Dear ICOM members: It is not too late to submit paper proposals for the ICOM-ICME conference "CONNECTIONS, COMMUNITIES AND COLLECTIONS" in Miami Beach, Florida July 10-12, 2006. By popular demand, the proposal deadline has been extended until MARCH 30th. This means that YOU can still join ICME in discussing museum-community relationships, "expanding" the museum, "difficult" social topics, collections policy and more! *** REMINDER Call for papers "CONNECTIONS, COMMUNITIES AND COLLECTIONS" ICOM-ICME annual meeting Miami Beach, Florida July 10-12, 2006 Museum-community relationships have been a prevalent theme at ICME conferences, as well as at ICOM general conferences. For example, during the 1995 conference in Stavanger, the ICOM general assembly passed a resolution concerning 'Museums and Communities' which noted that "local museums all over the world which are undertaking innovative activities focusing on everyday topics of community life, trying to challenge traditional models and reaching beyond the limits of exhibition spaces, are facing threats of closure and lack of support from their governing bodies". Further, the resolution encouraged the development of strategic planning initiatives leading towards "coordinated action for the benefit of museums, of museology and the communities which they serve." http://icom.museum/resolutions/eres95.html More than ten years after this resolution (and precisely 60 years since the founding of ICME), do we find differences in how museum ethnography approaches the issues of community dialog and collecting objects? Conversely, are there any resonant themes from our 'founding fathers', which are equally relevant today? Should we ask: How far can we expand 'museum' boundaries in terms of physical space or social influence? What makes the 'local' museum a focus for community dialog, projects and activities? Can museums act as discussion forums for 'difficult' social topics? Should museum collection policies reflect community needs and interests? Are there basic changes in relationships between museum indigenous constituencies and the public domain? ICME therefore invites papers discussing "Connections, Communities and Collections" for the 2006 ICME conference. Paper proposals of up to 250 words may be submitted to [log in to unmask] until the extended deadline of March 30, 2006, which is also the deadline for registration at the reduced "early bird" rate. Registration forms, general information and the tentative Conference schedule is available on the ICME website - http://icme.icom.museum Regards from Daniel Winfree Papuga ICME president [log in to unmask] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Change ICOM-L subscription options, unsubscribe, and search the archives at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/icom-l.html