3126 W. Cary St., #447 | Richmond, Virginia 23221-3504 | 804. 358.3170 | www.vamuseums.org | Summer 2013

Voice

A Tribute to Margo CarlockiTechnical Insert: Starting a Museum

Member Profile: The Taubman Museum of Art

Plus, Conference 2013 Wrap Up & Top 10

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It was during the long drive home from The Homestead, after leading what would be her last VAM confer-ence, when Margo got the call. She had interviewed and was awaiting that final word from the National As-sociation for Interpretation (NAI) all the way from Fort Collins, Colorado. Yes, it was the call she had been waiting for. But after having bid farewell to many old friends and colleagues after an energetic confer-ence full of camaraderie, the feeling was bittersweet. Finally, the unmis-takable feeling of change was in the air – both for Margo, and for VAM. And we all know that, while change is necessary, and good, it is never easy. But we also know that a strong leader like Margo, and a strong or-ganization like VAM, grows stronger when challenged.

As you read this article, Margo is in her new position – in Fort Collins, Colorado – where she has been appointed as the ex-ecutive director of the National Association for Interpretation. A new place, new faces, new challenges await her – and VAM wishes her all the best! Those of us who have worked with Margo over the years understand that she will meet

whatever challenges face her head-on, make many new friends in the process, and do for the NAI what she did so well at VAM – lead our association forward.

Margo first introduced herself to the VAM membership in the Spring, 1994 VAM Quarterly newsmagazine (way before we dubbed it The VAM Voice). Margo said in that article, “I hope to work with you to continue the rich tradition of VAM’s ser-vice to Virginia’s museum community, and build on the strong reputation that VAM has earned in the field nationwide…. I hope to be able to expand the services we offer members while maintaining the high caliber of professional development activities that have been the foundation of VAM’s success.”

Fast forward nearly 20 years, and we can look back along the timeline of

accomplishments that have become Margo’s legacy at VAM, and we can smile and nod. “Why yes, Ms. Carlock. You fulfilled those initial hopes, and more!” In the 19 years Margo was with VAM, we have grown our membership (many of you still have the “VAM 1000” buttons!), increased participation in programs and on committees, and added programs that meet the needs of museum professionals across the spectrum of their careers. In sum, we have nurtured a truly collegial commu-nity of professionals who connect with each other, offer help and guidance when needed, and grow stronger in the process. Isn’t that what a profes-sional association is all about?

Then there’s the “blood, sweat, and tears.” With all of the accomplish-ments and accolades, none of Margo’s – or VAM’s – accomplishments could have occurred without a lot of hard work. During Margo’s 19 year tenure at VAM, we moved offices six times, had 10 council presidents, and hosted 20 annual conferences! We added pro-grams such as the Virginia TimeTrav-elers passport program – now being adapted by the folks at the Governor’s Mansion for the 2013 Year of the His-toric House. Over the years we have hosted summer conservation work-

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A Tribute to Margo Carlock

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shops, “Fundamentals Forum” conferences, added a Virginia Certificate in Museum Management program, as well as Virginia’s Top 10 Endangered Artifacts program – just to name a few of VAM’s many initiatives! None of this could have been done without the hard work that takes place behind the scenes. In that regard, Margo has always been one to lead by example. Says Jenni-fer Thomas, who has worked hand in hand with Margo for 13 years, “Working with Margo was an experience I will never forget. She taught me the value of thinking big, and of trusting and teaching your staff. But what I’ll remember most is that she was always carrying the heaviest box, and shouldering as much of a load as anyone else.”

When Tracy Gillespie stepped in to the VAM presidency in March of 2012, she knew she had big shoes to fill. Tracy’s immedi-ate predecessor, our dear departed colleague Joe Gutierrez, had continued to do what presidents before

him had done – look to securing VAM’s funding sources, advocate for Virginia’s museums, and work to build a strong and active governing Council that would represent our members’ best interests. And like Joe, Margo has always been focused on the future, and VAM’s potential to be even better.

