CAM E-NEWS 4/16/2008

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 editor@calmuseums.org.

CAM e-News is supported in part by Associated Foundations, Inc. and BRC Imagination Arts.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LEGISLATORS AND GOVERNOR SUPPORT CALIFORNIA MUSEUM MONTH

In February 2008, Assemblyman Mike Villines introduced ACR 100 to proclaim May 2008 as California Museum Month. ACR 100 highlights the vital role museums play in educating our state’s students and citizens. CAM is proud to report that 69 assemblymembers have signed on as co-authors of ACR 100 - which represents 88% of the State Assembly! The bill, with a complete list of the coauthors from the assembly, can be read in its entirety at http://www.calmuseums.org/news/ACR_100.pdf. CAM encourages you to send a thank you note to your assemblymember if he/she was among those who demonstrated their support.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has also issued a proclamation to "extend warm greetings" for California Museum Month. To read the entire proclamation, visit http://www.calmuseums.org/museum_month/2008_proclamation.pdf. Governor Schwarzenegger wrote, "I commend the outstanding work you are doing to promote our state's museums and enrich our state. Our museums offer millions of people a chance to remember the past, better understand our culture and embrace our heritage. Their research enlightens visitors, their exhibits provide us with access to remarkable artifacts, and they serve as a wonderful resource for students in expanding their minds and sparking curiosity."

These actions by our assemblymembers and Governor demonstrate that there is bipartisan and statewide support for California's museums. We are achieving our goal to focus the attention of our elected officials on the important role that museums play in the state of California. Our museums are located in every county and region throughout California, represent a multitude of disciplines, collect and interpret our natural and cultural world, offer learning experience for all ages, and attract tens-of-millions of visitors annually. For additional information about California Museum Month and the role your organization could play, visit CAM's website at http://www.calmuseums.org/museum_month/index.html.

CAC ISSUES CALL FOR OBJECTS THAT REPRESENT ARTS IN CALIFORNIA - TIME SENSITIVE!

Approximately once a year the California Arts Council (CAC) creates a public-value driven public service announcement (PSA) on the arts. This year the "stars" of this PSA will be objects that demonstrate or represent the arts in California or by Californians. Examples include ballet shoes from a particular dance company, paintings done by a child through an after-school program, photos of a major artistic or iconic building, the cover of a book by a Californian, and others. These objects will be used to create an oversized artistic mosaic (a recreation of the Bear Flag) demonstrating the arts and imagination of California. The 30-second video PSA will initially be presented on an oversized outdoor screen at the San Francisco International Film Festival, but will also be shown on cable stations, the internet and other multi-media sites. The CAC will also host a website with details about every artist and arts organization that donated objects to the project.

The CAC has issued an open call to California museums to be represented in this PSA. The deadline to submit images is this Friday, April 18. High-resolution images (.jpg format) should be emailed to Mary Beth Barber at mbarber@caartscouncil.com. Or, organizations located in the Pasadena area can contact Mary Beth about leaving their objects at the Armory for the Arts to be photographed on April 21-22. For more details or questions, please contact Mary Beth via email or by phone at (916) 322-6588.

UPDATE ON BILLS IN STATE LEGISLATURE

As the advocate in Sacramento for California museums, CAM monitors various bills that could potentially impact the state's museums. For a sampling of key bills that CAM is watching, commenting on, or supporting, see the Legislative Alert sent to CAM e-News subscribers on March 21st at http://www.calmuseums.org/news/editions/legislativealert_2008_03_21.html. Below are some new bills to add to this list and/or updates on CAM's actions.  

• AB 2514 (Eng) Proper Handling of Human Remains. This bill provides state and private projects with clear and uniform procedures for the proper handling and preservation of all historical human remains. CAM has issued a letter of support (see http://www.calmuseums.org/news/AB_2514_CAM_support_remains.pdf).

• AB 2595 (Laird) Public Records Protection & Recovery. This bill would establish a procedure by which the Secretary of State, on behalf of the California State Archives, could recover official governmental records, belonging to the state or a local agency, that are found in possession of non-governmental entities or persons. CAM is in discussion with the author's office to consider how this bill could affect museums and is soliciting comments from collection managers in history museums across the state.

