Winter 2014 VAM Voice Newsmagazine

Voice

3126 W. Cary St., #447 | Richmond, Virginia 23221-3504 | 804. 358.3170 | www.vamuseums.org | Winter 2014

Folklife Mexican Dance Master, Laura Ortiz, at annual Apprenticeship Showcase. Virginia Foundation for the Humanities is celebrating their 40th anniversary. Photo by Ashley Twiggs; courtesy of Virginia Foundation for the Humanities

40 Things to Know about Virginia Today (for Museum Lovers)

i Investment Policy Statements

More than a Member: Virginia Foundation for the Humanities FY2014 Annual Report

Contents Cover Story: 40 Things to Know about Virginia Today (for Museum Lovers)

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by Heather Widener

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Technical Insert:

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Investment Policy Statements: A Must Have Navigation Tool

by Andrew Kramer, CFAŠ , Wealth and Asset Management Specialist, Capital One N.A.

VAM FY2014 Annual Report

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Program Updates 11

VAM is for Students

by Heather Widener

Book Review: 12 Asking: A 59-Minute Guide to Everything Board Members, Volunteers, and Staff Must Know to Secure the Gift

by Jennifer Thomas

More than a Member:

Virginia Foundation for the Humanities

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by Maggie Guggenheimer and Heather Widener

President’s Corner 16

by Al Schweizer

Our Governing Council President, Al Schweizer VP, Planning & Resources, Gary Sandling VP, Programming, Gretchen Bulova Secretary, Anna Holloway, PhD Treasurer, Norman Burns Immediate Past President, Tracy J. Gillespie Ex-Officio Members, Robert C. Vaughan and Jeffrey Allison

D i re c tor s

Eric App Jamie Bosket Karen Daly Paige Gibbons Charles Grant Debi Gray Joe Keiper Lisa Martin April Cheek-Messier Robert Orrison Dana Puga Barbara Rothermel, PhD Scott Stroh Vanessa Thaxton-Ward, PhD Charlotte Whitted Eric S. Wilson

O u r Sta f f

Executive Director, Jennifer Thomas Assistant Director, Christina E. Newton Communications Director, Heather Widener Accountant, Su Thongpan

O u r Voi ce

The VAM Voice is a member benefit published quarterly. VAM encourages readers to submit article proposals. Contact the communications director for more information.

O u r Con tac ts

Phone: 804. 358.3170 Fax: 804. 358.3174 www.vamuseums.org jthomas@vamuseums.org cnewton@vamuseums.org hwidener@vamuseums.org su@vamuseums.org

O u r N e w s D e adl i n e s Spring: February 15th Summer: May 15th Fall: August 15th Winter: November 1st

Our Mission The mission of the Virginia Association of Museums is to serve as the resource network of the Virginia and District of Columbia museum community through education, technical assistance, and advocacy.

Our Vision A united museum community inspiring the world around us

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40 Things to Know about Virginia Today (for Museum Lovers) compiled by Heather Widener In honor of the 40th anniversary of Virginia Foundation for the Humanities (VFH) as well as in honor of VAM’s 40th conference in 2015, we have compiled a listing of 40 facts of interest to lovers of Virginia’s museums.

Some relate to VAM member museums, others to tourism, advocacy, trends in museums, preservation, and more.

1. Virginia is home to the oldest statewide historic preservation organization in the nation. Founded in 1889 as the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, Preservation Virginia has a proud legacy of saving, preserving, promoting and serving as an advocate for Virginia’s historic places—nearly 200 places! (Source: Preservation Virginia) 2. According to the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), Americans view museums as one of the most important resources for educating our children and one of the most trustworthy sources of objective information. (Source: AAM)

Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC))

4. Berthed at Nauticus, the Battleship Wisconsin is one of the largest and last battleships ever built by the U.S. Navy.

Its displacement is 58,000 tons when it’s loaded, and it has a speed of 33 knots. (Source: Nauticus)

5. Less than fifty years ago, in 1970, only one in every 100 people living in Virginia had been born outside the United States. In 2012, that number was one in nine. (Source: “The Changing Face of Virginia: Immigration and the Humanities,” by David Bearinger, VFH Fall 2014 Newsletter)

9. Because of its successful impact on creating awareness of collections care, VAM’s Virginia’s Top 10 Endangered Artifacts program has been replicated in three states - Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Colorado.

Also, it’s been a featured topic on Heritage Preservation’s Connecting to Collections Online Community. Consider nominating an artifact in 2015!

10. The National Trust for Historic Preservation designated Richmond’s Historic Shockoe Bottom as one of 11 Most Endangered Places in 2014. According to the Trust, “Shockoe Bottom is threatened by potential development of a minor league baseball stadium. Shockoe Bottom’s invaluable resources cannot be seen – none of the buildings from the slave trade remain visible in these eight-blocks, and the artifacts of antebellum Richmond are now below the surface, out of sight. Shockoe Bottom should be protected as a site of conscience....” (Source: National Trust for Historic Preservation) 11. The National Museum of the Marine Corps (NMMC) was named to USA Today’s “10 Best Military Museums that Bring Battles to Life.” They also recently welcomed their 4 millionth visitor! (Source: NMMC) 12. There are 46 state museum associations in the U.S. 63% have no paid staff, relying entirely on a volunteer board. Only six, including VAM, have more than one full time staff person. These six are also the largest in terms of membership and engagement.

They include VA, CA, FL, NY, OK, TX.

(Source: VTC)

13. The oldest brick house in North America is Bacon’s Castle and it is celebrating 350 years in 2015. Preservation Virginia acquired the house in the 1970s and has opened it to the public ever since. (Source:

7. The Museum Universe Data File, compiled by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) contains information about over 35,000 museums in the United States.