Says Ms. Gillespie, “Margo’s record speaks for itself – increased respect for VAM from our fellow museum professional organiza-tions around the country, growth in our organization’s membership, support from museum-based businesses, and the successful leadership of a strong and dedicated staff, to name just a few of her many achievements. I will miss

Margo both profession-ally and personally, and join many others in wish-ing her well in her new position with NAI. I also excitedly look forward to the next chapter in VAM’s book – a chapter Margo has outlined, but one that will be written by our next executive director. And Margo would have it no other way!” l

Quotes from Friends“We work with many types of associations and we often find them to be competent in doing the things associations are supposed to do, however they are sometimes impersonal. Because of Margo and the people she has brought into VAM, VAM has great personality as an organization, something that is rare to find in this age. VAM has been -to me - Managed well, Attractively effective, Responsive to its constituents, Go-getting in it’s drive for excel-lence, and On-the-move, helping to shape a better future for the museums and cultural institutions of Virginia........in short, it’s been M.A.R.G.O. She has been and always will be a great friend to me and I will sorely miss her. We have shared much in the 20+ years we have worked together and those memories are the primary reason VAM holds a very special place in my heart. I wish her all success in her new venture.” - Randy Holmes, principal, Glavé and Holmes Architecture

“Being in Margo’s company is like reading your favorite book, enjoying a good cigar, and putting on your most comfortable shoes, all at the same time. [At least, those are the sorts of things I imagine when I think about Margo—you come up with your own damned list.] The point is, whether at work or at play, Margo is someone you enjoy being around. We can talk all day about how effective she was as VAM’s ex-ecutive director, what a great advocate she has been for Virginia’s museums, etc., etc. Ultimately, I think what matters most in this world is not so much what you did, but rather how you did it. Margo was—and is—an outstanding executive; more importantly, she was—and is—an outstanding human being.” - Scott Harris, James Monroe Museum and Library

“Margo is a consummate professional and an ab-solute pleasure to work with. When I was president, she mentored me through the advocacy processes and I was constantly amazed at her diplomatic abilities and her “sweet-talkin’ ways.” I have loved working with Margo all these many years. She is, to me, the very definition of VAM.” - Patricia Hobbs, University Collections of Art and History, Washing-ton and Lee University

“What I most appreciate about Margo is her leadership style. I became involved with VAM in 1993, the same year as Margo. She soon had me in her sights as a willing volunteer and she cultivated that relationship for nearly 20 years. Her effectiveness as an executive is based on her ability to keep people interested and involved and at the same time make each person feel very special. We shared many good times and survived some very intense challenges that confronted and threatened the organization during my presi-dency. Through it all she was able to maintain her composure and continue to keep VAM in focus and under control. In short, Margo is an effective leader, a good friend and a nice person.” - John Verrill, Practical Matters for Small Museums

Clockwise, from facing page: Margo with current VAM staff Christina Newton, Su Thongpan, Jennifer Thomas, and Heather Widener; Margo at the Hospitality Suite during the 2003 Annual Conference; Margo with former VAM president Scott Harris; Margo with VAM council members Sean Fearns and Lin Ezell.

Starting a museum often comes from having an amazing site or collection of resources to share with the public. Creating a non-profit organization can help the long-term success of a museum, but the process can be overwhelming. A simple Google search will lead you to thousands of resources on starting a non-profit museum. But are these sources legitimate? Do they apply to your museum? Do they apply to Virginia laws? Do they go beyond paperwork and provide good advice for starting a sustainable museum?

A revised white paper that VAM will be issuing this summer will help an-swer these questions and make your museum become a non-profit reality. VAM currently has an information packet that can assist groups starting a new museum. The updated informa-tion serves to bring together existing sources of information and guide plan-ning for new museums. We hope the revised version will provide practical advice and stimulate your group’s thinking on starting a museum that will expand Virginia’s diverse and exciting museum offerings!

Getting StartedA new museum will have many driv-ing forces and passionate advocates behind it. Planning is a crucial first step to getting started and knowing what decisions need to be made to create a sustainable museum. Gerald George and Cindy Sherrell-Leo’s Starting Right: A Basic Guide to Mu-seum Planning poses twenty groups of questions to get a new museum’s organizers prepared. The following are just a few:

• What is your museum’s mission

and its limits? • What sources of support can your museum count on? • What collections are available or need to be found to serve your mu-seum’s purpose? • Who will have responsibility for the museum, and what rules will govern its operation? • What will be your collections policy? • What staff, paid and volunteer, will be needed?• How will you maintain good public relations? • How will you provide for continued planning?• How will you keep your museum alive, dynamic, creative--even visionary?

Additionally, it may be beneficial to visit another museum that is similar to the one you are planning in size, location, or scope. Colleagues in the museum field can provide guidance on getting started. The Virginia As-sociation of Museums, state agencies,

and national museum organizations can also provide insight into the planning process. (See the list of resource organizations at the end of this article.)

Institution PlanningInstitutional plans guide existing museums in their mission and vision. These plans can also be valuable tools for organizing a new museum. Creating a plan challenges the orga-nizers to set goals for the museum and to strive for continued growth. These plans typically cover three to five years. Institutional plans work in conjunction with operational plans. Operational plans are typically for shorter terms - often one fiscal year. They may contain similar tasks and timelines for the museum, but ad-dress more day-to-day operations to accomplish these projects. New mu-seums will want to consider the steps needed to implement their vision.

