gearing up for this huge project.

Technical Assistance Our technical assistance program has helped several different museums over the last year, but is set to become a more integrated piece of the VAM services puzzle. This ongoing membership service has been rolled into the Virginia Collections Initiative, and a new committee, the Technical Assistance Committee, has been formed to help administer the program. Committee members will help find technical advisors, and will help match assistance requests with those available advisors as they come in.

Advocacy State and Local Level VAM held a first ever Virginia Museum Advocacy Day in Richmond at the General Assembly on January 20. Invita-

tions were sent to members of the joint Tourism Caucus and House and Senate Education and money committees. 21 state legislators attended the breakfast reception we held in the fifth floor west conference room, and the staff of many other legislators also attended. The museum group was recognized by Sen. Dick Saslaw in the Senate and by Del. David Nutter in the House of Delegates.

We had four teams of museum people who paid calls on legislators in the afternoon. Folders with talking points from our “Museums Make It Happen” series and copies of the TimeTravelers Passport Guide to Virginia Museums & Historic Sites were distributed to legislators.

In other advocacy efforts, we distributed a simplified economic impact survey November 17 - January 5 to 1041 museum directors in Virginia and DC. Unfortunately, we received only 117 responses, with only 67 of those completing all sections, despite several reminders and requests for museums to participate. This was not a big enough sample to be valid. We continued to send regular Legislative Updates on bills and budget amendments before the state General Assembly.

National Level IMLS Reauthorization: The National Government Relations Working Group (of which VAM ED Margo Carlock is a member representing the state museum associations) was instrumental in getting IMLS reauthorization legislation to include language reflecting the needs of the museum field. The official title of the reauthorization act was “The Museum and Library Services Act of 2010.”

Carlock was actively involved in the final push for the legislation and made several trips to DC for meetings with Congressional staff together with other members of the small AAM team. She represented the interests of the FederalState Partnership Coalition in the negotiations. IMLS reauthorization passed Congress and was signed by President Obama on December 22. There was a flurry of activity, including examination of the final bill, conversations with Sen. Reed’s office and several conference calls, the second half of November. The bill was introduced in the Senate HELP

committee Dec. 1, was passed by the full Senate Dec. 8, and passed the House on Dec. 14.

AAM Museums Advocacy Day: VAM ED Carlock once again served on the Planning Committee for the third annual national advocacy day for museums, and she and VAM Deputy Director Jennifer Thomas attended the event in Washington, DC on February 28th and March 1st.

VAM staff assisted with role playing exercises during the briefings held on the first day and led the VA delegation in visits to Virginia Senators and Congressmen on the Hill the second day. VAM was a “Supporting Organization” for this advocacy effort; 35 museum professionals were present from Virginia out of a total of over 300 participants.

In other national advocacy efforts, VAM was involved in alerting the field to threats to funding for the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities during the summer of 2011.

Impact of VAM Services VAM is a membership organization for museums and museum staff, but it does not require membership for services or to participate in programs.

VAM’s database of contacts contains both members and non-members who have participated in some way in a VAM program or training. Currently, we have a total of 5,874 participants listed: 3,357 who were members at the time they participated, and 2,517 who were nonmembers. These numbers represent 590 museums.

The participation numbers for VAM’s programs and services in FY 2011 are as follows: • Workshops – 205 • Annual Conference – 379 • Certificate Program – 12 graduates in FY 2011; 134 current students enrolled

VAM’s Honor Roll of Contributors VAM would like to extend a special thank-you to the following supporters:

Platinum Level

Riggs Ward Design Virginia Foundation for the Humanities

Gold Level

Cinebar Productions, Inc. Creation Station LLC Glave & Holmes Associates Stumpf & Associates Capitol Exhibit Services, Inc.

