MUSEUM LEADERS GET LETTERS TO THE EDITOR PUBLISHED FOR MUSEUM MONTH – “TRY IT!”

The 2007 California Museum Month Toolkit was mailed to all current CAM institutional and individual members in April and encouraged all museum leaders to send a letter to the editor of their local newspaper and meet with their elected officials. We are happy to report that this strategy is working! Jim DeMersman, Executive Director of the Hayward Area Historical Society, got a letter to the editor published in less than 24 hours in Inside Bay Area and had a successful meeting with a legislative representative. Lia Transue, Executive Director of the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, used the template provided by CAM and got a letter published in the Santa Rosa Democrat. Jolene Redvale, Curator of Education at the San Bernardino County Museum, also wrote a powerful article about the impact of museums (see Museums in the News below for the link). Jim wrote,

“I would encourage everyone to use the California Museum Month toolkit to promote your institution. Using the guidelines, the Hayward Area Historical Society got a Letter to the Editor published in the local paper and saw an immediate increase in visitation. In addition, using the template to write to our local legislators gave us feedback from the legislator's office and, in one case, a 35 minute meeting with our State Senator's chief of staff to talk about museums and our community. It’s simple, easy and effective. Try It!”

The sample letters and other materials are available on CAM’s website. Visit http://www.calmuseums.org/museum_month/index.html to learn more about California Museum Month and to download these resources.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

WMA ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIPS
The Western Museums Association (WMA) is now accepting applications for scholarships to its annual conference, Shake It Up: Museums Activate and Innovate, to be held in Oakland on October 10-14. The Wanda Chin Professional Development Support Fund helps to fund travel and registration for WMA members and non-member students. The application deadline is June 1. For more information, visit http://www.westmuse.org/WandaChin_Appl.htm. For details about the WMA annual conference, see http://www.westmuse.org.

IMLS WILL OFFER FREE ONLINE OUTCOME AND EVALUATION COURSE
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) will provide a free online course on outcomes-based planning and evaluation to museum and library professionals this summer and fall. Shaping Outcomes will help participants improve program designs and evaluations, and will provide an opportunity for participants to learn outcomes-based planning and evaluation concepts and apply the concepts to a program or a project at their own institutions. In addition, a special course for those interested in teaching Shaping Outcomes or incorporating it into their own curricula will be offered in October 2007. To register or for more information, visit http://www.shapingoutcomes.org or contact the project director, Dr. Elizabeth Kryder-Reid at ekryderr@iupui.edu or (317) 274-1406.

RICHES, RIVALS AND RADICALS WINS PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL DOCUMENTARY AWARD
CAM would like to congratulate Marjorie Schwarzer and the American Association of Museums (AAM) for being awarded a platinum Aurora statuette for the public television documentary Riches, Rivals and Radicals: 100 Years of Museums in America. Based on the book by Marjorie Schwarzer, Riches, Rivals and Radicals was produced by GREAT MUSEUMS® television in association with AAM to celebrate the Year of the Museum and AAM's centennial in 2006. The film takes viewers on a journey filled with the commanding and charismatic characters who shaped America 's museum community as it is today. A complete list of the 2007 Aurora award winners will be available at http://www.auroraawards.com. For more information about AAM, visit http://www.aam-us.org.

REPORT TO HELP STRENGTHEN ARTS AND CULTURE IN URBAN AREAS
The RAND Corporation has released a new report, Arts and Culture in the Metropolis, which evaluates support for the arts in eleven U.S. metropolitan regions and offers policy recommendations for strengthening the arts and culture in large urban areas. Commissioned by the William Penn Foundation and the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, the study also encourages civic leaders to use cultural institutions to help advance economic development and neighborhood revitalization strategies. To read the full report, visit http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2007/RAND_MG477.pdf.

REPORT WARNS OF ART LEADERSHIP GAP AS BOOMERS RETIRE
A new report, released by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and prepared by Barry Hessenius, former director of the California Arts Council, warns of a looming leadership crisis that will occur as the current generation of arts administrators and volunteers starts to retire. The report, Involving Youth in Nonprofit Arts Organizations: A Call to Action, argues that the problem is being driven by a shrinking pool of young people positioned to succeed current staff, increased competition for arts organizations' services, and a lack of attention to generational succession issues. To read the full report, see http://www.hewlett.org/NR/rdonlyres/2DE9AB5B-813D-4F24-A749-476550B553AF/0/YouthReport.pdf.

AAM ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF CREATIVITY IN MUSEUMS AWARD
The American Association of Museums (AAM) has announced the winners of the 2007 Brooking Paper on Creativity in Museums competition. The Brooking Paper is an annual writing competition honoring innovative ways of thinking about the museum field, in any area of museum operations. All three winning papers are available online at http://www.aam-us.org/pubs/index.cfm. Information about how to enter the competition for the 2008 Brooking Paper on Creativity in Museums will be posted on the AAM website in late May. For more information, visit http://www.aam-us.org/getinvolved/nominate/awards.cfm.