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by Victoria HauserVictoria Hauser is currently finishing VAM’s Virginia Certificate in Museum Management. She holds a Master’s degree in History from Virginia Commonwealth University and is a founding board member of the Willcox Watershed Conservancy, a non-profit dedicated to the rehabilitation of Lee Park in Petersburg, Virginia. Victoria is currently associate project manager at Wendel, an architecture and engineering firm.

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Resources for Further Exploration

Building Museums: A Handbook for Small and Midsize Organizations Robert Herskovitz, Timothy Glines, David Grabitske. Minnesota Historical Society, 2012.

Manual of Museum Planning: Sustainable Space, Facilities, & Operations Edited by Barry Lord, Gail Dexter Lord, Lindsay Martin. Lord Cultural Resources, 2012.

Museum BasicsTimothy Ambrose, Crispin Paine. Taylor & Francis, Inc., April 2006.

A Museums & Community Toolkit American Alliance of Museums, 2002.

Starting Right: A Basic Guide to Museum PlanningGerald George and Carol Maryan-George. AltaMira Press, 2004.

What Comes First: Your Guide to Building a Strong, Sustainable Museum or Historical Organization (With Real Life Advice from Folks Who’ve Done It) Joan H. Baldwin (Museum Association of New York)

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The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) offers a reference guide titled “Developing an Institutional Plan.” This planning document is one of five core documents that that AAM requires in their accreditation program.

The institutional plan should include:

• goals (specific things the museum wants to achieve) • action steps (specific assignments to achieve these goals) • assignment of responsibility for accom-plishing action steps • assessment of resources (human and financial) needed to implement the plan • how the institution will obtain these resources • timeline for implementation • priorities • evaluation mechanisms and measures of success

Developing an institutional plan will give a new museum a lot to consider and can help express the mission and purpose of the organization. Development of the plan will likely include connecting with other groups and resources to understand where the museum fits into its community and what the museum contributes. More information can be found online.

Board Member Responsibilities and Museum RolesUnderstanding museum roles can guide the planning process and allow organiz-ers to determine their professional and volunteer staff needs. Selecting museum staff is essential to daily museum opera-tions. For a museum that may remain small, only a few positions may be need-ed and a staff person may handle mul-tiple responsibilities. In a museum’s early days, board members and volunteers may take on many of these responsibilities.

When hiring an initial staff position, it may be best to start with a single expe-rienced director that can handle daily operations, contribute to planning efforts, oversee volunteers, and represent the organization to the public. Other possible staff positions include: archivist, collec-tions manager, communications director, conservator, curator, development direc-tor, docents, education specialist, ex-hibit designer, membership director, and volunteer coordinator. The mission of the

museum will help dictate the positions the organization might need.

In addition to establishing the non-profit organization, board members should expect to be responsible for major budget-ary decisions, determining needs and hiring staff, fundraising, planning for the institu-tion, serving as volunteers, and assisting the director with being public advocates of the museum. Understanding museum roles can guide the planning process and allow organizers to determine their professional and volunteer staff needs.

Museum Ethics and StandardsAAM offers Standards and Best Practices and a Code of Ethics for Museums. Much like institutional plans, these principles can guide a starting museum in creat-ing a foundation for success and future growth. The introduction to AAM’s code states “Although the operating environ-ment of museums grows more complex each year, the root value for museums, the tie that connects all of us together despite our diversity, is the commitment to serving people, both present and future generations. This value guided the creation of, and remains the most fundamental principle in, the Code of Ethics for Museums. “ The code provides standards for guiding governance, col-lections, and programs. More informa-tion can be found online at:http://www.aam-us.org/resources/ethics-standards-and-best-practices/code-of-ethics-for-museums.

Corporation and Non-profit Status Establishing a corporation will be a major step in the planning of a new mu-seum. Information on creating a corpo-ration in Virginia can be found through the State Corporation Commission.

For a museum to achieve recognition as a nonprofit corporation there are several steps to go through, as well as several documents that must be in place and made available to the public. These include: Articles of Incorporation, By-laws, IRS Form 1023 (Application for Exemption and supporting documenta-tion), IRS Letter of Recognition of 501(c)(3) status. Once an organization is estab-lished, three years of Form 990 returns must be on file.

This may be the most daunting and confusing part of establishing a museum. Consulting tax professionals and attorneys is recommended. However, having a basic understanding will allow a museum board to move forward with the museum’s mission.