Peninsula Museums Forum Rudinec & Associates - Request A Print Sterling Brownell Travel The Curtis Group VAM Council

Gary Sandling Al Schweizer Robert C. Vaughan John H. Verrill Charlotte Whitted Ellen R. Wigren

Member Patrons

Barbara Batson Bruce Boucher Gretchen Bulova Donald Buma Kent Chrisman Bruce Christian Lin Ezell Creative Company, Inc. Sean T. Fearns Design 3/Museum Rails Susan Ferrell Dorfman Museum Figures, Inc. Tracy Gillespie Ecorite Imaging Joseph Gutierrez Gropen, Inc. Douglas Kent Harvey HealyKohler Design Page Hayhurst MarkelInsurance Company Mike Henry Quatrefoil Associations, Inc. Anna Holloway Seaber Turner Associates Catherine Jordan Wass StudioAMMONS Twyla Kitts The Design Minds, Inc Glenn Klaus Mary LaGue Jeff Liverman A Touch of Technology, Inc. Melanie Leigh Mathewes Al Schweizer Nancy McAdams Chrysler Museum of Art Melissa A. Mullins Design & Production Jeanne Niccolls Hollinger Metal Edge Robin Nicholson Lynchburg Continuing Ed William B. Obrochta Dept.

Nancy Perry Lynchburg CVB Robin Reed Melanie Leigh Mathewes Kym Rice

Silver Level

Bronze Level

Winter 2011

11

The John Jasper Memorial Room &

by Benjamin Ross

Member Profile

conversion and was later baptized in Richmond’s First African Baptist Church. He learned to read and write from a fellow slave and began his study of the Bible.

Through diligent Bible study and scriptural interpretation he soon began a remarkable career as a preacher.

12

The members of Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church are celebrating the 200th birthday of Reverend John Jasper (1812-2012) and the 86th anniversary of one of Virginia’s oldest church museums – The John Jasper Memorial Room & Museum (est. 1926).

The year 2012 marks a significant point in Virginia’s history as it commemorates the bicentennial birth of the Reverend John, Jasper, one of Virginia’s (and perhaps the nation’s) most celebrated 19th century preachers.

On July 4, 1812, John Jasper was born on a plantation in Fluvanna County Virginia, the last of 24 children to slave parents, Phillip and Tina Jasper.

As a teenager, he found his way to Richmond and worked for several masters in various capacities. In 1839, on the occasion of his 27th birthday, he experienced a religious

As a result of his firm belief in the Bible and unusual oratory skills he was soon celebrated in Richmond and throughout Virginia.

As a result of his popularity and sincerity, he was given authority to marry slaves and minister to wounded civil war soldiers. A spell-binder in the days of freewheeling oratory, John Jasper preached to throngs of entranced listeners. Newspapers announced his sermons and his appearances

were always major events. After the war, he organized Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church in an abandoned confederate horse stable in September 1867. He reached the height of his career in 1878 when he preach his sermon De Sun Do Move, Earth Am Square. The sermon was praised by some and ridiculed by others because it questioned the natural order of things. He preached the controversial sermon

over 250 times, and once before the Virginia General Assembly. Reverend John Jasper died in March 1901 and is buried in Woodland Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.

The church opened its John Jasper Memorial Room & Museum on January 24, 1926. With such an early museum opening date, the Jasper Museum is possibly one of the oldest church museums in Virginia.

The museum houses the church’s unique and extensive collection of 19th century artifacts associated with Jasper’s pastorate. Originally, the museum was established to contain items associated only with John Jasper. However, in recent years the collection has grown to include items associated with all deceased pastors and members. The collection includes communion sets, bibles, paintings, clothing, etc. In addition, there is pulpit furniture, photographs, academic diplomas and ladies hats. Throughout the years visitors and tourists all over the world have come to view the museum and compliment the church for maintaining and preserving the museum collection.

There are other African-American museums in Virginia. These include the Legacy Museum in Lynchburg

& Museum Celebrates a Milestone

14 West Duval Street Richmond, VA 23220 Richmond Old Site & Historic District

Celebrating the

birthday of

The Reverend John Jasper

JULY 4, 1812

Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church

JULY 4, 2012

(est. 2000); the Black History Museum in Alexandria (est. 1989); the Newsome House Museum in Newport News (est. 1991); the Booker T. Washington Birthplace in Hardy (est. 1957); the Gum Springs Historical Museum in Gum Springs (est. 1996) the James Field House in Newport News (est. 2002); the Maggie L. Walker Historic Site in Richmond(est. 1978); the Black History Museum in Richmond (est. 1981) and the Hampton University Museum (est. 1868).

