In 2006, the CAM Board of Directors took the forward-thinking step to develop a Green Museums Initiative (GMI) to inspire California museums to develop green business practices, eco-friendly facility management, and sustainable programming. The initial goal of GMI is to "green" the daily operations, conferences, workshops, and events of CAM. By changing the way it conducts its own operations and programs, CAM will provide a model for other institutions and decrease its ecological footprint.

The 2007 CAM Conference in Long Beach was GMI's first step in achieving this initial goal, with sessions on sustainability and several eco-friendly practices. Ultimately, and thanks to sponsorship support from Bon Appetit Management Company, John F. Kennedy University, and Atthowe Fine Art Services, CAM provided the following green practices:

100% organic cotton tote bags;
A conference program printed with vegetable ink on recycled paper;
Sustainable cuisine whenever possible;
Use of real tableware and linens at meals;
Corn plastic plates and recycled paper napkins at some evening events;
Created a Carbon Neutral event by offsetting conference greenhouse gas emissions;
Flyers printed on 100% post consumer waste paper with vegetable inks;
Printing eco-audit; and
Recycling at events.

A booklet describing the greening of the conference was given to all conference attendees and additional copies will be mailed to CAM institutional members in the coming weeks. Over the next few years, GMI’s goal is to provide CAM members with the resources and the information to make a difference. GMI welcomes feedback and questions. Contact GMI at gmi@calmuseums.org. For additional information on GMI & the conference, see http://www.calmuseums.org/conferences_and_workshops/2007GMI.html.

CAC OFFERS ARTISTS IN SCHOOLS GRANT OPPORTUNITY
The California Arts Council (CAC) is pleased to announce the availability of "Artists in Schools" program support for 2007-08. The intent of the Artists in Schools program is to integrate community arts resources--artists and professional art organizations--into a comprehensive, standards-based Visual and Performing Arts curriculum in California schools that underscore the critical role that the arts play in shaping students' overall well being and academic achievement. The deadline to apply is April 26. Applications are available at http://www.cac.ca.gov/344/. For more information on Artists in Schools, please contact Wayne Cook at (916) 322-6344 or wcook@caartscouncil.com, or visit the CAC website at http://www.caartscouncil.com.

AUDIO NOW AVAILABLE FROM PANEL DISCUSSION ON CA FOUNDATIONS
On January 31, Steven Lawrence of the Foundation Center and James M. Ferris of the Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy at USC presented "California Foundations: An Examination of Recent Trends and Future Prospects." In a panel discussion that followed, Martha Campbell of the James Irvine Foundation and Dianne Yamashiro-Omi of the California Endowment offered their perspectives on the outlook for the California foundation community and emerging issues for the state's grantmakers. To listen to the program or for more information, visit http://foundationcenter.org/sanfrancisco/ca_found_jan31.html.

IMLS ACCEPTING PROPOSALS FOR PROMOTING CONSERVATION BOOKSHELF
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is accepting proposals to purchase and distribute a set of conservation-related books, bibliographies, DVDs, and on-line resources as part of its Connecting to Collections initiative (see http://www.imls.gov/about/collections.shtm). The grant winner will also mount a promotional campaign about the Connecting to Collections initiative and the Conservation Bookshelf, with special attention to raising awareness and soliciting requests for the bookshelf from small to medium-sized museums, libraries, and archives. The deadline to apply is April 12. For more information, see http://www.imls.gov/pdf/ConsBookshelfRFP.pdf.

SAVE AMERICA’S TREASURES AWARDS $7.6 MILLION IN GRANTS, INCLUDING TWO ORGANIZATIONS IN CALIFORNIA
The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH), National Park Service (NPS), National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) jointly announced the awarding of $7.6 million in federal Save America’s Treasures (SAT) grants. Through the congressionally-appropriated SAT program, awards were made to 23 historic properties and sites and 19 nationally significant collections of artifacts, documents and artistic works. CAM would like to congratulate Alcatraz Island Gardens and the Hearst Metrotone Newsreel Collection for being among the recipients of the SAT awards. To view a full list of awardees, visit http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/treasures/download/2006SATgrants.pdf.

CCAHA OFFERS SUBSIDIZED PRESERVATION NEEDS ASSESSMENTS
The Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) is now accepting applications for participants in its competitive subsidized Preservation Needs Assessment Program for paper-based collections. A Preservation Needs Assessment is a key first step in developing a preservation plan for collections. In addition to pinpointing areas of concern, the preservation needs assessment is widely recognized as a valuable tool in fundraising for collections. Through funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), CCAHA is able to offer a limited number of subsidized preservation needs assessments for $350. The deadline for application is Friday, May 18. Application forms for the Preservation Needs Assessment Program can be found on CCAHA’s website at http://www.ccaha.org. For more information, contact CCAHA’s Preservation Services Office at (215) 545-0613 or by email at ccaha@ccaha.org.