One legal resource available was pre-pared by students in the Law of Nonprofit Organizations class at the University of Richmond. Their manual provides check-lists and guidance in five areas: • Before you Begin, • Forming the Organization, • 501(c)(3) status and fund-raising, • Employees and Volunteers, and • Operations and Governance. The manual can be accessed at:http://law.richmond.edu/people/initia-tives/nonprofit.html. l

Resource OrganizationsVirginia Organizations

Preservation Virginia

Virginia Association of Museums

Virginia Conservation Association

Virginia Foundation for the Humanities

Virginia State Government Agencies

Virginia Commission for the Arts

Virginia Department of Education

Virginia Department of Historic Resources

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Virginia Tourism Corporation

National & Regional Organizations

American Alliance of Museums

American Association of State & LocalHistory

American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works (AIC)

Institute of Museum & Library Services

Museum Trustee Association

National Council on Public History

Southeastern Museum Conference

by William StrolloDirector of Education & Public RelationsWilton House MuseumVAM2013 Conference Photographer

Set in the beautiful Allegheny Moun-tains, Virginia and D.C. museum profes-sionals had an abundance to learn, see, do, and explore at the three day VAM conference, held at The Homestead, in Hot Springs, VA. It’s difficult to imagine that so much could be found in one location after traveling the rolling fields and endless peaks leading up to Hot Springs. This elegant environment of-fered the ideal setting for a retreat from the “usual” workday, allowing partici-pants to delve into the many offerings of our cultural colleagues.

Although regular concurrent sessions and workshops did not begin until after lunch on Sunday, two important events took place that morning: an open VAM Council meeting and a behind-the-scenes tour of The Homestead. The Council meeting can best be described as a conclave of Virginia and D.C. museum professionals devoted to the advance-ment and advocacy of VAM’s cultural in-stitutions. As serious as one can perceive this group, and they had moments of se-rious business, this meeting also included moments of laughter, playful exchange, the welcoming of new members to the Council, and the bidding farewell (for now) of outgoing other members.

Following the Council meeting the gracious staff of The Homestead took an excited group of VAM members and families through the workings of this historic resort. While winding through the various floors, corridors, and inner workings of the resort, it was no surprise to see participants get excited about early maps and elevators, century old fire doors, and the pastry kitchen. It was hard not to get excited about the latter, especially when you could look into the bowels of an oven that turns out thou-sands of biscuits a day, watch pastry chef assemble trays of treats, and even see the famous doughnut fryer.

By the time this tour had ended it was only noon on the first day of what would be an exciting, educational, and impressive conference. The afternoon brought the start of the sessions and workshops. It is always difficult to flip through the numerous choices of ses-sions, only able to attend a few yourself. As an educator and curator, I naturally went to those pertaining to my fields, but that did not stop me from hear-ing what others had to say about the sessions they had attended. One of the many qualities that I appreciate about the VAM conference is its ability to bring together a variety of professionals from different cultural fields and specialties. That could easily be seen by the make-up of the attendees and the presenters.

One of the main features of the confer-ence every year is the exhibit hall. These exhibitors not only help museums work towards the fulfillment of their missions, but they also aid in the procurement of engaging amenities such as books, films,

and apps. Furthermore, they help make programs at the conference possible. The exhibit hall sneak peak, coffee breaks, Falconry at The Homestead, and the Circuit Walk are among the many added treats we are thankful these vendors supported. Those who attended the Fal-conry and Circuit Walk can attest, these events were both educational and enter-taining. They were also made possible by sponsors. Another event that cannot be overlooked was the black-tie banquet. This banquet included recognizing the Ann Brownson Awardees as well as the Certificate Graduates. Following the banquet, attendees were treated to the premier of Virginia’s Executive Mansion’s documentary, First House.

The success of this conference is largely due to the hard work of the VAM staff, VAM Governing Council, VAM 2013 An-nual Conference Committees, confer-ence sponsors, conference volunteers, silent auction donors, and The Home-stead. Being able to witness and take part in this year’s conference from behind the camera gave me an inside look at the wonderful things going on around the Commonwealth and in the Nation’s Capital. I hope all of this year’s conference offerings help participants bring the excitement and joy of what they learned back to their own museums. l

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Is your organization looking for an op-portunity to increase awareness of your collection? How about find funding for the conservation of a prized arti-fact? Wondering how to spice up your Facebook feed? Or, find a unique way to boost summertime activities? Well, the Virginia’s Top 10 Endangered Artifacts may just be the answer!

With two years under our belts, VAM just kicked-off the third year of our popular public relations campaign. Collecting institutions of all shapes and sizes are asked to nominate an artifact or archival item to the 2013 program to share your treasure’s story while reaping the ben-efits of this unique public relations and outreach program. It’s as easy as 1-2-3!