National Register of At Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Historic Places Church in Richmond, Benjamin Ross has served as historian Virginia Landmarks Register since 1984, and is the third Legendary 19th century preacher and founding (tours available, lunch upon official historian in the hispastor of Sixth Mt. Zion Baptist Church request) 804-648-7511 tory of the church. During his tenure, he has successfully had the church recognized on the federal, state and local level. It Several events are planned in 2012 is listed on the National Register, to commemorate John Jasper’s the state landmark register, and is 200th birthday, which include the only African-American church the church’s annual John Jasper recognized as an “old-site and hisFounder’s Day on Sunday February toric district”. There are two historic 19th, the Virginia Historical Society’s Virginia highway markers – one Banner Lecture on February 23rd at for the church in Richmond and 12 o’clock noon, and the Library of another marker in Fluvanna County Virginia African American Trailblaznear John Jasper’s birthplace. er celebration also on February 23rd at 6 pm. For information about the church, tours or the Jasper bicentennial commemoration, contact the church at 804-648-7511 or Benjamin Ross at 804-240-3559.

Photos, from left: John Jasper; Sixth Mt. Zion Baptist Church; a group of Chesterfield Co. school teachers visits the historic church; Benjamin Ross.

Winter 2011

13

Museum News in Your VAM News

VAM’s Annual Conference 2012 is coming to the Marriott City Center in Newport News from March 17th - 20th, 2012! Our Conference Program is online, so check it out and save the date today!

The second annual Virginia Museum Advocacy Day will be held January 25th, 2012. We invite you to join us. Please contact Margo Carlock for details.



Disaster LockUps are coming to a town near you! Don’t wait until a disaster strikes, be prepared and register today for new ‘Disaster LockUps’ presented by the Virginia Collections Initiative. Held around the state over the next two years, these low cost workshops will help collecting institutions create a Disaster Plan specially designed for their size site while learning best practices in collections management. Visit www.vamuseums. org for information.

Member News & Kudos

MUSENET

The Standards for Excellence Institute®, an initiative designed to help nonprofit organizations operate more ethically and accountably, recently announced its 2011 Class of Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultants.

Among the program graduates was museum consultant John Verrill, former President of VAM. Having completed the intensive, threeday training, Mr. Verrill is now licensed in every dimension of the Standards for Excellence program and can begin assisting museums and other nonprofits nationwide.

On Monday, November 21, Edward Ayers, Peter Onuf, and Brian Balogh, visited the Virginia Historical Society to present a special edition of BackStory with the American History Guys.

The Virginia Museum of Transportation was awarded the prestigious Trains Magazine Preservation Award at the Association of Railway Museums and Tourist Railway Association’s annual celebration in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on November 12. The award gives the Museum $10,000 toward the preservation and restoration of the 1776 Locomotive.

The 1776 Locomotive was also a People’s Choice award winner in the Virginia’s Top 10 Endangered Artifacts competition sponsored

by VAM and the Virginia Collections Initiative.

In the public voting portion of the competition, almost 20,000 votes were cast for the Locomotive - the second highest in the

14

competition. Rail fans demonstrated to Trains The Waterford Foundation received the Magazine how important the 1776 Locomo- prestigious Nonprofit of the Year Award tive is to our rail heritage. recently by the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce. This award was added to the The Southeast Tourism Society named the Chamber’s Small Business Award Program Virginia Museum of Fine Arts the 2011 Travel three years ago in recognition not only of the Attraction of the Year recently at its annual vital role that Loudoun’s nonprofits play in Shining Example Awards ceremony. This the economy of our community, but to honor marks the first time this prestigious award the very real entrepreneurial talents of the has been given to a museum and the third professional staff and volunteer leadership consecutive year the Richmond Region has that are driving these organizations. received a Shining Example Award.