• AB 2687(Krekorian) Parks and nature education facilities. This bill would require the department to establish a program to offer grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible organizations and public institutions, including natural history museums, aquariums, research facilities, or botanical gardens. CAM has issued a letter of support (see http://www.calmuseums.org/news/AB_2687_CAM_support_parks.pdf).

• AB 2728 (Karnette) Arts Council. As amended, this bill would transfer 20% of state sales and use tax revenues derived from the sales of art dealers, art auctioneers, and certain other business entities to be deposited in the State Treasury for allocation to the California Art Council at a time when the California state budget is balanced. CAM has issued a letter of support (see http://www.calmuseums.org/news/AB_2728_CAM_support_CAC.pdf) and strongly encourages museums to join the arts community in advocating for the passage of this bill. This bill has already passed out of two committees of the State Assembly but still needs support from the field. For additional details, see the California Arts Advocates website at http://www.californiaartsadvocates.org/AB2728.html.

To read any of these bills in their entirety or track their progress, visit http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/bilinfo.html and search by bill number or author. Please contact Celeste DeWald, CAM Executive Director, at 831-471-9970 or cam@calmuseums.org if you have any questions about these bills or would like to express any concerns or perspectives. CAM exists to serve the California museum field and we appreciate your feedback.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR 2009 CAM CONFERENCE IN SAN FRANCISCO

CAM invites proposals for its annual conference in San Francisco, February 25-27, 2009. Join us in this culturally-rich city to share strategies and ideas for strengthening the future of museums, their programs, collections, and communities. The goal is to produce interesting, useful, thoughtful, and interactive sessions that address “best practices,” present model programs or techniques, and/or discuss trends that affect the future of the California museum community.

Proposals must be submitted online by June 13, 2008. For additional information or to submit a proposal, visit CAM's website at http://www.calmuseums.org/conferences_and_workshops/2009callforproposals.html.

MONTHLY MUSEUM POLL:

Has your museum ever offered a naming opportunity for items in your collection or parts of your building?

Click here to participate in the poll

(or copy the following URL and paste it in your browser: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=E1BghtIA48gYRy_2f5Cc9Vsw_3d_3d)

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

IMLS TO SPONSOR SECOND CONSERVATION FORUM FOR COLLECTING INSTITUTIONS
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) will sponsor the forum, "Collaboration in the Digital Age," on June 24-25 in Denver. This program is part of Connecting to Collections: A Call to Action, an IMLS initiative to save endangered collections in the nation's museums and libraries. This is the second in a series of four national conservation forums that are part of the Connecting to Collections initiative. "Collaboration in the Digital Age" will respond to the needs of museums and libraries by helping them think strategically and collaboratively about digitization and digital preservation. Speakers will review the fundamentals of digital content creation and preservation, emphasizing practical approaches to planning digital projects, increasing access to collections, enabling digital resources to serve multiple purposes, and protecting digital investments. The forum is open and free of charge to staff and board members of museums, libraries, and archives, as well as to conservation professionals, representatives of government, funders, and the media. Advance online registration is required by May 23. Program and logistical information and online registration are available at http://www.imls.gov/collections/tour.

GRANT PROPOSAL WORKSHOPS FOCUS ON APPLYING TO THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION’S NEW CREATIVE CONNECTIONS FUND
The Foundation Center will be hosting a number of workshops throughout California to provide valuable proposal writing skills and insider tips on how to apply to the James Irvine Foundation's new Creative Connections Fund. This free two-part program offered at sites throughout California in May and June. The first part of each workshop will provide the basics of writing a grant proposal. For the second part, a program officer from the James Irvine Foundation will provide an overview of the goals and priorities of the Creative Connections Fund, advice on avoiding common mistakes, and how to make the most compelling case for support. Upcoming workshop sites include: Ukiah (May 9), Riverside (May 13), San Diego (May 15), Sacramento (May 29), Los Angeles (June 16), Santa Barbara (June 17), Salinas (June 19), Fresno (June 26), and Santa Ana (June 30). For more information or to register, see http://foundationcenter.org/sanfrancisco/pwb_jamesirvine.html.