1. Brainstorm with your colleagues about what fascinating item from your collection could use conservation sup-port while grabbing the attention of your constituents and the public, and then fill out the easy-to-use nomination form by June 30. The Top 10 Peer Review Panel will use this form and any photo-graphs to determine the honorees.

2. Attend a webinar on July 15/16 to review the program calendar, plus learn tips on reaching out to the media and maximizing your participation.

3. Rally your staff, volunteers and supporters to take part in some friend-ly competition with your colleagues in the collections communities and “Get Out the Vote!” by championing your item during the online public voting phase in August. While there are no monetary awards, we’re enhancing the program this year by adding web links to each nominee’s website (if provided) to encourage donations. The institu-tion with the most votes does land the “People’s Choice” honor, which only expands the opportunities for promo-tion and media relations.

4. Join in anticipation for the “Big An-nouncement” in mid-September to find out what artifacts were chosen by the Peer Review Panel as the 2013 “Top 10 Endangered Artifacts” in Virginia! Then

use your honor to reach out to potential funders while creating enthusiasm for your organization and collections care.

Ok, it takes four steps, but the last one is the easiest.

So what are you waiting for? You just might benefit from new funding, sup-porters, volunteers, special event ideas, and increased media coverage as past participants have!

Go to www.VATop10Artifacts.org and nominate an artifact before June 30, and take advantage of one of the most unique public outreach programs for conservation around. In fact, it’s such a great idea, that our fellow IMLS Con-necting to Collections Grant recipi-ents - Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts in Philadelphia and the Oklahoma Cultural Heritage Trust – have created similar programs for their own states of Pennsylvania and Oklahoma.

Questions? Contact Virginia Collections Initiative Project Manager, Christina Newton, at cnewton@vamuseums.org or 804-358-3173.l

Thank You Conference 2013 Sponsors!

PLATINUMThe Design Minds, Inc.TourSphere, Inc.

GOLDCinebar Productions, Inc.Glavé & Holmes ArchitectureStumpf & Associates, Inc.

SILVERBlair, Inc. Gropen, Inc.Lynchburg College Museum Studies ProgramMuseum RailsRudinec & Associates – Request-A-Print

BRONZEAmRestoreClarkson & Wallace Realty Co.Dorfman Museum FiguresHealyKohler DesignHollinger Metal EdgeHomestead PreserveMarkel ArtworksNature RetreatsOnCellRussell Bernabo Fine Art ConservationShenandoah Valley Productions LLCStudioAMMONSVAM CouncilWillis of New York, Inc.

Virginia’s Top 10 Endangered Artifacts2013

The Georgianna Saunders Midwife Records from The Salem Museum in Salem, VA. 2012 Top 10 Endangered Artifacts Honoree. Photo courtesy of The Salem Museum.

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eThe Taubman Museum of Ar tby Della Watkins, Executive Director, Taubman Museum of Art

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From the pinnacle view of the Taubman Museum of Art glass atrium seen from US I-581 all the way to the front door, the architecture is a message of exuberant wel-come. As the visitor arrives to this iconic Roanoke City gateway, there is an immedi-ate sense of accessibility, into the atrium, café, shop, theater, and galleries.

Once inside the permanent col-lection includes important 19th and early 20th century American art, as well as significant modern and contemporary art, photogra-phy, design, and decorative arts, as well as Southern folk art. The American art collection dates from the mid-19th through the end of the 20th century, providing ex-emplary works from the Hudson River, American Realism, American Impressionism, and Arts and Crafts art movements. American artists

include Thomas Eakins, Winslow Homer, Childe Hassam, Maurice Prendergast, John Singer Sargent, Robert Henri, Norman Rockwell, George Inness, Eduard Steichen, and Thomas Hart Benton. The modern and contemporary col-

lection includes works by Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Jacob Lawrence, Romare Bearden, John Cage, Audrey Flack, and Dorothy Gillespie. Artworks by Thomas Eakins and his circle are complemented by an archive of documents and photographs. Ad-ditionally, the museum maintains an archive of works and docu-mentary material relating to the internationally renowned Moun-tain Lake Workshop.

The permanent collection is continuously presented in varying iterations and galleries. The overall exhibition schedule includes key works by regional artists, as well as nationally and internationally ac-claimed touring exhibitions. These temporary rotating shows repre-sent 4-5 galleries in the museum, and change out every 3-6 months. They offer a diverse array of con-temporary paintings, drawings, sculptures, and photographs, in

Winslow Homer ; American, 1836-1910Woodchopper in the Adirondacks, circa 1870; Oil on canvas; 10 ¾ x 15 ¾”Collection of the Taubman Museum of Art; Acquired with funds provided by the Horace G. Fralin Charitable Trust, 1999.015

The Taubman Museum of Ar tby Della Watkins, Executive Director, Taubman Museum of Art

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addition to providing an overview of new media, craft, and art histori-cal shows, in solo, small group, and large group presentations.

