NOW ACCEPTING PROPOSALS FOR

MPMA'S 2004 CONFERENCE

Casper, Wyoming

September 7-11, 2004

December 15th is the deadline for submitting session proposals  for MPMA’s Annual Conference in Casper, Wyoming, September 7-11, 2004.  This is your opportunity to get on the program.  The session proposal form and guidelines are available – just ask for them by responding to this email.  We have guidelines for regular and commercial sessions.   MPMA is the regional museum association serving Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas Wyoming.

Your topic can be whatever you think is important.  It can be nuts and bolts, hands-on and practical,   “on the edge,”  and it can appeal to seasoned professionals or entry level ones. Why don’t you take some time now to submit your topic.  Give us a chance to see how brilliant you can be!  Also, presenting a session  is a great way to get your boss to send you to the conference.

Businesses:  show your expertise or newest products in MPMA's commercial session. Space for commercial sessions is limited.

Send your proposal to  MPMA at [log in to unmask].  Need a form?  Respond to this email.

Here are some ideas for topics:

ADMINISTRATION

-Huge printing costs versus investing online

--Should you really put that on your web site?  Why not?

--Sending newsletters online to your membership

--Dealing with Changes in Our Society

--Dealing with the Stress of Institutional Reorganization

--Handling Difficult Personnel Situations

--Good, Better, & Best:  The Attempt to Follow Best Practices

--Board members need advice, too!

--How to re-channel an unproductive board

--Rejuvenating burned-out employees

--Getting board members to understand the museum field

--Establishing mentoring programs

--How to assist students and emerging leaders

- How to use the academic professors on your staff 

--Electronic communication with your board and your staff

FACILITIES

--Should every gallery and building be a Naming Opportunity?

--Dealing With Vandalism and/or Graffiti

--Precautions to Prevent Major Flooding (natural and man-made)

--Managing Multiple Facilities (could be multiple historic sites in a central location, or sites in different towns, or different galleries on a university campus as examples).

--Fire Extinguisher Training  or other safety issues

--Ergonomics of Computer Stations

-- How Can Cameras Help with Security?

--Security Lighting for the Museums Exterior (without light pollution)

--New trends in museum buildings

--New trends in ....

--Working with an architect to get the most for your money

--Selecting an architect, exhibits designer, and other specialists

--Should you select an architect and exhibits designer at the same time?

EXHIBITS

--Exhibit Labels Workshop 

-How to cut, bend, drill, and otherwise mutilate acrylic to make in-house script & artifact mounts

--Changing Galleries From Incandescent to Halogen Light Fixtures

--How to Build A Professional Quality Case

--Meshing curatorial issues with exhibit deadlines

CURATORIAL

- Corporate Collections 

--Identification of objects (session on how to identify)

--Live Ammunition:  Identification and Disposal  

-Legal and ethical issues  including liability issues

-Fire codes and antique cars with gasoline and oil along with other issues of care

--Care and Issues of Industrial Collections 

--Care and Storage of Musical Instrument

--How to Start and Manage an Educational Collection (And Not Drive the Curator Crazy)

- Setting Up An Archival Collection Within a Museum --How To Say No To Donors

-Sending collections out on travel

--Too many objects and not enough room

--Collections that no longer fit the mission

--University museums - will their funding continue?

-Collections for Children's Museums

--Art Gallery collaborations

FINANCIAL/MARKETING/MEMBERSHIP

--Current Trends in the Travel Industry

--Basics of Making a Great Brochure

--Current Trends in the Travel Industry

--Basics of Making a Great Brochure

--Diversifying Your Income

-Using membership programs to create loyal constituents who give

- Elements of  a membership plan: dues, benefits, growth, recruitment
 -Low-Cost Ways to Grow Your Constituencies

-Controlling Organizational Costs and Risks

-Strategic Planning for Growth and Survival

--Trends in store management, display and merchandise

--Updating a boring gift shop 

--What to do about a gift shop in the wrong location?

--Creating an online gift shop

How to Draft and Implement:

--Financial Statements That Work

--Annual Goals & Objectives

--Leave Policies

--Security Policies

--Dress Codes

--Capital Improvements

--Ethics Statements

--Opening & Closing Procedures

--Incident/Police Reports

--Safe Working Conditions (life safety codes, OSHA, state agency requirements)

--Food / Plant (cut flowers) Policy

--Collections Policies & Procedures (scope, registration, deaccessioning, restricted donations)

--Special event and rental policies  (weddings, meetings, Halloween)

 VISITOR SERVICES

-Factors that facilitate visitor satisfaction and learning
-Best practices to design and evaluate visitor services, programs and exhibitions
-Methods and results of audience research and marketing studies
-Ethical issues related to visitor studies

Don't see a topic you would like to have at the conference?  Get creative and come up with any topic that you like.  The possibilities are endless.