Hi Carrie -

ALHFAM - Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums, has a good system in place for first time attendees.  We have a special packet that goes out to first timers before the conference, explaining how to navigate the conference and giving definitions for the acronyms and jargon we tend to use.  First timers are also invited to a special reception held an hour or more before the conference opening reception. Members of the board and committee members are introduced, each first timer introduces themselves, and there is time for q&a -  it seems to be a good ice breaker. We have considered the mentoring model, but have not gone that route yet.

I hope this helps - feel free to contact me if you'd like more information. 

Sarah
A happy member of the ALHFAMily!




---- Carrie Snow <[log in to unmask]> wrote: 
> Do any state/regional/national organizations have a format for a first time conference attendees session they would be willing to share?  My state organization wants to focus on helping new-to museums folks (usually unpaid staff at all volunteer museums) get the most out of their conference dollar.  We want to make sure first-timers understand how to read a conference program to select the sessions that will work for them, demonstrate to the funding sources that money spent on conferences translates into a better museum, and just feel comfortable mixing with their more experienced colleagues.
> 
> Anything like suggested reading lists, guidelines, session outlines, topics that should be covered would be immensely helpful.
> 
> Thank you,
> Carrie Snow
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Carrie E. Snow
> Manager Collections Care
> Church History Museum
> 801-240-4619
> 801-244-2307 (cell)
> 
> 
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