The museum is one of the major cultural attractions in the region impacting quality of life, economic development, and education. Through our exhibitions, educational initiatives, institutional partnerships, community outreach, family-driven programming, and increased accessi-bility, we are successfully fulfilling our mission by broadening our audience and offering unique art experiences for adults and children alike, with more than 106,000 visitors served last year.

The vision for the Taubman Mu-seum of Art is to be the cultural heart of Virginia’s Blue Ridge. As the new executive director, I invite you to visit this summer! l

Gallery HoursTuesday - Saturday: 10:00am - 5:00pmEvery Thursday & First Fridays until 9:00pm Closed Sunday and Monday

http://www.taubmanmuseum.org/

Upcoming Exhibitions at the Taubman

May 28–Aug 24Her Stories: Fifteen Years of the South Asian Women’s Creative Collective

June 15–August 31Jason Salavon: A Seamlessness Between Things

Alter Egos and the Magical Other: John Bankston, Amy Cutler, Jeremiah Johnson, Fred Stonehouse

June 15–Aug 24Suzanne Stryk: Notes on the State of Virginia

Opening July 19Reunion: Highlights of the Taubman Museum of Art Collection

July 27 – Jan 11Myth: Ann Glover

Aug 9–Jan 25Ambiguity and Interface: Art Across the Spectrum

Norman Rockwell, American, 1894-1978 (Framed, 1946)Oil and graphite on canvas and wood; 42 ½ x 33”Collection of the Taubman Museum of Art; Acquired with funds provided by the Horace G. Fralin Charitable Trust, 2003.001

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Member KudosOn May 9th, at the Visit Loudoun annual meeting, the Waterford Foundation was honored with the Event of the Year award for their 2012 Waterford Homes Tour & Crafts Exhibit. The Foundation also won an award from the Loudoun County Joint Architectural Review Board for the Old School’s new auditori-um, which was completed in April 2012. Congratulations to all the folks over at the Waterford Foundation!

The Virginia Aquarium’s Mentoring Young Scientists (MYS) program was selected by a panel of community judg-es to receive a 2013 Hampton Roads Volunteer Achievement Award in the Youth Group Category.

The Hampton Roads Community Foun-dation has awarded a $250,000 grant for the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, which by late 2016 will replace the Yorktown Victory Center, operated by the state’s Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. The grant will support acquisition of artifacts, interac-tive exhibits and films for the new museum galleries and will help to meet a challenge grant issued last fall by The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation of Richmond. The Parsons Foundation is matching 50 percent of up to $500,000 in gifts made through November 2013 for the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown galleries.

The Virginia Living Museum cut the rib-bon to its solar education project, one of the largest non-profit solar installations in Hampton Roads, on April 20, follow-ing a brief dedication ceremony. The museum has installed 165 solar panels (a 46.2KW solar system) on its south facing roof. The solar system will produce more than 4900 kWh of electricity per month (58,853kWh per year), enough to fully power more than six U.S. homes. The system is expected to save the museum more than $5,000 in electricity costs in the first year alone. Over the first

year, the green power produced by the system will prevent more than 41 metric tons of carbon dioxide being released. The project was funded with a $150,000 grant from Dominion Virginia Power’s charitable foundation.

Monticello has received a $10 million gift from David M. Rubenstein, phi-lanthropist and Co-CEO of The Carlyle Group. The generous gift will help restore the upper floors of the house, and help to reconstruct Mulberry Row, Monticello’s main plantation hub. Ad-ditionally, the gift will fund the up-grade of electrical and climate-control systems that are approaching the end of their life cycle.

In 1951 the Moton Student Strike in Farmville, Virginia made history. The 13-year battle to desegregate Prince Edward County’s public schools would reshape the nation and the future of American education. Now, ‘The Moton School Story: Children of Courage’ shares this history with the world. Designed by Petersburg-based StudioAmmons, the Moton Mu-seum’s permanent exhibition begins with the April 1951 strike against separate, but unequal conditions at Farmville’s R.R. Moton High School. From this youth-led direct action emerged the largest and only student-initiated case among the five that comprise Brown v. Board of Education. The exhibition continues through Virginia’s “Massive Resistance” to school desegregation, followed by Prince Edward’s extreme decision to close all public schools from 1959 until 1964. In the final gallery, visitors encounter the 1963-64 Kennedy Administration-sup-ported Free School system, and end with the Supreme Court’s 1964 Griffin decision reopening county schools, ensuring free desegregated education for all.