The data includes over 1200 museums in Virginia and Washington, D.C. Is your museum listed? (Source: IMLS)

14. Charity Navigator gives The Chrysler Museum of Art its top rating, four stars, for how they handle finances. When Charity Navigator did its holiday gift guide in 2013, it listed the Chrysler as the country’s top museum for fiscal management. (Source: The

6. There are 1070 historic sites in the Virginia.org directory. Is yours in included?

8. “Virginia Green” is a program whereby attractions certify they are providing recycling, minimizing the use of disposable food service products, conserving water, maximizing energy efficiency, and offering

Preservation Virginia)

Chrysler Museum of Art)

15. The average visitor to Virginia who visited a museum, art gallery, or historic site spent $656 while here. (Source: VTC Virginia Travel Survey 2013)

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16. The Mariners’ Museum in Newport News has the largest archaeological marine metals conservation lab in the world. (Source: The Mariners’ Museum) 17. Museums in the U.S. preserve and protect more than a billion objects. (Source: AAM) 18. Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation (JYF) is transforming the Yorktown Victory Center into the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Set to be completed late 2016, this project will include outdoor interpretive areas, living-history areas, long-term exhibits, and educational resources. (Source: JYF) 19. The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) holds more than 12 billion pages of textual records alone.

In FY2014, they recorded over 31 million website visits. (Source: NARA) 20. Virginia’s 36 state parks recorded 8.87 million visitors in 2013. They maintain 530 miles of trails and 260 cabins, 22 family lodges, and 1,608 campsites. (Source: Virginia Department of Conservation and Resources)

21. The Museum of the Confederacy and The American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar have joined forces to form The American Civil War Museum (ACWM). The museum will construct a building at the historic Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond.

The 8.9 acre site will feature a new outdoor exhibit, living history demonstrations, and a new Family Resource Center. (Source: ACWM) 22. In 2012, Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) - accredited institutions provided $160 million in support of approximately 2,700 conservation projects in more than 115 countries. In Virginia, the Virginia Aquarium, The Virginia Living Museum, Virginia Zoo, and Mill Mountain Zoo are AZA accredited. (Source: AZA) 23. Located on the campus of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA), the Robinson House is on the National Register of Historic Places (and is the site of former VAM offices). The Robinson House will be a Richmond Regional Visitor Center, opening in the summer of 2015. (Source: VMFA)

Cover Story

3. Among visitors to Virginia who went to a museum, art gallery, or historic site: 78% visited a historic site, 41% visited a museum; 25% traveled with a child, and the average visitor age was 49. (Source: Virginia Travel Survey 2013,

a green events package. We see many VAM members on the participant list! (Source: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality)

24. Virginia organizations are invited to participate in Heritage Health Information (HHI) 2014 survey, which will inspire and inform the nation’s more than 55,000 archives, historical societies, libraries, museums, scientific research collections, and archaeological repositories. The survey will

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40 Things to Know about Virginia Today continued from page 3 emphasize the preservation of digital collections and provide comparable data to the 2004 HHI. (Source: Heritage Preservation)

25. The Montpelier Foundation recently received a $10 million gift from businessman and philanthropist, David M. Rubenstein. The donation will support refurnishing and interpretation of the mansion and reconstruction of the South Yard, the enslaved community site adjacent to the mansion. (Source: The Montpelier Foundation) 26. The Department of Historic Resources (DHR) identifies, evaluates, and lists significant historic places on the Virginia Landmarks Register and National Register of Historic Places, provides tax credits for historic rehabilitations, places historic highway markers on Virginia’s highways and byways, and accepts and manages easements on historic places, including battlefields. (Source: DHR) 27. The Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) is mapping the reach of art museums.

The project entails mapping the organizations that use museum services (e.g., schools, universities, human service agencies, etc.), the vendors from which museums purchase goods and services, and museum individual, family, and corporate members. (Source: AAMD) 28. The Virginia Historical Society (VHS) is in the midst of their Story of Virginia Campaign, which includes $20 million for capital projects, $8 million for programs, and $10 million for endowment. Construction has begun and should be completed by fall of 2015. (Source: VHS) 29. The Norfolk Botanical Garden (NBG) celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2013. The NBG is comprised of 155 acres with 12 miles of paved trails.

It features 64,800 accessioned plants. (Source: NBG) 30. Virginia is home to 59 museums that are AAM accredited. Has your museum taken the first step by signing the AAM Pledge of Excellence yet? (Source: AAM) 31. A Women’s Monument is being placed at Virginia’s Capitol Square in Richmond. The monument will commemorate the contributions of the women of Virginia over the past 400 years.

The monument will tell the stories of survival, achievement, pioneering spirit, and triumph over difficult circumstances, and will feature 12 Virginia women. (Source: Women’s Monument Commission) 32. The Science Museum of Western Virginia, in partnership with Virginia Tech, hosted the inaugural Virginia Science Festival in October. In conjunction, the VTC unveiled a new “Virginia is for Science Lovers” logo. Events were held statewide. (Source: Virginia Science Festival) 33. The Virginia Museum of Natural History

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(VMNH) serves about 30,000 people per year through on-site visitation, including 52% from outside the local area, and reaches over 250,000 people each year through traveling exhibits and displays. (Source: VMNH) 34. In 2014 Monticello launched The Mountaintop Project, a multiyear effort to restore Monticello as Jefferson knew it, and to tell the stories of the people—enslaved and free—who lived and worked at Monticello. (Source: Monticello) 35. DHR offers museums access to research data, technical assistance, object conservation and emergency response services, loan of archaeological artifacts from more than 16,000 years ago - 20th century, and hands-on resource kits about African-American and Native American archaeology. Also, DHR is currently developing the 2016-2021 statewide, comprehensive historic preservation plan. (Source: DHR) 36. The Virginia Commission for the Arts (VCA) supports the arts through funding from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. Last year, nearly 7.1 million people attended arts events made possible through VCA funding, including 1.6 million school children. (Source: VCA)

39. The IMAX Dome at the Science Museum of Virginia (SMV) is now the most technologically advanced digital dome theater in the world. It was upgraded in 2014 with a state-of-the-art NanoSeam screen and projectors capable of high definition ten times the power of a typical home theater system. The Digistar 5 fulldome 3D system includes five projectors whose combined resolution produces over 29 million pixels on The Dome. (Source: SMV) 40. VAM’s Governing Council recently voted to adopt our vision statement: A united museum community inspiring the world around us. We want to hear how your museum inspires your world – your community, your visitors, your digital audience. Drop us a note at hwidener@ vamuseums.org. We’d love to share your inspiration in one of our follow-up publications.