STUDY FINDS THAT ARTS-RELATED BUSINESSES EMPLOY NEARLY THREE MILLION PEOPLE NATIONWIDE
According to a new report released by Americans for the Arts, arts-related businesses in the country's largest cities represent 4.3 percent of all businesses and 2.2 percent of all jobs in the United States. Based on data from Dun & Bradstreet and geo-economic analysis, the report, Creative Industries 2008: The 50 City Report, finds that there are more than 612,000 arts-related businesses employing some 2.98 million people in the United States, and that employment by arts-related businesses has grown 11.6 percent in the past year — more than four times the increase in overall employment growth. Arts-related businesses and employees were found in each of the fifty most-populated cities, with New York City topping both lists, while Seattle and Atlanta were found to have the most arts-related businesses and employees, respectively, per capita. To read the report in full, see http://www.americansforthearts.org/news/press/2008/2008_03_29a.asp.

SECURING CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS WORKSHOP ON APRIL 29
The Foundation Center is offering a special course, “Securing Corporate Partnerships,” on April 29 in San Francisco. This course will help participants understand the unique characteristics of corporate funders, how their giving differs from that of U.S. foundations, and where to make inroads to gain their support. Attendees will leave with the ability to determine what nonprofits can offer to corporate interests, find the best corporate partnership model for their needs, know the language of corporate partnerships, and seek corporate support with confidence. For more information and to register, see http://foundationcenter.org/marketplace/catalog/product_training.jhtml?id=prod1780009.

CAN CALLS FOR PUBLIC PERCEPTION PROJECT PARTICIPANTS, OFFERS MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNT
The California Association of Nonprofits (CAN) has announced a number of upcoming projects and initiatives. It has begun to spearhead a project aimed at changing the way people think about the nonprofit sector. CAN will host focus groups to help pilot the reframing project and ideas will be presented at a breakout session during the Nonprofit Congress National Meeting. To learn more about the project, call Lynn Bryson-Charles, Membership and Development Director at (213) 347-2070, ext. 209 or email lbryson-charles@CAnonprofits.org. CAN has also announced a 20% discount on its membership dues during the month of April. To receive the 20% discount, email Allen Rubinstein, Membership and Outreach Coordinator, at arubinstein@CAnonprofits.org or call (213) 347-2070, ext. 212.

MOUNTMAKING RESOURCES AND FORUM AVAILABLE ON PACIN WEBSITE
The Packing, Arthandling & Crating Information Network (PACIN) has announced that their website is available and full of resources for any museum professional involved with conservation techniques, preparation, and mountmaking. The website hosts a report on the recent Mountmaking Forum hosted by the J. Paul Getty Museum as well as an invitation to be in contact with a burgeoning group of mountmakers from different museums organizing to share information and working to develop the second Mountmaking Forum in an ongoing series. To learn more, visit the PACIN website at http://www.pacin.org.

CNM HOSTS WORKSHOPS TO OVERCOME FOUNDER’S SYNDROME AND MEET CORPORATE FUNDERS
The Center for Nonprofit Management (CNM) will hold "Overcoming 'Founders Syndrome'" and "Meet the Corporate Funders" workshops on May 6 as part of their Executive Leadership Series. To learn more, visit http://www.cnmsocal.org.

VOLUNTEER DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT RESOURCES AVAILABLE
The Free Management Library has made available a wealth of resources for developing and managing volunteer programs. This section of their site is focused on emphasizing that for the organization and its volunteers to benefit the most from each other, volunteers should be managed as part of an overall, systematic program, somewhat similar to the systematic approach that should be used to managing employees. The topics cover the role of a volunteer manager; analyzing staffing needs; legal and risk considerations; volunteer recruitment, orientation, training and supervision; and, volunteer and staff relations. The website also provides general volunteer resources and information on virtual volunteer programs. See http://www.managementhelp.org/staffing/outsrcng/volnteer/volnteer.htm for details.

