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The Association of Maine Archives and Museums publishes quarterly print newsletter that is sent out to members in February, May, August, and November. We also maintain the blog on this page for members to share their announcements more immediately.

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News Blog

Members and non-members of MAM may post news of interest to the field using the blog below. To post an event, see the event listings. To post a job or internship opportunity, see the job/internship board. MAM reserves the right to edit or reject postings as it deems appropriate. This service is free to members; non-members are charged $20.

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  • 17 Dec 2014 4:00 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
    Director of Development, Maine Maritime Museum
    Maine Maritime Museum, an internationally recognized cultural institution located on the Kennebec River in
    Bath seeks a Director of Development who will play a key role in the leadership team and help the museum
    continue to grow and excel.

    The Museum

    Maine Maritime Museum (MMM) is an independent, nonprofit institution dedicated to promoting an
    understanding and appreciation of Maine’s maritime heritage and culture through gallery exhibits, an
    historic shipyard, educational programs, a research Library, and narrated excursions along area waterways.
    Founded in 1962, the Museum is located on a beautiful 20-acre campus on the banks of the Kennebec River
    in Bath, “The City of Ships” and provides a unique experience to visitors of all ages from around the world.
    The MMM experience includes indoor galleries with changing exhibits on historic and contemporary maritime
    issues, the monumental evocation of the schooner Wyoming, an active boat shop that teaches traditional
    skills to students and adults, and river and industry tours that help people gain an entirely new
    understanding and perception of Maine’s maritime culture. More than 250 volunteers spend their time
    working with the staff, the collections, and visitors to contribute to the enrichment of thousands of lives.
    Engaged donors support the Museum in order to leave a lasting legacy that will inform – and transform –
    future generations. MMM strives to enrich the lives of residents and visitors and be the fullest expression of
    what a museum can be.

    The Museum has a staff of 22 FTEs, 250+ volunteers, and an active board of trustees. MMM is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and adheres to the highest standards of the museum industry.

    The Position

    The Director of Development is responsible for the strategic development plan and oversees all aspects of
    the Museum's fund raising activities to meet annual financial objectives. With assistance from a full-time
    development associate and additional administrative and marketing support, the Director of Development
    reports to the Executive Director and works closely with the board to ensure the museum raises the funds
    necessary to fulfill its mission.

    Specific Duties Include:

     Annual and Long-term Development Plan – Works with the Executive Director and Development
    Committee to create the strategic development plan to meet specific financial goals that include annual
    giving, major gifts, planned giving, individual and business membership programs, sponsorships,
    foundation giving, grants, fundraising and cultivation events, restricted project support and campaigns.

     Donor Stewardship – Develops and implements a personal cultivation, solicitation and stewardship plan for prospects, major donors, and trustees. Supports the Director and Trustees in donor stewardship and cultivation. Keeps current supporters informed and involved and is creative in thanking and acknowledging donors.

     Annual Giving – Develops and implements an annual giving plan including a summer appeal and yearend
    appeal, Trustee giving, Compass Circle (major gifts), prospect cultivation, and timely gift
    acknowledgement. Works with trustees and staff on prospect identification and cultivation.

     Individual Membership – Leads development and visitor services staff to grow membership program through enrollment of new members, retention of current members, and to increase membership levels.

     Corporate Support – Works with development staff, Trustees, and other museum staff to identify
    prospects and solicit and cultivate support from the corporate sector. Forms strong and mutually
    beneficial relationships with business leaders that lead to annual giving, business memberships and
    sponsorships.

     Foundation Giving and Grants – Solicits gifts and grants from foundations and agencies for annual giving and specific project support. Where appropriate, works with other museum staff and outsidegrant writers to maximize funding opportunities.

     Planned Giving – Develops and implements plans to encourage bequests and deferred gifts to the museum. Stewards known bequest donors and cultivates estate attorneys.

     Capital Campaign – Working with the Executive Director, the Campaign Chair and Campaign Committee, provides leadership for campaign fundraising and support for all participants in their fundraising efforts. Assumes responsibility for a designated prospect pool, manages donor assignments,and ensures proper and timely gift acknowledgments are made.

     Special Events – Develops and works with museum facilities staff to implement special events for
    fundraising and stewardship. Specifically, takes the lead on the annual Mariner’s Award event and
    supports Compass Circle and other cultivation events throughout the year.

     Community Relations – Develops effective relationships in the community and actively share stories
    of positive outcomes to build support for the Museum’s mission and activities.