We encourage all those who love Virginia’s museums and have dedicated themselves to the sometimes arduous work involved in collecting, educating, preserving, promoting, and – yes – inspiring, to participate in our 40th Annual Conference. It’ll be held in March in Richmond, where we’ll be asking #HaveYouSeenUsLately?

Join us. Be inspired. d

37. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (CWF) runs the world’s largest living history museum. CWF recently honored Chairman on Emeritus, former President and CEO Colin G. Campbell and his wife, Nancy N. Campbell for public service, leadership and stewardship with the Churchill Bell. CWF is now embarking on a $600 million campaign to reinforce and reimagine its role as a leader in history education and historical preservation.

(Source: CWF)

38. Mount Vernon does not accept grants from federal, state, or local governments, and no tax dollars are expended to support its purposes. Mount Vernon is owned and maintained in trust for the people of the VaM Booth 21 ernest Hemingway Home and Museum United States by the Mount Key West, Florida Vernon Ladies’ Association, the oldest national historic preservation organization in the country. (Source: Mount Vernon) . .

MuseuMRails.coM 888 672 1890

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Investment Policy Statements A Must Have Navigation Tool

by Andrew Kramer, CFA© , Wealth and Asset Management Specialist, Capital One N.A.

a file. They are living documents that must be reviewed and updated over time since a stakeholder’s objectives may change.

For example, museums are constantly updating community programs and building new exhibits which may change the objectives of their investment portfolio.

Likewise, capital markets are very dynamic, and adjustments to the investment policy statement may warrant changes.

Think of an investment policy statement (“IPS”) as your GPS system to help you navigate the complexities of managing your investment portfolio. It provides organizations with a strong foundation to help them set specific objectives and to determine the investment strategy and the parties responsible for ensuring the success of the strategy.

The Committee/Board has a fiduciary responsibility for the oversight of the portfolio. A strong fiduciary practice is to review the investment policy statement once a year and confirm that the organization’s goals and objectives have not changed. If changes are warranted, the policy statement should be amended.

Investment policy statements provide a number of advantages.

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Provides Transparency - all stakeholders (Committee/Board, employees, donors, investment managers) will have access to a written document that outlines the objectives of the portfolio and the parties responsible for continuous oversight.

2

Ensures Continuity - as Committee/Board members change over time the statement provides new members with a written description of the objectives of the portfolio and responsibilities of key parties.

3

Removes Emotional Biases – investment decisions should not be made on an emotional basis but with a well thought out plan. An investment policy statement provides a blueprint for making those decisions based on written objectives and constraints.

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Defines Accountability – each party involved in the management of the portfolio is held accountable for their actions, as defined in the investment policy statement.

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Defines Risk Management Protocols – provides that measures to control risk in the portfolio are clearly defined.

Investment policy statements are not static documents that should collect dust in

“The most important duty of the fiduciary or trustee is the development and ongoing maintenance of an investment policy statement (IPS).”

- Trone, Allbright & Taylor (1996),

The Management of Investment Decisions

One Size Does Not Fit All

Virginia museums have many similar characteristics, yet they are also different from one another. Mission statements, financial strength and future plans vary by institution. So too will their investment policy statements vary.

An investment policy statement must be tailored to meet the needs and priorities of each organization. Some generally recommended content may be crucial for one organization but irrelevant to another. Some of the variables that differ from one organization to another include: • Current portfolio income requirements; • Future distribution needs; • Variability of other income sources; • Special/emergency needs; and • Any unique circumstances to develop allocation and spending policies.

“The investment professional must thoroughly understand the investor’s objectives, restrictions, tolerances, and preferences to be able to develop a truly useful policy guide.”

- CFA Institute, Elements of an Investment Policy Statement for Institutional Investors

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Elements of an Investment Policy Statement

While statements will differ by institution, a properly executed investment policy statement will have common elements.

Below is our “Top 10 List” of important elements using three major categories: Governance/Responsibility, Investment Return and Risk, and Spending Policy.

Action Item

Section

Identifies the “Investor” and defines the scope of assets governed by the Policy;

Governance/ Responsibility

States the goals and objectives of the portfolio of the Investment Committee/Board;

Investment Return and Risk

Defines the roles and responsibilities of parties;

Governance/ Responsibility

Thoughtfully defines key parties such as “Investment Consultant”, “Investment Advisor,” and “Investment Manager” and key concepts such as “risk;”

Governance/ Responsibility

States asset classes available (or unavailable) for investment, outlining the purposes and expectations for each;

Investment Return and Risk

Defines the return requirements Investment and expectations based on current Return and Risk and historical market conditions; Creates mechanisms and standards for measuring and managing risk; and

Investment Return and Risk

Establishes a benchmark for measuring performance in absolute and risk-adjusted terms;

Investment Return and Risk

Establishes a mechanism to determine annual spending requirements;

Spending Policy

States certain liquidity requirements for the overall portfolio where needed;

Spending Policy

Governance/Responsibility

Ever try to build a new exhibit without a plan? It’s all in the process!

Managing an investment portfolio is complex, and involves many different parties. A quality IPS must clearly define the roles and responsibilities of these parties. Who is responsible for over-

Technical Insert

Could you take that long awaited family vacation to the Shenandoah Mountains without your GPS system?

The remote cabin idea sounds great but exactly where is it? How can you navigate mountain back roads without getting lost? What would happen if there was a detour? Your GPS system sets the original roadmap and keeps you on course.

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Investment Policy Statements: A Must Have Navigation Tool continued from page 5 sight of the portfolio and spending? Who is responsible for selecting managers and other investment products? Who is responsible for reviewing and updating (if necessary) the IPS itself? A good IPS will answer these questions.

Investment, Return & Risk Objectives

Based on the objectives defined in the governance section, a policy statement will then define the return and risk requirements and expectations grounded in current and historical market conditions.

The policy statement will provide a list of permissible assets, including specific product or asset class restrictions if applicable. The IPS must also provide asset allocation guidelines, which includes a strategic allocation for the portfolio (policy portfolio) based on long-term outlooks for asset classes, as well as allocation ranges for each asset class allowing for tactical deviations based on market conditions.

exposure. It’s more susceptible to a significant decline in the market. The unemotional decision, based on written constraints, may be to sell assets and re-balance the portfolio. It forces the Committee to sell high and hopefully buy low in another asset class.