Members of the Square Society presented John N. Pearce, former director of the James Jim Sears, President and General Manager of Monroe Museum and Memorial Library and Center in the Square, with a check for $30,000 former professor of historic preservation at at the Annual Dinner held at the Hotel the University of Mary Washington, has been Roanoke November 2. To date the Society honored with the prestigious History Award has raised over $231,000 that goes directly to from the National Society of the Daughters Center’s unrestricted General Operating Fund. of the American Revolution. The distinction, Phase one of Center in the Square’s renovagiven for lifetime contribution to American tion is complete. The three-story Phelps history, is awarded to only seven Americans and Armstead building known as Center on each year. Diana Wallace Perrussel, regent Church has been completely renovated. Cenof the Overwharton Parish Chapter of the ter in the Square held an open house, guided Daughters of the American Revolution, pre- tours, and refreshments to celebrate! sented the gold medal to Pearce on Saturday, November 12.

President Obama issued a presidential proclamation declaring Fort Monroe a National Congratulations to The Bowman House at Monument. This designation marks the first the Frontier Culture Museum for their recent time President Obama has used the power Virginia AIA Award for Excellence in Architec- afforded to him through the Antiquities Act ture. The architect was Carlton Abbott and of 1906 and the first time the act has been Partners PC. used in Virginia. Elizabeth S. Kostelny, Executive Director of Preservation Virginia, noted At the October 18th VA-1 Tourism Summit “Preservation Virginia named Fort Monroe to 2011, the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Sciits Virginia’s Most Endangered Historic Sites ence Center was presented the 2011 Virginia list in 2007 to generate awareness to make Green Travel Star Most Innovative Green certain of its preservation. We are proud to Project Award. The project that won compet- be a part of the team of dedicated colleagues ing against 25 other nominations was the and friends who worked diligently to ensure Aquarium’s twice yearly e-cycling events. Ac- that Fort Monroe be recognized, preserved cepting the award was Aquarium Director of and sustainable for future generations.”

Research and Conservation Mark Swingle.

Two recent grants have been awarded to assist the Hermitage Museum & Gardens in A new partnership between the Virginia Inexpanding its gardens and environmental stitute of Marine Science and the Watermen’s programming. The grants include the Bessie Museum in historic Yorktown will give local Bocock Carter Conservation Award by the students a unique opportunity to dive into Garden Club of Virginia for construction of a Colonial history-literally. The project, funded rain garden to be located on the grounds of by a 1-year grant from the National Science the Hermitage, and a grant from The Virginia Foundation, will allow the students to pilot Horticultural Foundation to allow the hiring unmanned robotic submarines in an attempt of a seasonal part-time employee to oversee to monitor the conservation status of shipthe Wetlands Enrichment Tours. wrecked vessels scuttled by Lord Cornwallis during the Battle of Yorktown in 1781-the last The Valentine Richmond History Center major battle of the American Revolution. announced its continuing reaccreditation by the American Association of Museums.

Backyard, and Beyond...

Accreditation is a widely recognized seal of approval that recognizes a museum for its commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards, and continued institutional improvement. The History Center has been continuously accredited since 1972, just one year after the accreditation program’s inception.

Library & Museum and is on exhibit through January 14, 2012. Over 400 people gathered to celebrate the opening of the National Sporting Library and Museum’s new Sporting Art Museum on Saturday, October 8th.

