May is California Museum Month and a time for museum professionals to celebrate the essential services and programs we provide our communities and the state. CAM is commencing its eighth public relations and advocacy campaign on behalf of the state’s museums to communicate the value and importance of museums in California. Tools to help museum leaders participate in CAM's advocacy and public awareness campaign are now available online. These tools include:

• a brochure about California museums and CAM;
• a fact sheet about California museums;
• reasons why every museum leader should know their legislators;
• a checklist for meeting with elected officials;
• sample letters;
• key messages and talking points; and
• pointers for sending a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.

This information and these resources are also included in the 2007 California Museum Month Toolkit, which is being sent to all current CAM institutional and individual members. Members will also receive copies of the California museums brochure. Take action now to invite your state legislator to visit your museum in May! Visit http://www.calmuseums.org/museum_month/index.html to learn more about California Museum Month and download these resources.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

NEW ONLINE LEGAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS
A new website has been launched that offers primers on the law for artists and arts organizations on all aspects of the policy environment for the arts. Topics range from the traditional and familiar, including copyright issues, to the new and sometimes obscure. The website also hosts a variety of topics including how to find healthy art production materials, professional tips on developing contracts, and political issues such as free speech and the arts. This website is available at http://www.thelawportal.info.

IMLS EXTENDS DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS TO PURCHASE, PROMOTE, AND DISTRIBUTE A CONSERVATION BOOKSHELF
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is extending its deadline for proposals for its Connecting to Collections: A Call to Action initiative to April 26. This initiative invites applications to purchase and distribute a set of conservation-related books, bibliographies, DVDs, and on-line resources. IMLS’ goal is to provide basic texts and resources free of charge to a broad spectrum of library, museum, and archive staff based on a simple application. For more information about the project and application details, see http://www.imls.gov/about/collections.shtm.

VENTURA, LOS ANGELES, AND SAN FRANCISCO RANKED IN TOP TEN BEST CITIES FOR ARTISTS IN THE U.S.
In the February 26, 2007 issue of Business Week Online, Ventura, Los Angeles, and San Francisco are named as three of the top ten areas in the U.S. for artists. The cities were ranked by finding the metropolitan areas that have the highest concentration of artistic establishments. Other factors considered were the relatively low cost of living, the percentage of young people, population diversity, and concentration of cultural venues, resources and programs. To read the full article, visit http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/feb2007/db20070226_149427.htm.

VALUE OF VOLUNTEER TIME INCREASED TO $18.77 PER HOUR IN 2006
According to Independent Sector (IS), the value of a volunteer hour in 2006 reached $18.77 per hour, up from $18.04, or 4 percent, in 2005. The estimate, which is updated annually, is based on the average hourly wage (plus 12 percent, to allow for fringe benefits) for all non-management, non-agriculture workers as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The announcement by IS coincides with preparations for National Volunteer Week, April 15-21, which recognizes and celebrates America's legacy of volunteerism and the value that Americans place on helping others. For more information on IS, visit their website at http://www.independentsector.org/.

AASLH OPENS REGISTRATION FOR PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) has opened registration for its next Performance Management group scheduled to begin in June. Performance Management is a valuable program offered to historic sites, societies, and museums nationwide to improve visitor satisfaction and increase their overall fund raising efforts through surveying and measuring visitors’ opinions. For a list of participating organizations, visit http://www.aaslh.org/perfmanagement.htm. To register for the next Performance Management group or to request further information, contact Cherie Cook, Project Director, at cook@aaslh.org or at (316) 721-9956.

ORAL HISTORY PROJECT WORKSHOP IN SAN FRANCISCO, JUNE 8-10
Registration is now available for a three-day Oral History workshop to be held in the San Francisco Performing Arts Library & Museum on June 8-10. The workshop will provide the training necessary for participants to launch their own oral history projects. While drawing on references and examples in the performing arts, the workshop will be equally appropriate for those involved in anthropology, institutional history, social history, family history, personal history, master’s or doctoral studies, or other projects. The courses are designed to match the experience levels of all participants — beginning, intermediate, or advanced. Workshop is limited to 20 participants; pre-registration is required. The workshop fee is $300, or $350 after May 15. Two partial scholarships are available; scholarship applications are due before May 1. Fee includes syllabus/guidebook containing all the material taught in the workshop, special readings, and other vital information. To register, or for more information, email legacy500@gmail.com or call (415) 255-4800, ext. *823.

AT&T OFFERS TECHNOLOGY GRANTS FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
AT&T Excelerator grants are designed to help nonprofit organizations improve their operations and build stronger communities through Internet access, data networking, online outreach, staff technology capacity, and pooled technology resources. The deadline to apply is May 4. For more information, or to download a copy of the 2007 Request for Proposals application form, visit http://www.att.com/gen/corporate-citizenship?pid=7745.

FREE WORKSHOP TO GET BOARD INVOLVED WITH FUNDRAISING
The Foundation Center is offering a free class to help get a nonprofit organization’s Board of Directors involved with fundraising. The class will include discussions on the role of the board, why board members may be reluctant to fundraise and how to overcome these concerns, ways the board can participate in the fundraising process, and tips for strengthening a fundraising board. The class is available in Oakland on April 24, from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. or in San Francisco on May 21, from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m., and June 20, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Space is limited. Registration is available online, at http://foundationcenter.org/sanfrancisco/ybafsf.html, or by calling (415) 397-0902.