Measuring Performance

How has your performance been? A typical answer may be “good.” But what does “good” really mean?

The establishment of a relevant benchmark allows performance and risk to be assessed quantitatively rather than qualitatively. Transparency is increased and allows the Committee/ Board to determine if portfolio objectives have been met. If not, changes may be necessary to improve the performance of the portfolio.

Asset Allocation Policy

Each asset class is listed along with the policy allocation and the minimum/maximum allowable percentages. The allocation for each asset class will change depending on the return of the market in general and the performance of your investment managers. Contributions and withdrawals from the portfolio also affect the percentages for each asset class.

Sample Asset

Minimum Strategic Maximum

Allocation

Allocation

Asset Class US Large Cap Equity US Mid Cap Equity US Small Cap Equity International Equity Emerging Market Equity Fixed Income Alternatives Cash & Cash Equivalents

30% 5% 0% 5% 0% 20% 0% 0%

38% 10% 5% 8% 2% 30% 2% 5%

100%

Target 50% 15% 10% 15% 4% 40% 5% 10%

The benefits of stating a minimum and maximum percentage for each asset class provides the Committee/Board with a structured buy/ sell discipline. For example, let’s assume your US Large Cap weight is now 55% since the US equity market has performed very well over the last several years (equity markets have risen significantly since 2008).

What decision will the Committee make? Will they leave the allocation alone since they believe the US equity market will continue to rise? Or will they perhaps sell some assets and transfer to another asset class?

The emotional answer may be to leave the allocation alone but the portfolio may now be incurring more risk with a higher equity

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Asset allocation tends to occupy the greatest attention from investors and has the greatest impact on the long-term return/income characteristics of the portfolio. However, spending policy has an equal impact on the long-term success of the portfolio. The policy explicitly states the organization’s priorities in balancing its current demands against future goals. Additionally, the policy helps shield the portfolio from imprudent choices during periods of market duress.

Policies which emphasize current spending may risk depleting a portfolio during times of market duress. Yet, emphasizing portfolio preservation and growth risk may fail to provide cash to meet the obligations of the organization.

Long-term portfolios generally seek to maintain and grow the purchasing power of current assets over an extended period of time. Both asset allocation and spending policies affect the long-term maintenance of a portfolio. The two policies must be calibrated to each other and to the goals of the organization.

Spending needs are varied, and understanding the necessary cash flows for specific projects and the probability of those cash flows is important.

Source: Customized benchmark returns based on index returns from Zephyr StyleADVISOR; sample portfolio returns are hypothetical

In this example, performance is shown for a series of different time frames versus a customized benchmark. The benchmark is comprised of a series of index returns using the asset allocation framework that was written into the investment policy statement. Many investment policy statements state that the objective of their investment portfolio is to outperform their benchmark over a three and five-year time frame. In this example, it is clearly shown that the portfolio has not met expectations. It is now up to the Investment Committee to discuss the issue and come up with a series of recommendations. Otherwise, the organization is open to criticism for making a statement that has not been met or properly acted upon.

Spending Policy

What objectives does your investment portfolio support? Are they short-term or long-term? Or perhaps a little bit of both?

For example, promoting art classes and workshops during the year has a much shorter time horizon than plans to build a new exhibit or wing of a museum.

In Summary

Whether you are on a road trip or managing an investment portfolio, getting “lost” has consequences. While using emotion to make a decision sometimes works, having a well thought out plan is a better strategy. Both an investment policy statement and a GPS system have similar qualities. Both allow you to plan the “trip” in advance, inform you when you are on the correct path and alert you when you deviate from the original plan. An investment policy provides a strong foundation to set your objectives, determine the appropriate investment strategy, and ensure that there is sufficient oversight.

“All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination.”

- Earl Nightingale

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Author: Andrew Kramer, CFA© is a Wealth and Asset Management Specialist at Capital One N.A. He focuses on non-profit organizations regarding their investment pools and retirement plans.

Andrew can be reached at andrew.kramer@capitalone.com.

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www.vamuseums.org

2013 - 2014

Annual Report

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his past year at VAM has been an exciting one. It was Jennifer’s first year as director, and Christina’s first year as assistant director. The VAM team has introduced a lot of new things to our members, from new branding and a new website to new membership benefits and opportunities. In particular, we are proud to offer free membership to any student wishing to join. In this way we help nurture the future of the Virginia museum community. In FY2014, we also began serving as the administrators for FRAME, the French Regional American Museum Exchange, and welcomed John Forsythe as coordinator for FRAME in North America. Working with FRAME provides an opportunity to build relationships with the broader art museum community and bring us increased recognition throughout the national and international museum community, while supporting VAM’s operating budget. We are still as committed as always to our fundamental mission: providing professional education, advocacy support, and networking for museum staff, volunteers, and boards across the Commonwealth and in Washington, DC.

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Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

Blair, Inc. Capitol Museum Services, a division of Capitol Exhibit Services, Inc. Cinebar Productions, Inc. Color-Ad, Inc. Cortina Productions CrowdTorch by Cvent, Inc. Dorfman Museum Figures

Glavé & Holmes Architecture Gropen, Inc. HealyKohler Design Hollinger Metal Edge International Spy Museum Markel Artworks Museum Framing

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Left to right: VAM 2014 conference attendees take the opportunity to snap a quick selfie with our Alexandria-based costumed interpreters; VAM’s delegation prepares to visit Senator Kaine’s office during AAM’s Museum Advocacy Day 2014; Catie Drew, Su Thongpan, and a group of VAM members and staff get together and let their hair down during the 2014 Scholarship Reception at the DEA Museum in Arlington.

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Museum Rails Quatrefoil Quinn-Evans Architects StudioAmmons Stumpf & Associates The Design Minds, Inc. Tracy Gillespie Willis of New York, Inc.

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Thank You Member Museums

VAM represents all Virginia and D.C. museums through advocacy, professional education and support. We have over 1,000 members, consisting of individuals, businesses, and member organizations, which range from historic houses to botanical gardens, aquariums, zoos, children’s museums, historical societies, art museums and galleries, battlefields, military museums, and more. VAM thanks the following member institutions for their support in FY2014, making our museum community the best in the nation! Organizations in bold hold memberships at our flagship INS8 level. Organizations marked with an * were new to VAM in FY2014. Welcome!