UPCOMING NONPROFIT WORKSHOPS FOR SANTA CRUZ-AREA NONPROFITS
The Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County is hosting a variety of upcoming workshops. Grant Proposal Writing 101 will provide a fast-paced overview to proposal writing for first-time or novice grantseekers. The workshop will take place on April 22 from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Community Foundation offices in Soquel. To register, see http://www.cfscc.org/page17120.cfm. The Foundation, in cooperation with the California Association of Nonprofits (CAN), will also host a workshop on Directors & Officers Insurance. This session will explain the benefits, cost and limitations of D & O insurance for nonprofits. This workshop will take place on April 30 from 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm (lunch included) at the offices of CAN Insurance Services in Capitola. See http://www.cfscc.org/page19639.cfm for details and to register. The Foundation and CAN will also host a Nonprofit Accounting Boot Camp on May 15 in Watsonville. This full-day training will cover nonprofit accounting essentials and is designed for executive directors, board members and those seeking to improve their nonprofit financial literacy. For more information or to sign up, see https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=186590.

MCN AND MSF ANNOUNCE MUSETECH CENTRAL, NEW TECHNOLOGY-RELATED PROJECT REGISTRY
The Museum Computer Network (MCN) and the Museum Software Foundation (MSF) have announced the MCN Project Registry at MuseTech Central, a recently launched space for sharing information about technology-related projects in the cultural heritage sector. From implementations of digital asset management systems to innovative uses of educational interactives, the MCN Project Registry represents the latest technology and information projects in museums, libraries, and archives. This community registry provides new ways to distribute information about projects, and it opens new possibilities for networking and knowledge sharing. To visit MuseTech Central, see http://www.musetechcentral.org.

CCHE WILL HOLD BOARD MEETING ON APRIL 23
The Board of the California Cultural and Historical Endowment (CCHE) will meet on April 23 at 1:00 pm at the Los Angeles City Hall. The Board will review several grant projects, discuss the proposed policy regarding CCHE grant agreement extensions of time, and discuss options to consider for funds returned back to the general grant fund. The agenda is posted on the CCHE website at http://www.library.ca.gov/cche and is available by mail upon request. This meeting will take place after site visits to the Vision Theater (9:30 – 10:00 am; 3341 West 43rd Place, Los Angeles) and the Latino Theater Company (11:00 am – 11:30 am; 514 South Spring Street, Los Angeles).

OPENINGS STILL AVAILABLE FOR AASLH’S BOARD DEVELOPMENT 101 ONLINE COURSE
There is still time to register for the Board Development 101 Online Course hosted by the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH). The course will run from April 21 through May 23 and is designed to provide training to staff and board members of history organizations and includes information on the characteristics of a good board and good board members; the day-to-day management of boards including information on a board member's legal, ethical, and financial responsibilities; and methods and techniques for training and rewarding board members for their service. To register for the online workshop, see http://www.aaslh.org. Please contact Bethany Hawkins at hawkins@aaslh.org or (615) 320-3203 for any questions about these or other upcoming workshops.

PLANNED GIVING CONFERENCE, MAY 1 IN SAN FRANCISCO
The Northern California Planned Giving Council will host their 16th annual planned giving conference on May 1 at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. Each year, the Council hosts a one-day Conference for those interested in sharpening their skills and networking with other professionals in the field of planned giving. This year there are 24 workshops in six different tracks for all levels of planned giving experience including our popular Fundamentals Track. For details or to register, see http://www.ncpgcouncil.org/annual_conf.asp.

UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA – HERITAGE CONSERVATION PLANNING AND LEADERSHIP IMMERSION COURSE
The Cultural Resource Management Program at the University of Victoria will offer a 6-day immersion opportunity for professionals and volunteers working in museums, heritage sites, and cultural centers. Heritage Conservation Planning and Leadership focuses on approaches to heritage conservation revitalization and decision-making, and discusses the components of planning processes that include community involvement and consultation, the acquisition and integration of technical information and professional expertise, and the integration of conservation planning in the long-term management of heritage resources. The course runs May 12 - 17, and registration is still being accepted until the class is full. To register, see https://www.uvcs.uvic.ca/forms/crm/online_reg.aspx.