     Finance and Data Integrity – Works with the Finance Office and administrative staff to ensure proper
    record keeping in Raiser’s Edge and Financial Edge systems.

     Other duties and responsibilities as required.

    Qualifications:
     Minimum of a B.A. or B.S. with at least five years of proven success in development.
     Adherence to the highest ethical standards and demonstrated ability to work effectively with donors,
    board members, and leaders in the business and philanthropic community.
     Experience researching, cultivating and soliciting individual and corporate donors as well as grant
    writing for foundation and agency support.
     Excellent oral and written communication and strong leadership and strategic project management
    skills. Ability to work well with a wide variety of individuals.
     Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for special events and travel.
     Experience with donor management software, especially Raiser’s Edge.

    Salary commensurate with experience, competitive benefits, positive working environment.
    Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

    Please send a cover letter and resume to John Settelen, Maine Maritime Museum, 243 Washington Street,
    Bath, ME 04530. Electronic submissions accepted at jsettelen@maritimeme.org. No phone inquiries.
    This position is subject to background checks including sex offender, criminal and credit checks. EOE.

    The Museum is open daily (except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day) from 9:30 am to 5 pm.
    Visit www.mainemaritimemuseum.org for more information.

  • 18 Nov 2014 1:26 PM | Anonymous member

    (PDF version for easy sharing)

    The leadership of Maine Archives and Museums (MAM), the membership organization dedicated to “supporting and promoting Maine’s collecting institutions,” was distressed to read about Governor Paul LePage’s recent characterization of Maine’s nonprofits as “takers, not givers” who “don’t pay their fair share,” and to learn that he wants to consider ending these organizations’ tax exemptions. The governor expressed these opinions during a November 6, 2014 interview with WCSH 6, selections of which are available on the channel’s website.

    MAM shares the view of the Maine Association of Nonprofits (MANP), which posted a response to the Governor’s statements on their website on November 12. They document the many ways in which nonprofits provide essential services to the people of Maine and carry out much of the work that is undertaken by governments in other contexts, while acting as important drivers for the state’s economy. Additionally, Maine’s nonprofit arts and cultural organizations, many of whom are members of MAM, play a fundamental role in Maine tourism, an industry that many acknowledge as the state’s largest and that the Governor has recognized is important to Maine’s economy.


    Our recent Economic Impact Statement provides the numbers: MAM’s members (which comprise only about a third of the state’s total museums and archives) employ hundreds, serve millions, and generate millions in revenue. MAM’s member institutions spend about $26 million annually in goods and services in the state. Only about 7.6% of their funding comes from government support of any kind: federal, state, or local. A study in 2009 showed that Maine’s museums alone generated more than $7.5 million in tax revenue for local and state government and supported some 1,300 jobs in Maine. This data is proof positive that this community gives far more than it takes. Moreover, a significant number of non-profit museums, historical societies and archival collections in Maine are run exclusively by volunteers who freely give approximately 327,000 hours of their time annually to collect and preserve artifacts, documents and historic structuresundefinedin short, Maine’s cultural heritageundefinedfor the betterment of Maine’s communities and for future generations. 


    Over the past four years, our industry has had a cordial and respectful relationship with Governor LePage. He worked with the Maine State Museum to put the Maine Labor Mural back on public view, he appointed an esteemed Maine scholar to the state museum commission, and he has supported the continued restoration of the Blaine House, one of Maine’s landmark historic properties. It is our hope that his second term in office will be characterized by the same regard for the organizations that share responsibility for preserving and promoting the arts, history, and culture of Maine, while bringing millions of visitors and millions of dollars to our state each year.

    To nurture a culture of appreciation and collaboration between our industry and the Office of the Governor, we would like to invite Governor LePage to select a date on his calendar in 2015 dedicated to visiting Maine’s collecting institutions. We will work with the Governor’s staff to develop an itinerary of organizations that show the depth, breadth, and importance of Maine’s historical and artistic collections, as well as the deep commitment to public service that is shared by all our members.

    MAM and its member organizations look forward to working with state government in planning for the state’s bicentennial in 2020, and to sharing with the people of Maine the artifacts and documents that tell the stories behind 200 years of statehood. To create something meaningful and memorable together will require mutual respect and support, rather than divisive generalities, and we hope that we can depend upon the Governor for both over the next four years.