Abraham Lincoln Library & Museum African American HS of Portsmouth Afro-American Historical Assoc. of Fauquier County Museum Agecroft Hall & Gardens Albemarle-Charlottesville HS Aldie Heritage Association Aldie Mill Historic Park, NVRPA Alexandria Archaeology * Alleghany Highlands Arts & Crafts Center Alleghany HS Allen E. Roberts Masonic Library & Museum, Inc. AMA Museum Augusta Military Acadamy Alumni Association, Inc. Amazement Square, The Rightmire Children’s Museum American Celebration on Parade, Shenandoah Caverns

Casemate Museum at Fort Monroe Authority Cherry Hill Farm, Friends of Cherry Hill Farm Foundation Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum Chesterfield HS Chrysler Museum of Art City of Fairfax (Fairfax Museum & Visitor Center, Ratcliffe-Allison House, and Historic Blenheim) Clarke County Historical Association Museum & Archives Clerk of the Circuit Court, Loudoun Cold War Museum Collingwood Library & Museum on Americanism Colonial Beach HS and Museum Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Dahlgren Heritage Museum * Danville HS

Gari Melchers’ Home & Studio at Belmont Genex Showcase Miniature Museum George C. Marshall Museum George Washington Masonic National Memorial George Washington’s Mount Vernon Gloucester Museum of History Gloucester Museums, Gloucester Courthouse Green & Visitor Center Grayson Crossroads Museum, Historic 1908 Courthouse Greene County HS Gunston Hall Plantation Hampton History Museum Hampton Roads Naval Museum Hampton University Museum Hanover Tavern Foundation Henrico County Museum Services Henricus Historical Park

VAM would like to especially thank the following organizations for their substantial and ongoing support and commitment.

Appomattox County HS Archaeological Society of Virginia & Kittiewan Plantation Ashland Museum Ashlawn-Highland Association for the Preservation of Henrico Antiquities Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum Baron & Ellin Gordon Art Galleries at Old Dominion University Bath County HS Bedford City County Museum Belle Grove Plantation Beth Ahabah Museum & Archives Black History Museum & Cultural Center Blacksburg Museum & Cultural Foundation Blue Ridge Institute & Museum Botetourt County HS & Museum Brownsburg Museum BugBook Computer Museum Cape Charles HS, Museum & Welcome Center Captain Timothy Hill House Carlyle House Historic Park Carver Price Legacy Museum

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Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History * DAR Museum D’Art Center Daura Gallery, Lynchburg College DEA Museum & Visitors Center Dumbarton House Edgar Allan Poe Museum Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum Essex County Museum Fairfax County Park Authority Fairfax Station Railroad Museum, Friends of the Fairfax Station Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, The Fed Experience Floyd County HS Fluvanna County HS Fork Union Military Academy Fort Valley Museum, Inc. Fralin Museum of Art, UVA Fredericksburg Area Museum & Cultural Center Friends of Chevra Thelim, Jewish Museum & Cultural Center Frontier Culture Museum Gadsby’s Tavern Museum

Hermitage Museum & Gardens Historic Christ Church Historic Crab Orchard Museum Historic Hopewell Foundation Historic Sandusky, Lynchburg Civil War Museum Historic Smithfield Plantation Historic St. Lukes Church HS of Western Virginia Isle of Wight County Museum James Madison’s Montpelier James Monroe Memorial Foundation James Monroe Museum & Memorial Library Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation King and Queen County HS & Museum Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection, UVA Lee Chapel & Museum Lee Hall Mansion, Endview Plantation Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden Legacy Museum of African American History Library of Virginia Loudoun Museum Louisa County HS Lynchburg Museum System

Mabel Jones Moore Museum MacCallum More Museum & Gardens Maier Museum of Art, Randolph College Manassas Museum System Mariners’ Museum Martinsville-Henry County HS Mary Ball Washington Museum Mathews County HS Matthews Living History Farm Museum Maymont Foundation Memorial Foundation of The Germanna Colonies Menokin Foundation Middlesex County Museum & HS Miles B. Carpenter Museum Montgomery Museum & Lewis Miller Regional Art Center Monticello Montpelier Center for Arts & Education Museum at the Edinburg Mill Museum of Bags Museum of Chincoteague Island Museum of Culpeper History * Museum of the Middle Appalachians Museum of the Shenandoah Valley National D-Day Memorial Foundation National Firearms Museum, NRA National Museum of the Marine Corps National Sporting Library & Museum Nauticus, National Maritime Center Norfolk Botanical Garden Norfolk Fire- Rescue Museum Norfolk Southern Museum Northern Neck Farm Museum Oatlands Plantation Ohef Sholom Temple Archives Old City Cemetery Old Coast Guard Station Ordnance Training & Heritage Center * Patrick County HS Museum & Family Research Center Patsy Cline Historic House Petersburg Museums Piedmont Arts Portsmouth Museums Preservation Virginia Prince William County Historical Preservation Division Princess Anne County Training School, Union Kempsville High School Museum Radford University Art Museum Rappahannock HS Rawls Museum Arts Red Hill - Patrick Henry National Memorial Foundation Reedville Fishermen’s Museum Reuel B. Pritchett Museum Reynolds Homestead Richmond County Museum

Richmond Railroad Museum Riddick’s Folly Robert Russa Moton Museum Rockbridge HS Rockfish Valley Foundation * Salem Museum & HS Schoolfield Museum & Cultural Center Science Museum of Virginia Science Museum of Western Virginia Society of Port Republic Preservationists Inc. * South Boston-Halifax County Museum of Fine Arts and History Southwest Virginia Museum Historical SP St. John’s Church Foundation Stonewall Jackson House Stratford Hall Plantation, Robert E. Lee Memorial Association Suffolk-Nansemond HS Sweet Briar College, Art Collection & Galleries Tangier History Museum Taubman Museum of Art The American Civil War Museum (Museum of the Confederacy, American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar) The George Washington Foundation The Heritage Museum / Harrisonburg -Rockingham HS The Kinsale Foundation The Lyceum, Alexandria’s History Museum The Valentine Museum Town of Wytheville, Department of Museums Tudor Place Foundation U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum U.S. Army Women’s Museum University Collections of Art & History, Washington & Lee University University Museums, University of Richmond University of Mary Washington Galleries University of Mary Washington’s Historic Preservation Department Vietnam War Foundation Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Virginia Beach Historic Houses Virginia Civil War Trails

Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Historical Society Virginia Holocaust Museum Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Aquarium, & Visitor Center Virginia Living Museum Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Virginia Museum of Natural History Virginia Museum of the Civil War Virginia Museum of Transportation Virginia Quilt Museum Virginia Repertory Theatre Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Virginia War Memorial Education Foundation Virginia War Museum Virginia Zoological Park Virginia’s Executive Mansion Visual Arts Center TCC At Olde Towne VMI Museum Warren Heritage Society Warren Rifles Confederate Memorial Museum Warrenton Antiquarian Society, Weston Farmstead Washington Heritage Museums Waterford Foundation Waynesboro Heritage Foundation Weems-Botts Museum, Historic Dumfries William King Museum of Art Wilton House Museum / NSCDA-VA Wolf Creek Indian Village & Museum Woodrow Wilson House, National Trust for Historic Preservation Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library

Thank you Volunteers!

VAM would like to thank our volunteers - who in FY2014 collectively donated their expertise, time, and made in-kind contributions valued at over $78,000. Our volunteers make everything we do possible. Volunteers make up our Governing Council, board committees, workshop committee, and annual conference committees. Our volunteers in FY2014 include Flourish Creative, creator of our new logo and branding (see ad next page).

John Forsythe, the coordinator for FRAME North America, updates the VAM Governing Council about the VAM / FRAME partnership during a Council meeting in Alexandria. Photo Courtesy of William Strollo.

A Snapshot of VAM’s Reach in FY2014 Workshop attendees: 220 Online training participants: 30 Certificate program students: 160

Graduated: 5

New Applicants: 30 Conference 2014 attendees: 423

Advocacy Day attendees: 25

Legislators reached: 87 VAM website page views: 207,000 Facebook followers: 1,700 Twitter followers: 3,000

Thank you Benefactors!

Eric App Barbara Batson Gretchen Bulova Donald Buma Margo Carlock Bruce Christian Karen Daly

Audrey Davis Elizabeth Davison Diane L. Dunkley Paige Gibbons Tracy Gillespie Douglas K. Harvey Mike Henry

Anna Holloway Paige Hayhurst Judy Ison Twyla Kitts Mary Lague Melanie L. Mathewes Melissa A. Mullins

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Jeanne Niccolls Robin Nicholson William B. Obrochta Robert Orrison Nancy Perry Robin Edward Reed Kym Rice

Gary Sandling Al Schweizer Robert C. Vaughan John H Verrill Dale Wheary Charlotte Whitted

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2013 - 2014 Annual Report, Continued Statement of Financial Position *Modified Cash Basis

Assets

FY2014

FY2013

Current Assets

Cash & cash equivalents $57,598 $31,954 Investments, at fair value $146,207 $123,480

Total Assets

$203,805

VAM Museum Members by Budget Size of Institution

$155,434

$0 to $25,000, 70 museums 30%

$500,001 to $1 million, 17 museums 7%

Liabilities Payroll Liabilities

Net Assets

Unrestricted Temporarily Restricted

$258 $193,645 $9,902

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$250,001 to $500,000, 22 museums 10%

$146,583 $8,851

Total Net Assets

$203,547

$155,434

Total Liabilities and Net Assets

$203,805

$155,434

$100,001 to $250,000, 37 museums 16%

$25,001 to $100,000, 50 museums 22%

Creator of the new VAM identity!

Flourish Creative develops memorable brand identities, marketing materials and illustrated environmental graphics for museums that are designed to inspire visitors, members, and potential donors to return again and again.

flourishrva.com | 804.269.1283

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VAM is for Students

by Heather Widener

VAM is proud to champion future museum professionals through a collection of initiatives designed to invite students into our community, develop their skills and knowledge, and engage them with today’s leaders. Here are a few ways VAM has taken a leadership role in nurturing the future of our profession:

Free Student Membership

New Discounts on Programming In keeping with our philosophy that early engagement in a professional

John Tyler Community College Partnership Brings Expertise to Students

In partnership with John Tyler Community College (JTCC), we have helped create the JTCC Career Studies Certificate in Museum Studies. This online program offers flexibility for busy students. It provides an introduction to the museum field, as well as professional development for students already employed by museums or other collecting institutions. Classes are held online each fall and spring semester and focus on topics in museum

studies, best practices, collections care, and more.

Student Research To Be Presented at #VAM2015 We are pleased to announce that we’ll have a session at our 2015 Annual Conference (March 7 – 10, 2015) focusing on student research. Entitled We’ll Be Seeing You Soon! Inaugural Poster Session for Students in Museum Studies, this session was inspired by the SEMC Spotlight on Student Research in Museums. It will showcase select student projects and offer a way for students to connect with experienced museum professionals and with other students.

To learn about any of our student-based initiatives, visit www.vamuseums.org or give us a call at 804-358-3170.

We’d love to hear from you! d

Over the past 25 years The Curtis Group has worked with nearly 150 nonprofits, many of them arts and cultural organizations across the Commonwealth.

We are a member of the Giving Institute, an organization dedicated to the ethical practice of fundraising. Our team is small enough that you work directly with the principals, but large enough to have a national presence and perspective. n

Fundraising planning studies

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Board development and training

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Campaign counsel and management

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Planned giving counsel

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Capacity-building counsel

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Strategic planning and retreats

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Development assessments

757.496.2224 | www.curtisgroupconsultants.com Facebook.com/thecurtisgroup

Program Updates

Our flagship student-based initiative, VAM now offers free membership to any interested student. Students sign up with an easy online form, uploading an image of their student ID as proof of status. Our free student membership initiative allows students access to our career resources and job board, to professional programming at deep discounts, and to news about the Virginia museum community. They also receive invitations to networking mixers and advocacy events. It is a great way for a student who may be interested in museum work to learn more, network, and engage with their future profession in a meaningful way.

community nurtures greater success, VAM is knocking down cost barriers to professional development for students.

