Call-Out for Panelists for MPMA's Conference It is time to think about your proposal for MPMA's 2016 Conference Mountain-Plains Museums Association Join us at MPMA's Annual Conference in Oklahoma City, OK: October 23-27, 2016 Proposal Deadline: January 15, 2016 CALL-OUT FOR PANELISTS Can't find panelists? Request a CALL-OUT from MPMA. We will send out an eblast for those proposals that need panelists. The eblast will include a brief description of the session or workshop and the kind of panelists you want. Contact us: [log in to unmask] (mailto:[log in to unmask]) Wanna join a panel? Check out these requests for panelists ...then contact the submitter directly. SESSIONS THAT NEED PANELISTS *Session Title: Mutually Beneficial Collaborations between Museums and Communities Description: This session will analyze how museums and community organizations such as libraries, art galleries, community centers, etc. can work together to provide unique and interesting experiences for residents and expanded venues and program opportunities for museums. The successful traveling exhibition program developed by the Space Science Institute's National Center for Interactive Learning places science activities in rural libraries and other science museums have effective state-wide and regional library collaborations. The session's goal is to point out how the museums' mission is expanded and met by these connections, while clearly benefiting the local residents. Looking for other museums of all types that have successful outreach programs that take them out of their immediate communities into regional locations, especially in smaller and rural communities. Two or three additional panelists can share their institutions' experiences. Contact: Robert Mac West, [log in to unmask] (mailto:[log in to unmask]) Principal at Informal Learning Experiences, Denver, CO *Session Title: Challenges of Concealed Weapons in Museums Description: Museums are confronting more frequently the issue of concealed weapons as more states adopt new laws on weapons. Numerous twitter and FB postings attest to this. Some museums have posted "ban" icons on their doors. Others have removed them or have never used them citing difficulty in enforcement. Still others do not see this as an issue while some constituents vow never to set foot in a museum that allows weapons. Looking for folks whose museum is addressing this issue. Are you following the law, ignoring it or is it not even an issue at all? Contact: Monta Lee Dakin, [log in to unmask] *Session Title: Building a Manual for Data Standards Description: At the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum, I have developed a data standards manual that serves dual purposes. In this manual, the fields of our database are defined and rules are set for how data should be entered into the database. The book doubles as a training tool for teaching new staff, student workers, interns, and volunteers how to use the database. For more experienced staff, it gives a starting point from which to clean data. The manual brings together best practices to create a useful resource for a museum staff who works with a diverse collection. The goal behind standardizing our data is to make information easier for the public to search on our website. Looking for Collections Managers, Registrars, Curators, Volunteer Coordinators, and Emerging Museum Professionals who have also worked on standardizing data at their institutions or are interested in beginning such a project. Those with projects in-progress are welcome to participate. Contact: Theresa Ketterer [log in to unmask] (mailto:[log in to unmask]) Assistant Registrar/Collections Manager at the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, Manhattan, KS *Session Title: "Getting it all Together" Description: There is never enough time or staff to get it all done. We've recently revamped our shared network storage to make it easier to locate files and retrieve information. If we share information that we all need, we increase communication and save time-time we can use doing the rest of our jobs! See how we did it, what worked, and what didn't work. This is intended to be a discussion about revamping shared network storage to increase efficiencies. Looking for more panelists who have gone through this process. Contact: Stephanie Teasley, [log in to unmask] (mailto:[log in to unmask]) Registrar at the Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita, KS FILLED*Session Title: Collections Management Swap Meet FILLED *Session Title: Museums in the media: visibility vs collections care Submit a proposal - Have something to share? Proposals are now being accepted for workshops, sessions and poster sessions PROPOSAL DEADLINE: January 15, 2016 Not sure how to get started? Check our _website_ (http://www.mpma.net/accurrent.php) for suggested topics _Go here_ (http://www.mpma.net/accurrent.php) for the proposal form for sessions, workshops, poster sessions Can't find panelists? Request a CALL-OUT from MPMA. We will send an eblast for those proposals that need panelists. The eblast will include a brief description of the session or workshop and the kind of panelists you are looking for. Want to be included? Contact us: [log in to unmask] (mailto:[log in to unmask]) Bookmark this date: October 23-27, 2016 MPMA's regional museum conference is a great place for anyone who works in a museum of any kind to get ideas on current practices for their programs and buildings. It is where they can mingle with peers, learn about the latest techie stuff, get the straight talk on current standards, and hear new ways for reaching visitors of all ages and abilities. MPMA: A Ten-State Museum Network Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming Mark your calendar: 2016 MPMA Conference October 23 - October 27 Oklahoma City, OK Mountain-Plains Museums Association 7110 West David Drive Littleton, Colorado 80128-5404 303-979-9358 _www.mpma.net _ (http://www.mpma.net/) ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . 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