    Signed,

    Jessica Skwire Routhier, President
    Erin I. Bishop, Ph.D., Director

  • 06 Nov 2014 11:52 AM | Anonymous member

    The Maine Library Association has awarded the Outstanding Librarian of the Year award and the Journalism award for 2014.  The Outstanding Librarian of the Year for 2014 is Jennifer Alvino, director of the Windham Public Library.  Alvino was nominated by her staff as well as town manager Tony Plante and former American Library Association president Maureen Sullivan.

     

    This year’s journalism award is given to Portland Press Herald staff writer Ray Routhier for his support of Maine libraries in general, and specifically for his piece entitled, “Maine Libraries Write New Chapter on Lending.”

     

    The awards will be handed out at the MLA conference on Sunday, November 16th at the annual banquet.

  • 04 Nov 2014 4:12 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
    Cultural organizations around the state have the opportunity to have trained facilitators help manage the process of creating a disaster plan for their institutions, thanks to a grant awarded to the Maine State Museum from Jane's Trust. In early spring interested organizations may participate in a facilitated planning project, anticipated from February - May.

    The Maine State Museum has long recognized that disaster planning is a bit of administrative housekeeping that cultural organizations all too frequently put off until disaster strikes, and in 2013 it took the lead in helping to address this situation by forming the Cultural Emergency Resource Coalition (CERC: Maine). CERC is a collaborative effort with the Maine Emergency Management Agency and several cultural agencies and conservators, including the Maine State Library, the Maine State Archives, the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, and the professional association Maine Archives and Museums. In its first year CERC focused on surveying Maine’s cultural community to evaluate the state of disaster planning, developing three levels of disaster planning benchmarks and resources to help streamline disaster planning for institutions of various sizes and complexity, and sponsoring disaster planning workshops. 

     

    Through its work with a beta site, the Pejepscot Historical Society, CERC developed a guided process to work organizations through disaster planning. This fall, ten participating libraries, museums and historical societies are being guided through the process by a FEMA Corps team trained in using the guide and in issues facing cultural organizations. CERC is working with FEMA to arrange for a second team to come to Maine in early spring to conduct another round of facilitations.


    Organizations interested in participating in the program may apply online through the CERC web site,www.cercmaine.org (under the Write Your Own Disaster Plan tab). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Participants will be selected to represent a broad range of institutional sizes, geographical locations, collections types, and building construction, although we are particularly interested in hearing from town offices, all-volunteer organizations or institutions located inland. For more information about this project see the CERC web site or contact the CERC office at CERC.Maine@gmail.com or (207) 287-6696.


  • 04 Nov 2014 9:23 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Executive Director

    Boothbay Railway Village

    The BRV is seeking an energetic, innovative individual to assume the role of Executive Director.  For the past 50 years the “BRV has served  Mid Coast Maine by operating a narrow gauge live-steam railroad , an antique car museum and hosting community oriented  events all set on the grounds of  a 12 acre period Maine village.

    To be considered for the position previous nonprofit employment is highly desirable including experience in managing the routine and special functions of a museum. Skill sets will include budget creation, personnel management and fund raising. The winning candidate must have strong leadership qualities, superior managerial, communication and team building qualities. Demonstrated effective public relations experience is a plus.

    The Director reports to an active 17 member Board.  Together they work on policies and long & short-term goals for all aspects of the “BRV”. The Director’s primary responsibilities include overall planning, development, financial /operations management, and safety compliance ensuring on-going stability, growth, and visitor satisfaction.

    Please submit cover letter and resume to BRV Executive Director Search Committee at: swilliams@mecoseal.com.com

    Stephen C Williams

    Board President BRV

    320 Robinhood Rd

    Georgetown, ME 04548

    See us at www.railwayvillage.org/ and www.facebook.com/railwayvillage


  • 30 Oct 2014 9:31 AM | Anonymous member

    The Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (FAIC) seeks a part-time contract Coordinator for “Connecting to Collections Care,” an online community for information and training on caring for collections.  In addition to monitoring online discussions and posting appropriate links and documents, the Coordinator will oversee production and archiving of webinars.  See position description for full details:

     

    http://www.conservation-us.org/docs/default-source/education/c2c-care-coordinator-position-announcement-2014.pdf?sfvrsn=2

     

    This is a contract, fee-based position, with no benefits, renewable annually.  Total compensation not to exceed $20,800 in the first year.  The Coordinator will work from home or own office.  Telephone, email, and internet connections required.  The Coordinator will report to the FAIC Institutional Advancement Director.  A volunteer advisory group will help provide content support. 

