CAM e-NEWS 10/12/2005

CAM E-NEWS 10/12/05

CAM e-News is a biweekly, electronic newsletter for members and supporters of the California Association of Museums (CAM). If you have any questions or suggestions regarding future editions of CAM e-News or any of our programs, please email CAM at cam@calmuseums.org.

CAM e-News is supported in part by a grant from Associated Foundations, Inc.

FIND YOUR MUSE... Be a member of the California Association of Museums! CAM is the only professional association specifically addressing the needs and interests of California’s museums and relies on membership dues to support its programs and services. Membership benefits and fees are available at http://www.calmuseums.org/membership.

THE PROGRAM FOR THE 2006 CAM CONFERENCE IS NOW AVAILABLE

The preliminary program and schedule for the 2006 California Association of Museums (CAM) conference is not available online! CAM invites you to consider the future of museums and examine strategies for obtaining our goals at Eyes on the Horizon: Envisioning and Realizing Our Future, the 2006 CAM conference in Monterey, California, February 21-24, 2006. This conference will bring together a diverse group of museum professionals from across California for a stimulating and enjoyable exchange of ideas, perspectives and resources. Monterey's breathtaking natural beauty and cultural offerings will be the backdrop for an unforgettable conference with numerous Monterey Bay institutions hosting tours, workshops, and special evening events. The conference will be held at the Monterey Beach Resort, located on the beach in beautiful Monterey. Imagine looking out the lobby or meeting room windows to see miles of sand dunes, waves crashing on the shore, and views of historic Monterey and Cannery Row.

To get all the details and view the Preliminary Program and registration details, go to http://www.calmuseums.org/cam2006/index.html. Early bird discounted rates are available through January 15, 2006. The programs were mailed recently to members and supports of CAM. If you do not receive a preliminary program and would like a hard copy mailed to you, please email admin@calmuseums.org or call (831) 471-9970.

We are very pleased to announce that the California Association of Museums (CAM) was recently awarded a grant from the Getty Foundation to conduct a comprehensive study of California museums. The data collected about California museums will be pivotal in strengthening the field as a whole, communicating our value to stakeholders and legislators, and developing benchmarking tools for museum administrators. The survey will be conducted online and analyzed by the Public Research Institute (PRI) at San Francisco State University. There will be three reports generated from this survey:

The 2005 Salary Survey and Financial Information Report of California Museums will include salary ranges and financial data to assist museum administrators in benchmarking their museum with similar institutions. All institutional CAM members will be sent a complimentary copy of this publication in the Spring.
The Assessment of Needs of California Museums will be used by CAM to develop professional development programs that reflect the field's greatest needs.
The Impact of Museums on the California State Economy will outline the economic impact of California's museums as well as the extent of the services and programs they offer the state's citizens and visitors. This report will be sent to all state legislators and other policymakers and the data will be used to support additional resources and funding that benefit the state's museums.

In a few weeks, every museum in California will receive a postcard inviting full participation in this study. The postcard will contain the instructions on how to complete the online survey and provide a unique access code for each organization. Each museum's response will be completely confidential and most questions are multiple choice. Please contact PRI at 415/338-2978 for a hard copy of the survey. For general questions, please contact Celeste DeWald, CAM Executive Director, at 831-471-9970 or cam@calmuseums.org.