CAAE AND CCSESA PRESENT ART LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE IN MAY
The California Alliance for Arts Education (CAAE) and the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA) Arts Initiative present "State of the Arts," a leadership conference for Californians involved in arts education and the arts, on May 15-16 in Sacramento. CAAE and CCSESA invite your leadership and participation in shaping the vision of ensuring that every student benefits from a comprehensive vision for arts education, and that funds continue and are spent in a way that guarantees quality, equity and access to the arts for all students. For more information, visit http://wwwstatic.kern.org/gems/ccsesa/ArtsConferenceregistration.pdf to download a brochure.

GREEN FOUNDATION GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR ARTS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS
The Green Foundation is now accepting applications for grants focused on four specific areas - the arts, education, medical and scientific research, and special projects. Funding aims to assist organizations in uncovering new opportunities to encourage growth and ultimately effect positive change within those institutions funded. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. For detailed information, visit http://ligf.org/programareas.html.

SURVEY FINDS MANY YOUNG NONPROFIT PROFESSIONALS EXPECT TO LEAVE CHARITY WORK
According to a new survey reported on in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, many young nonprofit workers say they expect to leave the charity world, citing long hours and low pay as key reasons. The survey, released at the national conference of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network, found that more than 70 percent of young nonprofit employees don’t ever expect to serve as the executive director of a charity. To read the full report in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, visit http://philanthropy.com/free/update/2007/03/2007031301.htm.

NEH ANNOUNCES PRESERVATION ASSISTANCE GRANTS FOR SMALLER INSTITUTIONS
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has announced its Preservation Assistance Grants, which help small and mid-sized institutions improve their ability to preserve and care for their humanities collections. These may include special collections of books and journals, archives and manuscripts, prints and photographs, moving images, sound recordings, architectural and cartographic records, decorative and fine arts, textiles, archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, furniture, and historical objects. The deadline to apply is May 15, 2007. For detailed information, visit http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/pag.html.

CULTURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PROGRAM OFFERS DISTANCE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
The Cultural Resource Management Program at the University of Victoria is offering a variety of distance and immersion learning opportunities for spring and summer 2007. The syllabus for Human Resource Management in Cultural Organizations is available at http://www.uvcs.uvic.ca/crmp/courses/ha488p.aspx. This class lasts from May 7 to August 3; registration deadline is April 13. Managing Archival Collections is available as a six-day immersion course from June 18 through 23. See the class outline at http://www.uvcs.uvic.ca/crmp/courses/ha488b-archival.aspx. Visit the Cultural Resource Management Program website for more details: http://www.uvcs.uvic.ca/crmp.

CAN OFFERING NONPROFIT ACCOUNTING BOOT CAMP
The California Association of Nonprofits (CAN) will be hosting an Accounting Boot Camp on Wednesday, April 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for California’s Central Coast region. This class will provide an opportunity to learning the fundamentals of nonprofit accounting so registrants will be able to speed up processing time and increase confidence that it's being done correctly the first time. The class will be held at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, 8272 Moss Landing Road, in Moss Landing. Additional workshops, doubled with Quickbooks training, will be hosted on September 19-20 in Oakland, and September 25-26 in Palm Desert (registration opens April 6). Visit the CAN website for more details or to register at http://www.canonprofits.org/.

CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL TO HOST PUBLIC MEETING IN LOS ANGELES IN APRIL
The California Arts Council (CAC) will meet publicly in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 5, 2007, at the Getty Center at 1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 400, Los Angeles. The meeting will last from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 pm. The Council will conduct general business, including the approval of the "Creating Public Value", "State and Local Partners", and "Statewide Service Network" programs. The public is invited to attend and address the Council during the public comment period in the morning. For more information, contact the California Arts Council's Mary Beth Barber at (916) 322-6588 or mbarber@caartscouncil.com. Information on The Getty Center can be found at http://www.getty.edu/visit/contact.html, including directions, parking, and other general questions. For more information about the CAC, visit their website at http://www.caartscouncil.com.

ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTEER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT ANNOUNCES INCORPORATION
The Association of Volunteer Resources Management (AVRM) is proud to announce that it became incorporated on March 5, 2007. The organization next plans to file for IRS tax exemption as a nonprofit organization. The primary goals of this new association will be to support and serve the professionals who work in volunteer resources management through advocacy, educational programming and the provision of resources that meet the needs of the diverse field. AVRM is currently planning a conference for October, 2007, and will post the details on its new website at http://avrm.org.