     

    Review of applications will begin November 1, 2014, with a start date of December 1desired.  Applications will be considered until the position is filled.  To apply, please send resume or c.v. and a cover letter to:

     

    Eric Pourchot, PhD

    Institutional Advancement Director

    Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation

    1156 15th St, Suite 320

    Washington, DC  20005

     

    Electronic submissions are preferred, and should be sent to:

    epourchot@conservation-us.org


  • 28 Oct 2014 5:17 PM | Anonymous member

    Upcoming Webinars for State Cultural Heritage Disaster Networks

     
    Heritage Preservation is proud to present the remaining three webinars in a series devoted to raising awareness about important emergency management programs offered at the state and federal levels. Ample time is built into each 90-minute webinar for Q&A. 

    Mitigation and Mitigation Planning
    Thursday, November 13, 2014
    3:00 – 4:30 pm Eastern
    Presenter: Scott Baldwin, Mitigation Specialist with the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
     
    Topics to be covered include:
    • What organizations can do to mitigate damage and loss to the collections and holdings, beginning with hazard identification and risk assessment
    • State and local hazard mitigation plans and how to include cultural resources in these plans
    • Funding available to private nonprofits (PNPs) through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grants Program 
    • Communication strategies to engage with emergency managers and related professionals
    Register for this webinar. Click here for more information.
     
    Disaster and Continuity Planning and Preparedness
    Thursday, November 20, 2014
    3:00 – 4:30 pm Eastern
    Presenter: Kiran Dhanji, Section Administrator, Preparedness, Texas Division of Emergency Management

    Topics to be covered include:
    • The link between disaster response and continuity of operations plans
    • How to identify and plan to recover your essential functions, supported by the four core pillars of continuity planning: leadership, staff, communications, and facilities
    • The planning process, including who to involve, when to bring stakeholder groups together, and how to develop useful and used plans
    Register for this webinar. Click here for more information.
     
    Federal Disaster Recovery Assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for Private, Nonprofit Organizations
    Wednesday, December 3, 2014
    3:00 – 4:30 pm Eastern
    Presenter: Mark Randle, SBA Public Information Officer

    Topics to be covered include:
    • The SBA federal declaration process: How, When, Where
    • Loans to help repair/replace property damage
    • Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster
    • Eligibility, terms, and conditions
    • The application process and the processing of applications
    • Disbursement of funds and the use of loan proceeds
    Register for this webinar. Click here for more information.

    Who Should Attend?
    Interested members of a state cultural heritage emergency network, including but not limited to:
    • Representatives of state cultural agencies – State Library, State Museum, State Archives, State Arts Council, State Humanities Council, State Historic Preservation Office – who have an obligation (whether legal or moral) to assist their constituents following a disaster
    • Representatives of local, county, state, and federal emergency management (EM) agencies
    • Representatives of national, regional, or state museum, library, or archives associations
    • Colleagues at other state agencies who would benefit from the webinars. Please pass this email along to them!
    Although the information is relevant to all cultural institutions, we’d like to keep participation in the live webinar down to a manageable number so the instructor can field questions that apply primarily to state cultural and EM agencies. Our aim is to provide information that's most useful to network members, who will then be better equipped to help their constituents.

    The webinar will be recorded, and once it's been posted to the State Heritage Emergency Partnership website, www.heritagepreservation.org/shep, we’ll remind you to notify your constituents of its availability.

    Registration Fee
    Thanks to funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the State Heritage Emergency Partnership 2014 Webinar Series is free. However, registration for each webinar is required for attendance.

    Questions?
    Contact Katelin Lee, Emergency Programs Assistant, 202-233-0835.

    Don't miss out on targeted training opportunities and announcements. Sign up to follow the State Heritage Emergency Partnership blog at www.heritagepreservation.org/shep.
     


  • 28 Oct 2014 5:13 PM | Anonymous member

    Hello Friends of the Arts!

     

    The Maine Arts Commission is currently in the midst of developing a Cultural Strategic Plan to guide the future of arts and culture in Maine. We ask that you lend your voice to this important project by taking a five-minute online survey. Your responses will help strengthen the creative vitality of the state.

     

    Click here for the survey:

    https://www.research.net/s/Maine_Arts

     

    Hard copies of the survey are also available--contact the Maine Arts Commission to request a copy.  mainearts.info@maine.gov or 207-287-2724.