Congratulations to the following Vir-ginia museums that have been recently accepted into the Museum Assessment Program (MAP). * Black History Museum and Cultural

Center of Virginia, Richmond* Radford University Art Museum, Radford* Science Museum of Western Virginia, RoanokeMAP is administered by the American Alliance of Museums through a coop-erative agreement with the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Member NewsLynchburg’s historic Old City Cemetery, Virginia’s oldest public burial ground, has launched its biggest effort to date to find and identify unmarked graves in its midst.

The Frontier Culture Museum an-nounced the museum has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development to undertake the Virginia Artisan Center Planning Project. As part of the planning project, the museum will complete an artisan center feasibility study.

With a newly created logo on display, a cornerstone was dedicated recently for the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, which will replace the York-town Victory Center, a museum of the American Revolution operated by the state’s Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.

Many Virginia museums are partici-pating again this year in the Blue Star Museums program. Blue Star Museums is a partnership among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, Joining Forces, MetLife Founda-tion and hundreds of museums across the country. Blue Star Museums offer free admission to active duty mililtary and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Cleaning supplies, scissors and a gar-den hose were among the many items TowneBank donated to the Virginia Living Museum on May 22. “The in-kind sup-port provided by TowneBank is critical in

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assisting the museum fulfill its mission,” said Executive Director Page Hayhurst. “Help-ing the museum meet an ongoing need for supplies is a great way for businesses to learn about the museum, its animals and the people that make it special.”

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts recently introduced Wild@Art, a new app for smart-phones highlighting more than 30 works of art from the museum’s collection, including select pieces from the current exhibition Domestic, Wild, Divine: Artists Look at Animals. The app is free and available for download from iTunes and Android Marketplace.

Monticello archaeologists will launch an innovative collaborative project designed to advance the study of slavery in North America and the Caribbean, thanks to a re-cently announced grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Recently, the Virginia Historical Society partnered with the Virginia Department of Education to create Virginia Studies podcasts. The videos were created in response to teachers’ need for SOL-related digital content that is educational AND entertaining, short-format, interactive, and free. This new series of videos uses historical images and anima-tion to teach fourth grade students about the American Civil War. Currently, three VHS-produced videos are available through the Virginia Department of Education’s iTunes U page under the K-12 category.

Recently, volunteers helped to paint the Richmond Liberty Trail logos on sidewalks throughout the area. The new Richmond Liberty Trail will connect 6.2 miles of Rich-mond history. The Trail is a collaborative initiative of the business, tourism, and his-tory communities. Find out more at www.rvalibertytrail.com.

Hails and FarewellsVAM council member Rob Orrison was recently promoted from historic site manager of Ben Lomond Historic Site to historic operations supervisor for Prince

Wiliam County. He now supervises all County owned historic sites (five), includ-ing staff, day to day operations, and programming. Congratulations Rob!

Walter L. Mess, who established the North-ern Virginia Regional Park Authority and was a member of its Board for more than 45 years, passed away on Sunday, May 26, at the age of 100. During his more than four decades on the NVRPA Board, the agency preserved over 10,000 acres of land.

Wilton House Museum and The National Society of The Colonial Dames of Amer-ica in the Commonwealth of Virginia recently announced the hiring of Keith D. MacKay as their next executive director. MacKay has been responsible for the preservation and interpretation of Ten Chimneys, a National Historic Landmark, as the site’s director of historic preserva-tion these past four years. Previously, Mr. MacKay was the assistant director of His-toric Savannah Foundation’s Davenport House Museum, where he participated in a site-wide re-interpretation and collec-tion focus re-direction, and as a research assistant for the White House Historical Association. Welcome, Keith!

Glavé and Holmes Architecture (a VAM business member and conference spon-sor) is pleased to announce the promo-tions of S. Jeanne LeFever, AIA, to partner and of Andrew B. Moore, AIA, LEED AP, to principal. Congratulations!

Due to a generous gift from the Ratcliffe Foundation, Crab Orchard Museum in Taze-well, VA is re-establishing a full-time curator position, named in memory of A.M. “Smiley” Ratliff, Jr. “Budget constraints have made it impossible in recent years to employ a curator more than part-time,” says Charlotte Whitted, executive director. “We are grate-ful the Ratcliffe Foundation recognizes our need for a full-time curator as essential to the fulfillment of our mission to preserve and promote Appalachian cultural heritage.”