Once they are registered with a free membership, students can register for any workshop for a low price of only $30.

This saves students an additional $25 per workshop over our already low member price of $55 (nonmembers pay $80). It is our hope that affordable opportunities such as VAM workshops will complement students’ academic studies and help them enter the field with knowledge and skills valued by employers.

Twitter.com/thecurtisgroup

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Book Review

Asking: A 59-Minute Guide to Everything Board Members, Volunteers, and Staff Must Know to Secure the Gift

by Jennifer Thomas I was attracted to this volume, by Jerold Panas, for several reasons: it claimed to be a simple, clear overview of making the ask to potential donors, and right in the title it says “A 59 Minute Guide…”. How could I resist a book that I could read in an hour, about a subject that so many of us have a level of discomfort with? If it could teach me a few tips, it would be well worth the purchase price.

After spending my hour (and yes, it really does only take an hour to read through it), I can say that it was worth my time. I was definitely the target audience: someone with little to no fundraising experience, who isn’t really comfortable with the whole idea of it. If this description fits you too, this is a decent place to start.

By fundraising, I mean asking large donors for large capital gifts. This is not a book about foundation grants or annual fund giving; this is strictly about making a “big ask” of an individual. The author has a very easy-toread style, and I came away with several very valuable tips, including this: “Your organization

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doesn’t have needs. People have needs. Your organization has the answer, the solution to problems and challenges. Don’t sell needs—sell your answer…” (Panas, 39).

The chapters are short and clear cut. Panas breaks down the elements of the ask into very bite-sized pieces, making the whole idea of asking for money seem not that overwhelming. Ok, you did this part. See, that wasn’t so hard! Now, to the next step. He also includes sample letters you can adapt for your own use.

The downside to this book, though, is also the author’s style. There were a lot of hokey references, like “Triumph is Just “umph” Added to Try,” (Panas, 62) that I think were designed to keep the subject matter light, and help make readers comfortable with this tough topic, but they tended to rub me the wrong way.

To conclude, you can learn something from this book in just an hour. No one can become a fundraising expert in that time, but if you are a beginner, you will feel a little closer to saying “Maybe I can do this.” It’s a definite step in the right direction! d

Save the Date

Central Virginia Museum Emergency Support Team Alliance for Response Symposium July 28, 2015 Hanover Tavern

More than a Member: Virginia Foundation for the Humanities

by Maggie Guggenheimer and Heather Widener

V

Today, the focus of VFH is to encourage discovery and connection through the humanities by supporting and producing cultural, civic, local, and global educational programs for broad public audiences.

Working with individuals and communities to explore the past, confront current issues, and discover a promising future, VFH focuses efforts on community programs, scholarship, and digital initiatives.

VFH at 40

This year, VFH is celebrating its 40th year connecting people and ideas, broadening perspectives, and enriching lives through the humanities. Since its founding in 1974, VFH has produced more than 40,000 humanities programs serving communities large and small throughout Virginia, the nation, and the world. To celebrate their anniversary, VFH is sharing stories from their past and present.

These stories highlight a few of the ways VFH has helped connect people and ideas to explore the human experience and inspire cultural engagement across the Commonwealth. Every two weeks, a new story is posted at Virginiahumanities.org/40-years40-stories/.

Indeed, this anniversary is not only a time to look back, but also a time to look forward and ask, “So now what?” What do the humanities look like in 21st-century

Virginia? Indeed, what does Virginia look like? David Bearinger, director for grants and community programs at VFH, quoted a statistic in his Fall 2014 article in VFH Views entitled “The Changing Face of Virginia: Immigration and the Humanities.” It said that less than fifty years ago, in 1970, one in every 100 people living in Virginia had been born outside the United States. By 2012, the figure was one in nine. What does that imply for how VFH reaches audiences?

What new programs will evolve? We all know that change is constant, and that new directions are inevitable. As the VFH Board and Staff consider such questions, Vaughan notes the remarkable connections between the issues of today and those upon which the organization was founded in 1974, when the selected theme for VFH was “the individual and community in a changing Commonwealth.”

and Professor of Art History. This event is free, but advance registration is required.

To attend, register online by January 14 at VirginiaHumanities.org/BackStory-Live.

Virginia Festival of the Book: March 18-22, 2015

The Virginia Festival of the Book, a program of Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, is a 5-day festival held in Charlottesville featuring mostly free literary events that are open to the public, honoring book culture, reading, and literacy. Programs range from traditional author readings and book signings to a StoryFest day of children’s authors and storybook characters; from a panel on how to publish a novel to a discussion on running a book club; from a workshop on book-binding to a discussion on freelancer’s rights. 2015 ticketed events: Leadership Breakfast with Beth Macy (March 18), Festival Luncheon with Frances Mayes (March 19), Stories Connect Us: An Evening with Kate DiCamillo (March 19), and Crime Wave Brunch with Karin Slaughter (March 21). To learn more visit VaBook.org.

VAM / VFH “VFH at 40” Signature Events have been ongoing throughout Virginia since September 2014, and have included historian talks, poetry, bluegrass, festivals, conferences, lectures by authors, panel discussions, and more. Among those upcoming are two especially noteworthy programs:

VFH 40th Anniversary Celebration: January 22, 2015, 5:30-7:00 PM

Virginia Foundation for the Humanities (VFH) will host a 40th anniversary celebration on Thursday, January 22, 2015, at the Library of Virginia, 800 East Broad Street, Richmond. The event will begin at 5:30 PM and feature a headlining program in the Lecture Hall entitled “BackStory to the Future...Live!” During the one-hour program the American History Guys—renowned historians Ed Ayers, Peter Onuf, and Brian Balogh—will perform a special live version of their public radio show BackStory, a VFH program. After the show, guests are invited to a private viewing of To Be Sold: Virginia and the American Slave Trade, a Library of Virginia exhibition curated by Maurie D. McInnis, VFH Board member and University of Virginia Vice Provost for Academic Affairs

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Member Profile

irginia Foundation for the Humanities (VFH) is Virginia’s pre-eminent organization connecting people and ideas to explore the human experience and inspire cultural engagement. VFH has grown immensely from a modest but auspicious beginning. At its start in 1974 VFH had but a single full-time staff member, Rob Vaughan, who then and now serves as president.

