PROPOSAL DEADLINE IS FRIDAY Join us at MPMA's Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado: October 15-19, 2017 Proposal Deadline: January 13, 2017 proposal form here: http://mpma.net/ Submit a proposal - Have something to share? Proposals now being accepted for workshops, sessions and poster sessions CALL-OUT FOR PANELISTS 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] Wanna join a panel? Check out this request for panelists ...then contact the submitter directly. *Session Title: Wrangling Volunteer Schedules Description: Volunteer scheduling can eat up a disproportionate share of time leaving volunteer coordinators with little time for creating a better volunteer program. Using an on-line scheduler can not only make the scheduling portion of our jobs easier, but volunteer management software (VMS) can be a low cost way to streamline a whole host of tasks IF you know how to use it correctly. We will introduce different online schedulers, and explain how they are used at different types and sizes of institutions. We'll then lead attendees through the process of setting up various functions and explaining how it is different/better than what we did prior to the on-line system. For those attendees who already use a VMS but suspect they could do more with it, we will spend the last section of the workshop answering their questions and demonstrating how we use our systems to tackle similar problems. We'd like to find one more facilitator with experience using an online scheduler, preferably NOT Volgistics such that we have multiple views. Contact: Kim Popetz, Volunteer & Events Coordinator Historic Denver Inc.'s Molly Brown House Museum 303-832-4092 ext.16 [log in to unmask] *Session - Leveraging the Experience Description: We are looking for a 3rd panelist to focus on successful, experience-based exhibits for this session. You will have approx. 20 minutes to describe your example, how it was developed, and audience reactions. See session description for more info. We already have the program and event example. Session description: Audiences are seeking unique experiences, and museums are adapting to provide them. How can museums craft mesmerizing offerings out of current educational content to harness this interest? This session will highlight exhibits, programs, and events that have been specially engineered to feed visitors’ hunger for experiences while still offering excellent, mission-driven content. Contact: Lauren Hunley,Education & Outreach Coordinator Carbon County Museum [log in to unmask] 307-328-2740 *Collections Management Swapmeet Description Want to know where other museums get their storage materials? Or how to create specialty storage on a budget? Which tools should you have? How about which computer programs are easy and inexpensive (for you) to use? Come to this informal meeting to talk about it. We will share "secrets" and in- house do-it-yourself tips. This is not a traditional panel; instead everyone will be encouraged to share what has worked and what hasn't in their collections management endeavors. Bring your questions AND share your expertise. Looking for panelists to join me in this fun and VERY POPular session. Contact: Jenny Yearous, Curator of Collections Mangement State Historical Society of North Dakota 701-328-2099 [log in to unmask] *Session Title: Avoiding the Pit-Falls - State Archaeological Collections, Changing Practices and Challenges Description Mountain-plains region states have one or more designated agency or approved deputy custodian repositories caring for archaeological collections excavated from state, county or municipal lands. While each state approaches archaeological collections management differently, all are experiencing unique challenges in terms of facilities, fees, funding, mitigation and planning for disasters, regulations and statewide management of these networks. This session aims to highlight a few of the challenges and issues that each state is facing in terms of archaeological collections care practices. By sharing these issues and each state's experiences it is hoped those in attendance at this session will propose solutions and share knowledge to avoid the most challenging "pit-falls" to avoid a loss of control for each of our state's archaeological collections. Contact: Todd McMahon,Title: State Curation Coordinator History Colorado - Office of the State Archaeologist 303-866-4607 [log in to unmask] *Session Title (pending): Stack the Deck in Your Favor Description The Emerging Museum Professionals co-chairs are proposing a session designed for EMP's of all experience levels. We would like to recruit retired or about-to-retire museum professionals from the MPMA membership to discuss what skills they found the most valuable in their careers. What skills or experiences should young professionals actively pursue to make them more marketable our competitive profession? The title for the proposed session is "Stack the Deck." Contact: Kristin Martin [log in to unmask] Erin Brown [log in to unmask] *Session Title (pending): Fundraising or Community Outreach or Programming or Interactive or Problem Solving for ED's - let's choose one of these Description: Howdy, I am interested in presenting something that is specific to small museums. I could do one on fundraising, community outreach, programming or interactive one on problem solving for ED's. I would like 1 or 2 presenters to join me. Any takers?? Cheers Glo Cunningham Contact: Glo Cunningham [log in to unmask] *Session Title (pending): Museum Programming for People with Special Needs Description: Bethany Cheshire and I are looking for folks who can talk about their experiences creating programs or exhibits specifically with special needs in mind. This could be anything from autism to Alzheimer's. If you'd like to participate and discuss learning theory or something related instead, let me know. This presentation will discuss the challenges and benefits in working with people with special needs and the surprising ways in which these adaptations create a better museum experience for the 'normal' museum audience. Tentative outline: How to make your museum more welcoming for people with special needs 1. Talk about how many people there are in the US with 'special needs', how they are part of our audiences 2. Problems of access (cognitive and physical) and benefits (to visitors and institutions) of programing that works for people with special needs 3. Talk about awesome programs we know about and some basic ideas that would work across different sized museums. - where we need panelists. 4. Break into groups to brainstorm ways to make your own museum's programs more accessible (with worksheet and hands-on items) 5. Discussion Contact: Kristjana Eyjólfsson, Director of Education Historical Museum at Fort Missoula (406)728-3476 x. 3 [log in to unmask] *Session Title (pending): Western Justice in Museums FILLED *Session Title (pending): Unique Programming Description: I am interested in organizing a session dealing with the unique programming and community connections opportunity presented by the August 21 total eclipse. I want very much to hear from museums that are taking advantage of it and making connections with amateur astronomers, schools, other informal educational organizations, hobbyists, etc. to spread their eclipse-related programming far and wide. It will be a useful opportunity to talk about both what was planned and how it worked out. What was successful and what wasn't and what did we learn from this? And how did we make new connections that will carry into the future? I'll appreciate expressions of interest in this idea soon, as there are only a few weeks until proposals are due. Contact: Mac West, [log in to unmask] Principal at Informal Learning Experiences, Denver, CO Robert M. West, Ph.D. Informal Learning Experiences Web: _www.informallearning.com_ (http://www.informallearning.com/) Facebook: _www.facebook.com/informallearningexperiences_ (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Informal-Learning-Experiences/158537887536585) REMEMBER: YOU CONTACT THE CONTACT DIRECTLY TO JOIN A PANEL. Submit a proposal - Have something to share? Proposals are now being accepted for workshops, sessions and poster sessions PROPOSAL DEADLINE: January 13, 2017 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] Next Call-Out is January 9th Bookmark this date: October 15-19, 2017 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 is also a professional network to help you when the going gets tough. Let MPMA help you create a successful proposal and find the best panelists. Contact us about a Call-Out for you!!! MPMA: A Ten-State Museum Network Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming Mark your calendar: 2017 MPMA Conference October 15-19 Denver, CO 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/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).