November 2015

Forum Monthly 

E-newsletter
This Edition of the VAM Forum Sponsored by:
USS Monitor Foundation
Join us for a special holiday dinner at The Mariners' Museum in Newport News, home of The Monitor Center. Enjoy reenactors, live music, grog, historically-based menu and cannon fire. Period dress or cocktail attire. Tickets on sale now. Proceeds benefit The USS Monitor Foundation.

Sponsor a table for eight: $1,000. Single tickets:
Officers: $100 per person; Crew: $55 per person.
Call (757) 952-0465 or email contact@ussmonitorfoundation.org. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

VAM News 
November Workshops
Monday, November 9, 2015
Historic Jamestowne
Jamestown, Virginia

Monday, November 16, 2015
The American Civil War Museum
Appomattox, Virginia
Workshop Series 6-Pack
Don't forget about VAM's new "Series 6-Pack." VAM members can purchase the "Series Six Pack" for $275 and receive six vouchers to use any way you wish during the 2015-2016 Workshop Series. It's like getting a workshop for free!

Coming Up Online
Museum Studies: The Basics of Volunteer Management (ART 195 N42B)
Learn more and register through our partner, John Tyler Community College.

Update: Museums United Phase 2
VAM is involved in the IMLS-funded Museums United Phase 2. Stay up-to-date on all the project happenings!

IMLS Conference
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) will hold a conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, November 16-17th. The 2015 Focus Conference will highlight agency priorities, showcase IMLS grantees' work, and explore the latest issues in museums and libraries. VAM's own Christina Newton will be in attendance.

French American Museum Exchange (FRAME)
The FRAME Annual Conference will be held in St. Louis November 14-18.  Representatives from 11 French museums and 12 American museums (including the VMFA) will be in attendance. FRAME will elect new officers, and will vote on adding 4 new member museums. Finally, the group will be visiting several museums in St. Louis during the visit. Best of luck to Jennifer and John!
Check more news from FRAME. 
In This Issue
VAM News
Member News
Member Kudos
Hails and Farewells
Professional Development Opportunities
More Museum News
Did You Know?
VAM will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2018! 
Do you  know what VAM was called back in 1968?
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Deadlines
Save the Date
VAM's 2016 
Annual Conference 
is coming to 
The Williamsburg Lodge March 12 - 15th. 
Save those dates. 
We hope to see you there!
   
Member News
The VFH 2014-2015 Annual Report has gone digital! Download the pdf to learn more about the Foundation's impact throughout the Commonwealth.

The 11th annual Richmond History Maker's Celebration took place on Oct. 20 at the Valentine. There were five fantastic honorees recognized. Learn more.

On September 29, 2015, Alexandria's City Council unanimously passed a resolution to establish an Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Confederate Memorials and Street Names. The resolution directs the City Manager to appoint the seven members of the Advisory Group, with two members appointed at-large and one member appointed from each of the Alexandria Human Rights Commission, the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission, the Alexandria Society for the Preservation of Black Heritage, the Alexandria Planning Commission, and the Alexandria Transportation Commission. Learn more.

28th Annual James Monroe lecture will be held November 9th at the University of Mary Washington. Dr. Samuel Watson, Professor of History at the United States Military Academy at West Point, will present "Toward Stability and Subordination: President James Monroe and the U.S. Army Officer Corps." A reception and book signing will follow the lecture. 
Member Kudos
Vanessa Thaxton-Ward, a VAM council member, is a nominee for an Alli Award! The Cultural Alliance of Greater Hampton Roads administers the Alli Awards, given to businesses, individuals, and arts and cultural organizations that support the arts in Hampton Roads. 

Carlton A. Funn_ Sr.
The Office of Historic Alexandria's (OHA) Alexandria Black History Museum recently received a major donation of materials from the suvivors of long-time activist, Carlton A. Funn, Sr., one of the city's most respected and influential residents. Learn more. 

Congratulations to the VMFA. The museum is among 13 museums in 7 countries recently named recipients of art conservation grants totaling over $1M. Learn more.

Maymont has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the National Fisheries and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) for a Storm Water Management and Water Trail Project to be completed at the Children's Farm. "In addition to its impact on the James River and Chesapeake Bay watershed, this project will allow us to teach the public in new ways about the relationship between man and the environment, the value of nature in our lives, and storm water management techniques," said Norman Burns, Maymont Executive Director.

Congratulations to Bill Backus and Rob Orrison (a VAM council member) on the publication of their book, In Want of Vigilance, published in October. In the book, they follow the Union and Confederate Armies during one of the most overlooked periods of the war as they trace the campaign from the armies' camps around Orange and Culpeper northwest through the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and along the vital railroad.