From the Old Coast Guard Station Mu-

seum in Virginia Beach: William Hazel has joined the museum as financial adminis-trator/museum store manager, effective May 16. William’s background is in sales, marketing, and business development combined with more than 15 years of museum experience. Welcome, William!

The Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation board of trustees sadly announced the passing of their late president, Mrs. Nancy Rowland, after a short illness. Nancy joined the Patrick Henry Auxiliary in 1998 and served as president from 2002-2006.

Adriana Christesen, a Huntington, New York native, and a senior art history major at UMW, is joining the folks at Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont. Ms. Christesen will be working with education coordinator Michelle Crow-Dolby to plan and implement interac-tive programs for museum visitors and the second-annual Beeping Easter Egg hunt.l

Backyard, and Beyond...

S u m m e r 2 0 1 3 11

Dear Members,

At the end of April I said goodbye to the Virginia Association of Museums. It has been nineteen years since I first came to VAM - not as a museum profes-sional, but as a devoted museum fan with experience in putting on confer-ences, doing advocacy work, publishing newsletters, and creating marketing and public relations campaigns. It seemed like a good fit; I thought “Wow! They’re going to pay me to visit museums!”

It hardly seems like 19 years have passed – but so much has happened and VAM has grown so much since that February in 1994. Membership, conference attendance and commit-tee participation has grown, as has the number of staff and size of the bud-get. I’ve been through 6 office moves, 10 Council presidents and 20 Annual Conferences.

In 1994, VAM’s programs consisted of the conference, workshop series of 4-6 workshops per year, and a Senior Management Institute (SMI) funded by an IMLS grant. Over the years, we have added a summer conservation workshop series; additional SMIs, the Museum Fundamentals Forum every three years; the Middle Management Institute every few years; Museum Mentors (a one-on-one training op-portunity using Smithsonian traveling

exhibits); and additional training series in marketing, customer service, advo-cacy, and volunteer management.

We created a Certificate in Museum Man-agement; the Emergency Response Task Force for disaster relief to museums; an overseas exchange program; the Circuit Rider program for site collections assess-ment reports; the Collections in Action volunteer curator program; the Top Ten Endangered Artifacts public awareness program; career counseling; and coordi-nated pro bono technical assistance and consulting for museums. And I’m sure I’m forgetting something!

Although I am proud of all of VAM’s accomplishments, most of all what I have enjoyed about the past 19 years is getting to know my talented and caring colleagues of the museum world, and the enduring friendships I’ve made. It has truly been a la-bor of love; I am still at heart the same museum geek I was on that February day so long ago – only even more amazed at the hard work, commitment and dedication of those in the museum field, and the wonderful things they accom-plish day to day. I am still thrilled to walk through a mu-seum – of any kind – and yes, I’m one of those who read every label.

As I leave Virginia, I have very mixed emotions. I am excited about my new position with the National As-sociation for Inter-pretation, but will miss the people and

the museums that I have come to love here. Please do keep in touch – my new email address is mcarlock@interpnet.com. And, if you are in Colorado, look me up!

With my warmest regards,

MargoMargo Carlock Executive DirectorNational Association for Interpretation

Director’s Corner

12S u m m e r 2 0 1 3

Our Governing CouncilPresident, Tracy J. Gillespie

VP, Planning & Resources, Al SchweizerVP, Programming, Gary Sandling

Secretary, Anna HollowayTreasurer, Norman BurnsPast Presidents, John Verrill and Scott Harris

Ex-Officio Members, Robert C. Vaughan

and Robin Nicolson

D irec torsEric AppGretchen Bulova Donald Buma Diane DunkleyPatrick FarrisCharles GrantDebi GrayTramia JacksonLisa MartinMelanie L. MathewesApril Cheek-Messier Robert OrrisonDana PugaBarbara Rothermel Charlotte Whitted

Our StaffInterim Executive Dir., Jennifer ThomasCommunications Dir., Heather Widener Accountant, Su Thongpan Project Manager, VCI, Christina Newton

Our VoiceVAM Voice is a member benefit pub-lished quarterly for museum profes-sionals and volunteers. The editor encourages readers to submit article proposals. Contact the Communica-tions Director for more information.Our Contac tsPhone: 804. 358.3170 Fax: 804. 358.3174

www.vamuseums.org jthomas@vamuseums.orghwidener@vamuseums.org su@vamuseums.orgcnewton@vamuseums.org

Our News D eadlinesSpring: February 15Summer: May 15Fall: August 15Winter: November 15

Our MissionThe mission of the Virginia Association

of Museums is to serve as the resource

network of the Virginia and District

of Columbia museum community

through education, technical

assistance, and advocacy.