The Contemporary Art Center of Virginia (CAC) is turning a page, and is now the Virginia MuseThe National Museum of the Marine Corps’ um of Contemporary Art (MOCA).“’ContempoGallery Guide has won the “Gold Award” in rary Art Center of Virginia’ is a name that served the 2011 Southeastern Museum Conference us well,” said Public Relations Associate Erika Publications Competition. Lin Ezell, director of Guess,“but it simply didn’t describe what we are, the Museum, was pleased with the recognition which is essentially a museum. Our exhibitions and says many individuals working together are the foundation of everything we do. Having have made the Gallery Guide into a Museum the word “museum” in our name is essential for favorite. “The Gallery Guide is a best seller at our people to understand what to expect when Museum Store and the easiest way for visitors they visit, whether they’re locals or tourists.” to take home memories of the Museum,” Ezell From Tudor Place Historic House and Garden: said. “It was a collaborative effort, with curators, Conservation began recently on a rare work of photographers, and our publisher--The Creative wax, seashells, silk, printed papers, and exotic Company, all pitching in to produce a great wood created for Martha and George Washproduct. We are delighted that our peers of the ington in the early 1780s by Samuel Fraunces, Southeastern Museum Conference have given it owner of New York’s legendary Queen Charsuch high marks.” lotte’s Head Tavern, known today as Fraunces The Chrysler Museum of Art opened the Tavern. Conservators, curators, and art handlers Chrysler Museum Glass Studio on November 2 will meticulously crate the rare and intricate tabto complement the world-class glass collection leau for transport from its home at Tudor Place in the Museum. The addition of the Glass Studio Historic House and Garden to the studio of a enhances the Museum’s stature as one of only waxworks conservator. The $37,400 restoration, two comprehensive art museums in the United funded by The Richard C. von Hess Foundation States with a glass studio. The Glass Studio is of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, will take conservalocated in a 7,000-square-foot building at 745 tion specialists two years to complete.

Duke Street, adjacent to the Museum in Norfolk.

StudioAmmons is currently overseeing building VAM Business member Studio Ammons rerenovations and the design of the permanent ceived the 2011 AWARD OF EXCELLENCE from exhibits for the Robert Russa Moton Museum in the Virginia Downtown Development Associa- Farmville, Virginia as the national center for Civil tion for it’s 8 West Old Street project,“The Pep- Rights in Education in Virginia. The restoration percorn.” The restoration of this 1816 building of the historic Robert Russa Moton High School followed years of deterioration and collapse into the Moton Museum is nearing completion. after it was severely damaged by a tornado that The museum recently celebrated the completion ripped through Old Town Petersburg in 1993. of Phase I of Moton 2011, an 8,500 square foot permanent exhibit of the Moton story.

The Watermen’s Museum set a daily record of children served recently. More than 200 students Hails and Farewells visited the Museum for programs about Bay Crawford Alexander Mann III has joined the ecology, history, and boat building!. Congratula- Chrysler Museum of Art as the Joan and Macon tions to Mike and the education volunteers!

Brock curator of American art. The new position within the curatorial department is fully enThe National Sporting Library and Museum in dowed and made possible by a generous contriMiddleburg is pleased to announce the opening bution from the Brocks. Macon Brock currently of their museum after a state-of-the-art renovaserves as the chairman of the Museum’s Board tion and expansion of Vine Hill, an 1804 Federal of Trustees. Mann, a specialist in 19th-century manor house located on the library’s campus.

American art, will use his knowledge and experiThe building now houses the library’s rapidly exence to build and reinterpret the Museum’s panding permanent collection of fine paintings, exceptional collection of pre-1945 American art. sculpture, and objets d’art. Afield in America: The Museum is extremely proud to double its 400 Years of Animal and Sporting Art, 1585 - 1985 curatorial staff over the past six months, and the opened recently at the National Sporting

Winter 2011

We wish all the best to longtime friend and executive director of Virginians for the Arts Peggy Baggett, who retired as of Dec. 1st. Peggy was appointed to the post in 1980. All the best in your retirement, Peggy! entire community will no doubt benefit from the wealth of knowledge Alex brings to the region,” said Bill Hennessey, the Museum director.

The Science Museum of Western Virginia has announced the hiring of a new executive director. Jim Rollings is a Roanoke native whose resume includes a decade as director of the South Florida Science Museum. In a statement released by the museum, Rollings and board of trustees Chairman Sam English said they look forward to working together.“I am delighted to be back in Roanoke because I was born here, and it’s exciting to be part of the reinvention of the science museum,” Rollings said.

Tracey Michael recently joined the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum as the new Museum Educator. Michael is responsible for developing and presenting programs for students, expanding outreach to schools, and coordinating general public programming. She continues and expands upon the work of recent staff retirees, Karen Church and Ellen Abernethy.

Don Wilson, President and C.E.O. of the Wilson Presidential Library said,“We were impressed not only with Tracey’s experience with students of all ages, but also with her innovative ideas for programming at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum.”