From Red Hill: Red Hill has been awarded with a grant of $22,000 to fund the annual Bluegrass, Barbecue, and Brew festival! The Virginia Tourism Corporation and Marketing Leverage Program. Additionally, the Helen S. & Charles G. Patterson, Jr. Charitable Foundation Trust has awarded Red Hill a grant for $30,000 for the completion of their new Visitor Center Orientation video. 

The Virginia Historical Society (VHS) recently announced that its film, Virginia Voices, won a gold medal CINDY award in the short film category (any film under 60 minutes). The Cinema in Industry (CINDY) Awards recognize professionals who create exceptional media content. A gold medal is the top prize and the short film category is the most competitive. Virginia Voices also won special achievements in directing and editing. Congratulations!
Hails and Farewells
Prince William County Historic Preservation Division announced two new staff changes. Bill Backus has been promoted to historic site manager for Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre and Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park. Bill has worked as a historic interpreter with Prince William County since 2011.  Also, Jessica Alicea is the new historic site manager for Rippon Lodge Historic Site. Jessica formerly was the executive director at the Heritage Square Museum in Los Angeles, CA. Congratulations!

Bonnie LePard
Oatlands Chairman of the Board, Michael J. O'Connor, announced the selection of Bonnie LePard as Oatlands new executive director. LePard was the founder and longtime executive director of the Tregaron Conservancy in Washington, D.C. where she worked with the community and the Historic Preservation Review Board in an effort to save Tregaron Estate, a century old estate designed by renowned architect Charles Platt and famed landscape architect Ellen Biddle Shipman. LePard was successful in saving the property, restoring the landscape, and opening the woodland garden to the public. "We are delighted that Bonnie has accepted the position with Oatlands," stated O'Connor, "Her experience in historic preservation and land conservation as well as significant expertise in fundraising, will be a tremendous asset for this property." Welcome, Bonnie!

Virginia Foundation for the Humanities recently announced Brigid McCarthy as the new senior editor for BackStory with the American History Guys, the nationally broadcast public radio program and podcast produced at VFH. McCarthy, who began her position on September 7, joins a production team led by Andrew Parsons, BackStory's new senior producer. Starting in August 2013, Parsons worked with BackStory as associate producer and producer. He was named senior producer in July, replacing Tony Field, who began in 2008 as the show's first senior producer. Congratulations!

Tudor Place recently announced the appointment of Mark Hudson as the museum's next executive director. Mr. Hudson succeeds Leslie Buhler, who recently retired after 15 years of extraordinary leadership during which she established Tudor Place - first opened to the public in 1988 - as a noteworthy contributor to the nation's historic and cultural life. "Mark brings to the position extensive professional experience, a strong academic background, and remarkable enthusiasm for the future of Tudor Place," said Geoffrey B. Baker, president of the Tudor Place Board of Trustees.

Kim Clymer
The Historical Society of Western Virginia has a new executive director after more than two years without one. Kim Clymer, who joined the History Museum of Western Virginia in 2011 as education coordinator, will be the historical society's new top executive. The historical society oversees the history museum in Center in the Square, the O. Winston Link Museum and the Crystal Springs Pump Station. Roanoke historian and former Mayor Nelson Harris said that as the new Historical Society board president, he made hiring a new director a priority. "Without an executive director, it's hard to get traction," he said. Learn more.

This year, Historic Sandusky has a new graduate assistant from Lynchburg College. Tracy Estelus is not the average Sandusky graduate assistant, rather than studying history, Tracy is pursuing a Masters in Science Education and hopes to use her time at Sandusky to gain real world experience by helping with many of our young adult and children's school groups. Welcome, Tracy!
Professional Development Opportunities
edUi Conference
November 9 - 11, 2015 in Charlottesville, VA
VAM members attend at a deep discount! Are you a member? If so, contact Heather for details on how to take advantage of this offer.

IMLS Focus Conference November 16-17, New Orleans
Save the date for the new IMLS annual conference on November 16 and 17 in New Orleans

SEMC's Jekyll Island Management Institute
January 19 - 26, 2016

The Small Museum Association (SMA) 2016 Annual Conference
Ocean City, MD February 14 - 16, 2016
They have issued a call for proposals. The deadline is September 25, 2015.

Virginia Forum 2016
March 3 - 5, 2016 at Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia will host the 
Proposals are due September 30, 2015

AIC / CAC Joint Conference
Montreal, Canada
May 13 - 17, 2015
A call for papers has been issued.
More Museum News
Following the closure of the Illinois State Museum system on September 30 due to a state budget stalemate, AAM's Accreditation Commission voted unanimously to put the Illinois State Museum system on probation. Learn more.

The Virginia Commission for the Arts will present a series of statewide application assistance workshops to be held in December 2015 January 2016. Workshop locations include: Roanoke, Abingdon, Arlington, Front Royal, Richmond, Portsmouth & Danville. Learn more.

From AAM: National nonprofits urge Congress to renew charitable tax provisions.
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