DISCOUNT OFFERED TO MUSEUM PROFESSIONALS
The Bowers Museum in Santa Ana has set up a special 10% discount on admissions for museum professionals who are interested in visiting the museum’s Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor exhibit. The promotional code “CAM” should be used when ordering; discount rate expires April 30, 2008. For additional information, see http://www.bowers.org/exhibits/terracotta/warriors.asp.

MUSEOLOGY CONFERENCE TO BE HELD MAY 22-23 IN SEATTLE
The University of Washington's Graduate Program in Museology has announced that registration is now open for "Transforming Museums: Bridging Theory and Practice," to be held May 22-23, 2008 in Seattle, WA. "Transforming Museums" is the Museology Program's second annual interdisciplinary conference, and will feature presentations, panel discussions, and workshops from experienced leaders and new voices in the field. Registration is open until May 16 and is free. Conference proceedings, admission to half-day workshops, and reception tickets are also available for purchase during registration. Registration is limited for several sessions. To register, visit https://www.engr.washington.edu/epp/museum/registration1.php. More information on sessions, presenters, and a detailed schedule is available at http://www.transformingmuseums.org.

SPACES STILL AVAILABLE IN ONLINE PRESERVATION CLASSES
SOLINET, Inc., the Southeastern Library Network, has announced that there are still seats available in two upcoming online preservation classes. Risk Management: Knowing Your Responsibility (May 5) is self-paced and runs for three weeks. Under Construction: Preservation Concerns During Construction & Renovation (May 5) is also self-paced and will be available for three weeks. For more information or to register, contact Vanessa Richardson at (800) 999-8558 or vrichardson@solinet.net. To view full descriptions or register online, see http://www.solinet.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.

MUSEUMS IN THE NEWS

A CAUTIONARY NOTE
For access to some of these articles, the publishers may require that you become a member of their web site. For access to recent articles, this is usually a free service. However, you may need to pay for access to archived articles. In all instances, they will collect your contact information and probably send you advertisements. If you do not wish to become a member of a newspaper web site, we recommend that you note the title, author, newspaper, and publication date and visit your local library. If you are having trouble connecting to the appropriate article via the link provided below, we recommend that you go directly to the newspaper's web site and search with key words.

Grand Rapids Has the First LEED Museum
By: Philip Proefrock, GreenBuildingElements.com, April 15, 2008
http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/04/15/grand-rapids-has-the-first-leed-museum/

NPS cites “adverse effect” of proposed Presidio art museum
By: Presidio Historical Association, FogCityJournal.com, April 15, 2008
http://www.fogcityjournal.com/wordpress/2008/04/15/nps-cites-adverse-effect-of-presidio-art-musem/

Museums should beware of being used as marketing tools
By: Adrian Ellis, The Art Newspaper, April 8, 2008
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/article.asp?id=7765

Foundations May Face New State Rules on Diversity
By: Sam Kean, Chronicle of Philanthropy, April 7, 2008
http://philanthropy.com/premium/articles/v20/i13/13000901.htm

Chinese Americans discuss fate of unearthed remains: At an annual festival to honor the dead, people offer opinions about whether to quickly rebury or to study materials dug up during Gold Line construction
By: Jean-Paul Renaud, Los Angeles Times, April 6, 2008
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cemetery6apr06,1,248458.story

The Firestorm Over Private Museums: Instead of donating their art, collectors are building private museums -- and roiling the art world.
By: Lauren A.E. Schuker, Wall Street Journal, April 4, 2008
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120727433942088537.html

Please note that CAM does not necessarily endorse the information contained in these articles or the source(s) of the information.

To view 13 additional articles featuring museums or related topics in newspapers through April 16, 2008, see Museums in the News.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

• EXHIBITION COORDINATOR/CLIENT LIAISON / L.A. PACKING, CRATING AND TRANSPORT, LOS ANGELES

• EDUCATION ASSISTANT / MUSEUM OF LATIN AMERICAN ART, LONG BEACH

• BIRTHDAY PARTY FACILITATORS / THE NEW CHILDREN’S MUSEUM, SAN DIEGO

To view additional details, application instructions, and contact information for the above open positions, click on Museum Job Opportunities.