THE CTTC REQUESTS SUBMISSIONS FOR FALL FOLIAGE PRESS RELEASE
The California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC) is accepting submissions for a press release for long-lead media outlets that will detail where to view the state's best changing colors, harvest festivals, hay rides, as well as a sidebar that promotes California’s best foliage driving routes. The CTTC also encourages submissions for information about classes that teach the best way to capture fall colors (via painting, photography, etc.). The deadline for submissions is Friday, April 6. All submissions must be via the official form, available by email through Sam Caygill, Media Relations Manager, at scaygill@cttc1.com. Any other submissions will not be accepted. For details, visit the CTTC’s website at http://www.visitcalifornia.com, or contact Sam at (916) 319-5424.

FRENCH AMERICAN CULTURAL EXCHANGE INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR CONTEMPORARY ART GRANTS
A program of the French American Cultural Exchange, Etant donnés: The French-American Fund for Contemporary Art offers grants to American nonprofit institutions organizing exhibitions, installations, artist residencies, publications, or other projects by living French artists or to French nonprofit institutions presenting the same types of projects involving American artists. The deadline to apply is March 31. Visit the French American Cultural Exchange Web site at http://www.facecouncil.org/ for complete program information, including a list of past grantees and the application form.

CAAE OFFERS ARTS EDUCATION PLANNING GUIDE
The California Alliance for Arts Education (CAAE) CAAE is pleased to offer The Insider’s Guide to Arts Education Planning as a hands-on, how-to planning process guide for schools, districts and counties. Field tested by experienced Arts Education Planning Coaches and Community Arts Teams, best practices, innovative ideas, templates and strategies are offered as a handbook to navigate the sometimes challenging terrain of arts education planning. For more information, visit http://www.artsed411.org/insiders-guide/intro.stm.

FOUNDATION CENTER OFFERS WEBSITE SPOTLIGHT OPPORTUNITY
The Foundation Center’s Spotlight On section of its website highlights the mission, program activities, and funding needs of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in the Bay Area. The current spotlight features the Museum of the African Diaspora, San Francisco's newest museum, which explores the universal connection of humankind to Africa through its exhibitions and programs. If you'd like to see your nonprofit organization in Spotlight On, e-mail a profile (using the format on the web as a model) to jej@foundationcenter.org. For more information, visit the Foundation Center website at http://www.foundationcenter.org.

CALFEST ANNUAL CONFERENCE SUCCESSFUL, FOCUSED ON CULTURAL TOURISM
California Festivals and Events (CalFest) held its annual Conference in Burbank, February 20-22, and one of the topics discussed was cultural tourism and the impact of festivals on the field. CalFest is an organization that supports the efforts of California and Nevada’s local governments and nonprofits. Because so many community festivals center around or include the arts, one of CalFest’s goals is to foster and support the arts. Staff from the Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC) participated and discussed the importance of cultural events like festivals to the state's tourism industry, and directed attendees to investigate the CTTC website at http://culturecalifornia.com/culturecalifornia/. To view the conference brochure, visit http://www.calfest.org/calendar_update.php#. For more information on CalFest, see http://www.calfest.org/.

NEW ONLINE COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT POLICIES COURSE
The Northern States Conservation Center is pleased to add Collections Management Policies for Museums and Related Institutions to its online collection management curriculum. This course outlines how acquiring and holding collections impose specific legal, ethical and professional obligations, and illustrates how a well-crafted collections management policy is key to collections stewardship. This course begins April 2 and runs through May 19. For more information about the course, instructor, or to sign up, visit http://www.museumclasses.org.

IRVINE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES $7.3 MILLION IN FIRST-QUARTER GRANTS
The James Irvine Foundation has awarded thirteen first-quarter grants totaling more than $7.3 million in support of its mission to expand opportunity for the people of California. The foundation awarded four grants totaling $1.8 million through its arts program, including $300,000 to the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts for the expansion of a multicultural arts and civic-leadership training program for underserved youth in Richmond. For a complete list of recipients, visit the foundation's Web site at http://irvine.org/irvine_news/press_releases/2007/03-14_grants_listing.shtml.

CAPTAIN PLANET FOUNDATION GRANTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROJECTS
The Captain Planet Foundation funds hands-on environmental projects involving children and young adults in communities across the United States. All projects must promote understanding of environmental issues, focus on hands-on involvement, involve children and young adults between the ages of 6 and 18 (elementary through high school), promote interaction and cooperation within the group, help young people develop planning and problem solving skills, include adult supervision, and commit to follow-up communication with the foundation. The deadlines for submitting grant applications are March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31. For complete program information and an online application form, visit the Captain Planet Foundation Web site at http://www.captainplanetfdn.org/.

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.