From The James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library: Paige Gibbons and Emilie Kracen are the Bowley Scholars for the 2011-12 Academic Year. While they’re with the museum, Paige and Emilie will be working on lesson plans to incorporate James Monroe into the public school system’s Standards of Learning for both elementary and high school students. They’ll also be researching Monroe’s death and re-internment for an exhibit to be installed next year.

15

Director’s Corner

Dear Members, On September 8, 2011, the VAM governing Council voted to end the Virginia TimeTravelers program, at least for the foreseeable future. This decision was not made lightly, and in fact had been on the table for some time – since the program lost state funding in 2009.

Since its creation as the only major product of the 1995-1996 Governor’s History Initiative (a convening of community and nonprofit leaders with state government officials to look for ways to “put history to work for Virginia”), the TimeTravelers program has been popular with parents, grandparents, children, and teachers.

Small and mid-sized museums also appreciated the program, as they reaped the most benefit from increased visitation driven by the desire to fill out passports.

96% of participant survey respondents said that because of the program they visited museums they never would have thought to before. And this was the primary goal of the program – to promote museum visitation. In the last fullyfunded year (2008) with paper passports distributed to all participating museums to hand out, over 544,000 museum visits were recorded as a result of TimeTravelers.

So what happened? Without funding for the printed passports (or someone to process them) we tried to continue TimeTravelers as an online program.

Unfortunately, a parent needed to already be aware of the program to go online, download and print off a onepage passport and a list of participating sites. Museums often forgot or failed to

provide copies of the single-page passport at their front desks, so there was no way for people to discover the program at one museum and generate those additional visits to other museums. An attempt to publish a permanent passport book was successful, but only 118 museums participated in the project (down from over 360 museums who participated in the heyday).

Our Governing Council President, Joe Gutierrez VP, Planning & Resources, Sean Fearns VP, Programming, Tracy Gillespie Secretary, Barbara Batson Treasurer, Al Schweizer Past President, John Verrill Ex-Officio Member, Robert C. Vaughan Directors Gretchen Bulova Anna Holloway Donald Buma Melanie L. Mathewes Norman Burns Robin Nicolson April Cheek-Messier Cheryl Robinson Diane Dunkley Barbara Rothermel Lin Ezell Gary Sandling Patrick Farris Charlotte Whitted Page Hayhurst O u r St a f f Executive Director, Margo Carlock Deputy Director, Jennifer Thomas Communications Dir., Heather Widener Accountant, Su Thongpan

The program has struggled to maintain a presence and fulfill Project Manager, VCI, Christina Newton its purpose in the past O u r Vo i ce two years. At fifteen VAM Voice is a member benefit pubyears old, it isn’t “new” lished quarterly for museum professionals and volunteers. The editor enough to garner encourages readers to submit article grant support; our proposals. Contact the Communicastrongest state part- tions Director for more information. ners, the Department of Historic Resources and the Virginia Tourism Corporation, had to step aside in the face of severe budget cuts. Without staff or financial resources to support it, perhaps it was inevitable that the program be put on hiatus.

O u r Co nt a c ts Phone: 804.788.5820 Fax: 804.788.5826 www.vamuseums.org membership@vamuseums.org mcarlock@vamuseums.org jthomas@vamuseums.org timetravelers@vamuseums.org hwidener@vamuseums.org O u r News D eadlin es Spring: February 1st Summer: May 1st Fall: August 1st Winter: November 1st Our Mission The Virginia Association of Museums is a non-profit, professional membership organization for museums and individuals associated with museums, primarily in Virginia and Washington, DC, serving all museum disciplines.

The Association provides education, information, resource and support services, facilitates communication among the institutions and individuals of its membership, fosters inclusiveness and serves as an advocate to governmental and other decision-making authorities on issues relating to museums.

Although saddened by the loss of a program that I cared about deeply, I am in complete agreement with our Council that it is time to set it aside. Perhaps in a year or two, when the economy has turned around, a revamped and revitalized Virginia TimeTravelers program will be reborn and will once again drive thousands of new visitors to Virginia’s museums and historic sites.

Sincerely,

Margo Margo Carlock Executive Director Virginia Association of Museums

Winter 2010

16