     

    Thanks very much for your participation!

     

     

    Please feel free to forward this message to others. To be removed from future communications about the Maine Arts Commission Public Opinion Survey, please click the unsubscribe link below.

     


  • 21 Oct 2014 3:22 PM | Anonymous member

    What Is #AskAnArchivist Day?

    It’s an opportunity to:

    • Break down the barriers that make archivists seem inaccessible.
    • Talk directly to the public undefined via Twitter undefined about what you do, why it’s important and, of course, the interesting records with which you work.
    • Join with archivists around the country and the world to make an impact on the public’s understanding of archives while celebrating American Archives Month!
    • Interact with users, supporters, and prospective supporters about the value of archives.
    • Hear directly from the public about what they’re most interested in learning about from archives and archivists. 

    How Does It Work?

    On October 30, archivists around the country will take to Twitter to respond to questions tweeted with the hashtag #AskAnArchivist. Take this opportunity to engage via your personal and/or institutional Twitter accounts and to respond to questions posed directly to you or more generally to all participants.

    Questions will vary widely, from the silly (What do archivists talk about around the water cooler?) to the practical (What should I do to be sure that my e-mails won’t get lost?), but each question will be an opportunity to share more about our work and our profession with the public.

    Between now and October 30:

    PROMOTE #AskAnArchivist Day among your users and constituents via your institution’s website, Twitter account, blog, newsletter, and any other mediums available to you. Click here for the public announcement (and feel free to pick up language from it for your own promotions).

    For additional inspiration on what your promotion of #AskAnArchivist Day might look like, see these great examples of the recent promotion by museums of #AskACurator Day:

    Examples of possible Twitter promotion:

    • Happy #AskAnArchivist Day! Our archivists are waiting for YOUR questions. Tag us at @TWITTERHANDLE and use #AskAnArchivist.
    • Archivists at @TWITTERHANDLE are gearing up for #AskAnArchivist Day on October 30! Literallyundefineddocuments and photo boxes stacked and waiting!

    ENCOURAGE the public to use #AskAnArchivist and your institution’s Twitter handle (e.g., @smithsonian) when asking questions so you won’t miss any that are intended for youand so we will be able to track questions and answers to measure overall participation.

    TALK to your staff and colleagues to develop a plan for responding to tweets throughout the day.  Will one person respond to all tweets?  Will you share the task? Will individuals sign up for time slots and let the public know who will be available when?

    Here’s one example:

    • During this year’s #AskACurator Day, one person at the Indianapolis Museum of Art was selected to monitor both the general hashtag and tweets sent directly to @imamuseum. When direct questions came in or interesting general questions were posed via the hashtag, the designated monitor sent the questions to participating curators via email. The curators (and their archivist!) replied with their answers, and the monitor posted all answers from the @imamuseum Twitter account. (See the Storify of the IMA's participation in #AskACurator Day for results.)

    CREATE an institutional Twitter account if you don’t already have one. #AskAnArchivist Day and American Archives Month are both great opportunities to start one! Click here to get started.

    And if an institutional Twitter account is not an option for you, go ahead and answer questions from your personal Twitter account! If your institutional affiliation and job title are not already listed on your profile, be sure to add that for the duration of #AskAnArchivist Day.

    TWEET and GREET! Take advantage of this opportunity to join with archivists from around the country to talk to and hear directly from the public on October 30.


  • 18 Oct 2014 9:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
    Identification and Care of Photographs
    Saturday, October 18, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
    Presented by Maine Historical Society, Northeast Document Conservation Center, and Maine Archives & Museums

    Facilitator: Monique Fischer, Senior Photograph Conservator, Northeast Document Conservation Center

    This hands-on workshop offers an in-depth introduction to the preservation of photographs, including their identification, deterioration, and care. Participants will learn how to recognize various photographic formats and study the preservation problems associated with each format type. The workshop will also discuss storage concerns and preservation priorities, including environmental guidelines and proper care and handling. Participants are encouraged to bring photographs for examination and discussion.
     
    This workshop is designed for local historical societies and small museums and libraries, as well as individuals who are looking to gain knowledge about how to preserve a variety of photographic materials. Morning refreshments will be served. Lunch is on your own.

    Registration is limited to 20. Deadline for registering: Tuesday, October 14. Cost: $100 MHS members; $110 non-members. Reserve your seat online or contact lvpicard@mainehistory.org for a registration form.


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