Today there are 42 full-time employees, four of whom have worked with the Foundation for more than 25 years each. In the beginning, programs consisted primarily of grant-funded projects, until 1980, with the founding of a media resource center and in 1984, the addition of academic fellowships.

In the 30 years since then, VFH has added eleven major programs for a current total of thirteen, including favorites like the Virginia Festival of the Book; With Good Reason; BackStory with the American History Guys; Encyclopedia Virginia; digital editing and publications; and African American, Virginia Indian, and Folklife programming.

VFH has worked in support of museums since its inception, as part of its mission to connect people and ideas to explore the human experience and inspire cultural engagement. The VFH / VAM relationship has evolved along with both organizations.

Back when VFH was founded in 1974, VAM was known as The Virginia History Federation, and the relationship was collegial and informal. It wasn’t until 1980 that we became known as the Virginia Association of Museums, a name that further established our purpose and mission – the education and support of all museums and cultural institutions and those who work in those institutions. VFH support of VAM and museums has taken many forms over the years, from making the Museums on Main Street program possible, to collaborating on advocacy, to funding our ever-popular Fundamentals Forum.

It was in the early 90s, under Governor Wilder’s administration, that the VFH / VAM funding relationship began. It was deemed beneficial to both organizations to have the funding for VAM flow through VFH. Both organizations seek to support humanities scholars as they preserve and interpret the past while confronting issues in the pres-

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Virginia Foundation for the Humanities continued from page 13 ent, to promote an understanding of our heritage and encourage lifelong learning.

Our primary end-user is the public, who benefits from the scholarship behind the museum experience – whether through exhibitions or public programming. For museums, there is the added target audience of future patrons, since collections are held in the public trust and cared for so that future generations may benefit as well.

The partnership between VAM and VFH has enabled VFH to provide services to this large segment of the humanities community while assuring VAM critical operating support. Before the transition, VAM received more than $80,000 in annual support from the Commonwealth. Over the twenty years of the partnership, VAM’s support has fluctuated, mirroring VFH’s support from the General Assembly, but with the goal of providing stable funding for office and program operations. The support allows VAM to fulfill our mission of serving as the resource network of the Virginia and DC museum community through education, technical assistance, and advocacy while pursuing our vision: a united museum community inspiring the

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world around us. Says Vaughan, “I think it’s been a wonderful partnership – going back almost 40 years – that has allowed us to do things together that would have been difficult to do separately…. The collective approach works tremendously, providing a legitimate and sought-after service that has put VFH in the position to work with the museum community as a whole.”

Indeed, the VAM / VFH relationship is still going strong. We’ll be collaborating once again in January on Virginia Museum Advocacy Day at the State Capitol in Richmond, and our upcoming conference will feature a display celebrating the VFH anniversary.

Indeed, our conference keynote speaker is none other than Ed Ayers, one of the “American History Guys” featured on VFH’s BackStory radio program.

Says Sandra G. Treadway, Librarian of Virginia, “Support [from VFH has] made a major difference in VAM’s ability to thrive. VFH has also been a prime funder of museum exhibitions, educational programs, and activities and an organization that has advocated tirelessly for the contributions that museums make to the public’s understand-

ing and appreciation of the humanities....

Today, VFH is a leader in looking down the road to anticipate how Virginia is changing – demographically, economically, culturally – and is funding programs that encourage longtime Virginians and new Virginians to come together to better understand who we are and who we are becoming. Its Folklife, Virginia Indian, African American, BackStory, With Good Reason, and Encyclopedia Virginia programs have become essential vehicles for engaging wider and wider audiences in the best of what the humanities have to offer.” d

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President’s Corner

Dear Members & Friends, Season’s Greetings to all VAM members, supporters and friends. If you are a fan of the number 4, this edition is “four” you. We seem to be stuck on 4’s in this issue with plenty of interesting articles and information for you to ponder.

Our long-time supporter and collegial organization, Virginia Foundation for the Humanities (VFH), is celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. They have been with VAM from the start and we thank them for what they do for the Commonwealth as well as for VAM. A quick look at their web site will inform you of the depth and breadth of their contributions and you can easily find something that attracts your attention and interest there. Many of us have listened to BackStory with the American History Guys on the radio and they never fail to hold our interest. If you know someone on VFH staff, call or send them a happy anniversary note. We are proud to say that VAM and VFH continue to develop new ways to partner in the future and continue our mutually beneficial relationship as we move forward.

Check out the article containing 40 things you may not know about the museums and historic houses in Virginia. We all appreciate the fact that we’ve barely scratched the surface about what we offer to our communities, and they certainly draw travelers here for visits.

presenting the highest quality conference experience and making it worthwhile for you to attend.

Looking to the future of VAM, the Council is hard at work on a variety of actions. We are continuing our commitment to plan for our financial security. We are working with AAM as a test bed for their advocacy initiatives. Our new, free student membership initiative is taking hold and we are committed to providing the next generation of museum professionals with the skills they need for their careers.

Finally, what museum does not need more money? Andrew Kramer of Capital One has some new ideas for you to consider in our Technical Insert, entitled “Investment Policy Statements: A Must Have Navigation Tool.”

None of this is possible without the assistance of our loyal sponsors and members. To all of you we say thanks and we appreciate your support. You provide us with the encouragement and support to move forward. Please share with your Council representative any ideas or questions you might have.

Happy Holidays to you and yours. Enjoy some close and well deserved family time.

Sincerely,

Al Al Schweizer President Virginia Association of Museums

This coming March, we hope to see you in Richmond for the 40th annual conference. We’ve had an amazing track record of success. The hotel is ready and our Local Arrangements Committee is finishing their planning. This is going to be a good experience punctuated with great sessions, terrific speakers and our usual assembly of industry friends and supporters in the exhibit hall. Be sure to talk to them, they have great ideas. If they cannot help, they certainly know someone who can. We are very committed to

Save the Date - VAM’s 2015 Annual Conference will be in Richmond March 7th - 10th. Join us!