NEA ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR YOUTH AND CHILDREN LEARNING IN THE ARTS GRANTS
The National Endowment for the Arts' (NEA) Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth funding program is designed to advance arts education for children and youth in school- or community-based settings. This category supports in-depth, curriculum-based arts education experiences that occur over an extended period. The deadline to apply is June 11. For more information, visit the NEA website at http://www.nea.gov.

CAN OFFERS CONFERENCE CALL SEMINARS TO HELP GET BOARD MEMBERS INVOLVED WITH FUNDRAISING
The California Association of Nonprofits (CAN) and Benevon are offering a two-part conference call seminar to help organizations engage their board in fundraising. Participants will learn how to inspire others about their organization’s mission and develop a legacy of sustainable funding. The first call is on Monday, June 11, and the second call is on Friday, June 15. To register for the June 11 call, visit http://sforce.benevon.com/ConferenceCall/CAN-EngagingYourBoard061107.htm. To register for the June 15 call, visit http://sforce.benevon.com/ConferenceCall/CAN-EngagingYourBoard061507.htm. For more information, see http://www.benevon.com/ConferenceCall/CAN-EngagingYourBoard.

RESOURCES FOR GREENING MUSEUM BOARDS AND STAFF
The Foundation Center and the Sustainable Nonprofit has released its third article, Board & Staff: Welcoming the Green Revolution in Your Museum. The article covers how connecting green strategies to the commitments of museum board members and staff is essential to implementing responsible environmental practices in the physical organization and programming. To read the full article, visit http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/10007118/tsn/greenmuseum.

GRANTS AVAILABLE TO HELP FUND ENVIRONMENTAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
The Environmental Support Center is now accepting applications for its Fundraising for Sustainable Organizations (FUNDS) grant. The program aims to help nonprofit environmental organizations diversify and expand funding bases. There are four grant cycles in 2007 (January, April, July, and October); Due to the overwhelming interest in this small, intensive program, those interested must first determine eligibility by contacting the FUNDS Manager, Peggy Mathews, at (202) 331-8592 or pmathews@envsc.org. For details visit http://www.envsc.org/fundraising.

CALIFORNIA MAGAZINE SEEKS SUBMISSIONS ON UNUSUAL, WHACKY AND QUIRKY MUSEUMS
California Magazine is researching unusual, whacky, and quirky museums for publication in 2007 or 2008 issues. To be eligible for inclusion, the location, service, activity or facility must be located inside California. Press kits and background information can be emailed to John Poimiroo, Travel Editor, at john@poimiroo.com, or via mail to: John Poimiroo, California Magazine, 1448 Crocker Dr., El Dorado Hills, CA 95762.

AAM UNVEILS NEW INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE: INTRODUCING MUSEUMS & COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS ABROAD
The American Association of Museums (AAM) has announced a new partnership in cultural diplomacy with the US Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), called Museums & Community Collaborations Abroad (MCCA). MCCA is designed to strengthen connections between the people of the US and people abroad through museum-based exchanges. This program aims to expose US communities to cultures they might not otherwise have the opportunity to learn about and share information about American culture with people abroad. Application materials will be available May 11. Additional information is online at http://www.aam-us.org/mcca.

CALIFORNIA STORY FUND GRANT GUIDELINES NOW AVAILABLE
The California Council for Humanities (CCH) has posted the guidelines for its California Story Fund grant opportunity. The projects that make up the California Story Fund provide opportunities for individual Californians to contribute their own stories and projects from California's diverse communities. The deadline for this round of applications is July 2. View the grand guidelines online at http://www.calhum.org/guidelines/guidelines_ca_story_intro.htm. For details, visit http://www.calhum.org/programs/story_intro.htm.

ARTS POLICY ROUNDTABLE RAISES CONCERNS OVER ARTS GIVING
Americans for the Arts and the Sundance Preserve have announced recommendations from the first annual National Arts Policy Roundtable, convened last fall to address the decline of arts philanthropy and the future of private sector giving to the arts, reports the Foundation Center. Research conducted by Americans for the Arts suggests that nonprofit arts groups are experiencing a major shift in support. Since 1992, the arts portion of philanthropic giving has dropped from 8.4 percent to 5.2 percent — roughly $8 billion annually. Because arts organizations in the U.S. currently derive 43 percent of their revenue from private contributions, further declines in giving to the arts could dramatically alter the nonprofit cultural landscape. To read the full Foundation Center report, visit http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=176700010.

