OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

NEA ANNOUNCES BIG READ GRANTS AWARDS IN CELEBRATION OF GREAT AMERICAN BOOKS
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced that 72 organizations will receive grants to support Big Read programs between January and June 2007. The Big Read is a new national program by the NEA, in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and Arts Midwest, that encourages literary reading by asking communities to come together to read and discuss one book. The organizations selected to participate in the Big Read will receive grants ranging from $5,000 to $40,000 to promote and carry out month-long, community-based programs. CAM congratulates the Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga and the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas who were selected for Phase I of the Big Read. For more information, please visit http://www.arts.gov/news/news06/BRPhaseI.html.

AAM PRESENTS COLLECTIONS STEWARDSHIP WORKSHOP IN SAN FRANCISCO, JANUARY 12-13
The American Association of Museums (AAM) is hosting a workshop entitled, Best Practices in Collections Stewardship: Writing a Collections Management Policy. This workshop will be held in San Francisco on January 12-13, 2007 and will provide step-by-step guidance on developing and writing an effective collections management policy. Topics include: who should be involved, issues to address, and the benefits and drawbacks of various policy options. Register by Friday, December 29, 2006 at http://www.aam-us.org/getinvolved/learn/stewardshipseminar.cfm#registration. For questions contact seminars@aam-us.org or call (202) 289-9114.

IMLS GRANTS FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE MUSEUMS AVAILABLE
The National Museum of African American History and Culture Act of 2003 authorizes the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), in consultation with the Council and Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, to create a new grant program to strengthen African American museum services. Museum Grants for African American History and Culture is intended to build professional capacity in the African American museum community. It will provide an opportunity for African American museums to design projects that will enhance institutional capacity and sustainability by utilizing professional training, technical assistance, internships, outside expertise and other tools. Deadline to apply is January 15, 2007. For detailed information, visit http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/AfricanAmerican.shtm.

PROMOTE YOUR ORGANIZATION ON AVIEWOFAMERICA.COM
AViewofAmerica.com is a website dedicated to providing useful information for families traveling around the United States. Attractions are categorized by type, city, and state. Each listing can include pictures, institution profiles, admission details, and contact information. To showcase your institution or event, visit http://aviewofamerica.com/addyourattractions.htm. For more information, email Darryl Franklin at info@aviewofamerica.com.

FOUNDATION CENTER RELEASES NEW PUBLICATION ON KEY ISSUES FOR NONPROFITS
The Foundation Center has released a new publication, Wise Decision-Making in Uncertain Times: Using Nonprofit Resources Effectively, which focuses on the challenges faced by nonprofits in the post-9/11 world. This report is a follow-up to the Center’s recent Effective Economic Decision-making by Nonprofit Organizations publication. The new release highlights the critical challenges of fiscal sustainability for nonprofits, and encourages organizations to take a more expansive approach to funding outreach. For more information, or to order, please visit the Center’s website at http://foundationcenter.org/marketplace/catalog/product_monograph.jhtml?id=prod970001.

AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS SEEKS SESSION PROPOSALS FOR ITS 2007 ANNUAL CONVENTION
Americans for the Arts is seeking session proposals for its upcoming annual convention Risk & Reward: Balancing Acts in Arts and Community in Las Vegas, Nevada, June 1-3, 2007. The annual convention draws more than 1,000 creative leaders from the arts and creative business, as well as professionals in education, community building, and economic development at local, state, and national levels. As a national forum for creativity and innovation in our field, the annual convention highlights the work of leading thinkers and savvy practitioners who translate their expertise into actionable knowledge. For more information, please see http://ww3.artsusa.org/events/2007/convention/default.asp.

JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION WELCOMES NOMINATIONS FOR CALIFORNIA LEADERSHIP AWARDS
The James Irvine Foundation Leadership Awards recognize Californians who are advancing innovative and effective solutions to significant issues for the state's future. The awards are designed to recognize effective leaders; advance their work through financial support and greater visibility; and, educate policymakers and others about promising approaches to important state issues. Leaders recognized by the program may be working within any sector -- nonprofit, public, or private -- and within any field, such as education, health, housing, economic development, or the environment. Deadline to apply is January 19, 2007. Visit the Irvine Foundation Web site for details: http://www.irvine.org/leadershipAwards/.

DARING TO LEAD 2006 REPORT SHOWS SOLUTIONS FOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BURNOUT
Daring to Lead 2006, a joint project of CompassPoint Nonprofit Services and The Meyer Foundation, summarizes how nonprofit executive director burnout can be mitigated by grantmaker initiatives and changes in organizational and board practices. The report involved nearly 2,000 nonprofit executives across the country. To read the full report, see http://www.compasspoint.org/assets/194_daringtolead06final.pdf. The Foundation Center has also posted a commentary on the report by Julie Rogers, President and CEO of the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation. To read Rogers' commentary, visit: http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/10005185/comment/rogers.

LEFT COAST PRESS CALLS FOR MANUSCRIPTS FOR NEW MUSEUM HISTORY JOURNAL PUBLICATION
Left Coast Press is welcoming manuscripts to be considered for publication in the Museum History Journal, a new, refereed international semi-annual publication of critical evaluative histories relating to museums. The term “museum” will be interpreted to include not only a broad range of museum types, including natural history, anthropology, archaeology, fine art, history, medical, and science and technology, but also related cultural institutions, such as aquaria, zoos, botanical gardens, arboreta, historical societies and sites, architectural sites, archives, and planetariums. A variety of scholarly approaches, such as analytical, narrative, historical, cultural, social, quantitative, and intellectual, are encouraged. Submissions will be processed throughout the year and will appear on a first-accepted basis. To be considered for the inaugural issue of the journal (January 2008), manuscripts should be submitted by March 1, 2007. For more information, see http://www.lcoastpress.com.

Get the Word Out in CAM e-News!
Please email the CAM office at editor@calmuseums.org to list any announcements pertaining to professional development programs, grant opportunities, or related opportunities in future editions of CAM e-News and on the CAM web site. Since it is not possible to include all the details of an announcement, please include a phone number, web site address, or email address so interested parties can get additional information. Please do not exceed a limit of 150 words per listing. All announcements are subject to editing by CAM personnel.