ALHFAM STILL ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS FOR 2007 CONFERENCE
The Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums (ALHFAM) is still accepting registrations for its 2007 Conference, Following Old Trails, Blazing the New: Museums & Community, to be held June 1 – 5 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. There are currently some room accommodations still available onsite. Visit http://www.alhfam.org/index.php?cat_id=245&nav_tree=111,113,245 for program materials and registration details.

CAN OFFERS MONEY MATTERS WORKSHOPS IN FOUR CALIFORNIA LOCATIONS
The California Association of Nonprofits (CAN) will be hosting day-long Money Matters workshops in four California locations this spring. The workshop will be hosted in San Bernardino on May 3, Silicon Valley on May 9, Concord/East Bay on May 10, and in Sonoma on June 6. The workshop covers a variety of essential nonprofit finance and accounting management tools, including the latest updates on state and federal regulations pertaining to nonprofits, how to safeguard organizations against fraud, and important details about an audit committee and its role in nonprofits. For details on the program and how to register, visit the CAN website at http://www.canonprofits.org/events/moneymatters.html.

IMLS REQUESTS PROPOSALS TO STUDY PUBLIC FUNDING METHODS FOR MUSEUMS
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is inviting proposals for a cooperative agreement to examine the effectiveness of different mechanisms of delivering public support to museums in the United States. IMLS is supporting this study to provide data that can be used to help enhance current methods of delivering federal and state funds to the nation's museums. For more information, visit http://www.imls.gov/pdf/MuseumFundingRFP.pdf (PDF, 73KB).

STUDY FINDS FOUNDATION GIVING CONTINUED DOUBLE-DIGIT GROWTH IN 2006
Giving by the nation's 71,000 grantmaking foundations rose to an estimated $40.7 billion in 2006, an 11.7 percent increase from 2005, a new report by the New York City-based Foundation Center finds. According to the 2007 edition of Foundation Growth and Giving Estimates: Current Outlook, the growth follows a 14.3 percent increase in 2005, the first time U.S. foundations have reported consecutive years of double-digit growth in giving since 1996-01. To read the report by the Foundation Center, visit http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=174400037. To download the full study (18 pages, PDF), visit http://foundationcenter.org/gainknowledge/research/pdf/fgge07.pdf.

VENTURA HOSTS ARTS LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ON APRIL 20
On Friday, April 20th, the City of Ventura Cultural Affairs Division will host Robert Lynch, CEO & President of the national arts advocacy organization, Americans for the Arts, as the keynote speaker for the Arts Leadership in a Changing Environment: New Skills, New Approaches conference. The conference will be held at Ventura City Hall from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Following the keynote address, John E. McGuirk, from the James Irvine Foundation, will host a panel discussion focusing on their recently released report Critical Issues Facing the Arts in California. Conference registration fee is $40 (includes lunch and materials). A reception will immediately follow at a local restaurant. To register by phone, call (805) 658-4726 (class code#18547). For more information, call (805) 654-7831 or visit http://www.ci.ventura.ca.us/depts/arts_culture/index.asp.

CALIFORNIA STORY FUND INVITES APPLICATIONS
The California Story Fund is an on-going grant program of the California Council for the Humanities. The Council will award competitive grants of up to $10,000 twice a year for public humanities programs that bring to light compelling stories from California's diverse communities and provide opportunities for collective reflection and public discussion. The deadline to apply for the next round of awards is July 2. Guidelines are available online at http://www.calhum.org/guidelines/guidelines_ca_story.htm.

NIAC HOSTS FINANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE IN SAN FRANCISCO ON MAY 22
The Nonprofits’ Insurance Alliance of California (NIAC) is hosting a one-day conference, Finance & Risk Management Essentials for Nonprofit Leaders, to be held at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco on May 22. Topics include effective and legal employment practices, the risks and rewards of volunteers, need to know information about insurance, financial risk management, and risk management case studies. Cost is $125 for NIAC members, and some partial scholarships are still available. To learn more about scholarships, contact Julie Bernhard at jbernhard@niac.org. To register for the conference, visit http://nonprofitrisk.org/training/region/2007/ca/ca.htm.

CTTC REQUESTS PRESS RELEASES FOR “SPOOKY CALIFORNIA” EVENTS BY APRIL 13
The California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC) is drafting a Spooky California news release that will highlight Halloween festivals and ghost towns, as well as haunted houses, restaurants, inns and hotels. The CTTC also encourages submissions regarding Dia De Los Muertos celebrations for a sidebar catering to this holiday. The deadline for submissions is Friday, April 13. All information must be submitted via the CTTC Press Release Submission Form, which can be attained by emailing Sam Caygill at scaygill@visitcalifornia.com.

HISTORY CHANNEL OFFERS SAVE OUR HISTORY GRANT PROGRAM
The History Channel is now accepting applications for its Save Our History grant program, which funds organizations that partner with schools or youth groups on community preservation projects that engage students in learning about, documenting, and preserving the history of their communities. The deadline to apply is June 1. For more information, visit http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/10006749/history.

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.