ALCOA FOUNDATION FELLOWSHIP FOR CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY
The Alcoa Foundation has announced the third round of Practitioner Fellows for its Conservation & Sustainability Fellowship Program, a $8.6 million program that funds fellowships for the study of conservation and sustainability issues. If your museum is committed to conservation and sustainability, this six- to twelve-month intensive research project could provide a turning point for your organization. The results of those studies are then shared in order to promote sustainable best practices. The program deadline is May 31, 2007. For additional information on the fellowships, visit http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/10007105/alcoa.

NFWF OFFERING GRANTS TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is accepting applications from organizations interested in initiating or expanding the Nature of Learning program in their communities. The Nature of Learning is a community-based environmental education initiative that seeks to use National Wildlife Refuges as outdoor classrooms to promote a greater understanding of local conservation issues. The deadline to apply is June 15. For grant overview and guidelines, see http://www.nfwf.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Browse_All_Programs&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=4787.

FOUNDATION CENTER OFFERS FUNDRAISING AND GRANT PROPOSAL SEMINARS IN SAN FRANCISCO AND SANTA ANA
The Foundation Center will be hosting two fundraising seminars and one grant proposal seminar to assist organizations in strengthening their financial foundation. Developing a Fundraising Plan, designed for beginners and experienced fundraisers who want to diversify their funding streams, will be held on May 10, in San Francisco. To see the full course description and register, visit http://fconline.fdncenter.org/pnd/10007073. The second course, Foundation Fundraising, An Introductory Course, is designed to help beginners learn to identify prospective grantmakers and prepare to find necessary funds. This course will be held on May 16 in Santa Ana. To view the full course description and register, see http://fconline.fdncenter.org/pnd/10007078. The Foundation Center is also offering its Proposal Writing Seminar in San Francisco on May 31. For more information or to register, see http://foundationcenter.org/marketplace/catalog/product_training.jhtml?id=prod1150015.

NATIONAL FILM PRESERVATION FOUNDATION GRANTS AVAILABLE
The National Film Preservation Foundation is now accepting applications for its Partnership Grants, which support film preservation work at laboratories and post-production houses. The deadline to register is June 15; the deadline to apply is July 20. For more information, visit http://www.filmpreservation.org/.

GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR EDUCATION, CULTURE, AND YOUTH PROGRAMS IN OAKLAND
The Clorox Company is accepting applications for its grant program, which seeks to fund nonprofit organizations located in the Oakland community. Funding is allocated in the areas of education and youth development; and culture and civic programs. The deadline to apply is July 1. For details, see http://www.thecloroxcompany.com/community/how.html.

MATCHING GRANTS FOR NATIONAL FOREST PARTNERSHIPS AVAILABLE
The National Forest Foundation’s Matching Awards Program (MAP) encourages community involvement in the stewardship of national forest lands through the formation of goal-oriented partnerships. Priority is given to projects in the areas of community-based forestry, watershed health and restoration, wildlife habitat improvement, and recreation. Geographic restrictions are no longer in place and proposals from throughout the United States will be considered equally. The next pre-proposal deadline for this MAP program is July 27. For more information, visit http://www.natlforests.org/consp_04_map.html.

ART’ISHAKE E-JOURNAL SEEKS SUBMISSIONS FOR ONLINE ARTS PUBLICATION
Art’ishake is an e-journal that seeks to provide an outlet for interdisciplinary and international exploration of the concepts and practices of creative and arts-infused development projects. Requests for submissions include research and white-papers on arts, human development, as well as the impact within the local, national, and international community. The deadline to submit contributions is June 29. For more information about art'ishake and submission guidelines please visit http://www.art4development.net/artishake.html.

GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR VENTURA COUNTY ARTISTS AND ART ORGANIZATIONS
Ventura County artists and arts organizations may now apply for Forum of the Arts grants for visual or performing arts projects through the Museum of Ventura County. Applications may be obtained at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main Street, Ventura, CA 93001, Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or by contacting Suzy Dyer at sdyer@venturamuseum.org, or at (805) 653-0145. Completed applications are due on June 25. For more information, please visit http://www.venturaarts.org/news.cfm?rownum=1212.

MUSEUMLAND.NET OFFERS MUSEUMS VISIBILITY, VISITOR RATINGS, AND NEWS FORUM
Museumland.net is an online portal to museums and cultural tourism that allows museums to view visitor ratings and comments and publish news and events. Journalists, visitors and anyone interested can be updated with museums news, which can also be disseminated using RSS Fedd or Digg. Museumland.net encourages organizations to check and update their contact information and send corrections to cinzia@museumland.net. To publish news, please email reg@museumland.net for details. Museumland.net listings are free of charge. For more information, visit http://www.museumland.net.

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.