As you'll see, there are no keynotes or sessions, per se. This is a meeting of peers where everyone contributes to the exchange of ideas, and we are both the audience and the presenters.
This is a draft. If you don't see a topic that you think should be included — I made changes from the earlier version — please add it. If you are interested in presenting (for 5 or 10 min. or so, followed by questions and group discussion), please add your name next to the topic. Make your additions and changes below by clicking on the [edit] button near the bottom of this page.
Also review What to bring and make changes or additions. Location information includes the address, a map, and last minute contact information. Evaluation is a draft of the form we'll ask people to fill out at the end of the day. Improvements welcome. You may wish to print out some of the information under Resources. This is also where people will post their information after the meeting.
If you have questions that aren't answered on this pages or the other few pages here, click on the Contact link on the left and send us an e-mail message.
9:00 a.m. - Coffee - People arrive, setting out examples they've brought for others to see. Since some people will have a long drive, we're not starting the meeting itself until 10 a.m.
10:00 a.m. - The start of the day - Very quick around the room introductions, review agenda, logistics, and format
These topics have speakers - and the speaker may be you! If your name is here, we're asking you to prepare a 5 - 10 minute presentation. It doesn't have to be anything fancy or high-tech. Just focus on the basics so that others in attendance get the information they need to consider applying your insight to their society.
If your topic isn't quite right, please adjust as needed. Likewise, if there are a couple of you coming from the same society and you want the other person to speak, or both to speak, just make the change. If you see a topic that you want to present on, too, but that already has a presenter, just go ahead and yourself and both of you will present.
Please bring 45 50 55 copies of any handouts. This could be as simple as a one page black and white sheet with bullet points, recommended resources, highlights from the program . . or whatever is helpful based on the topic you're covering. And please include your name and contact information on the handout so people can follow up with you later if they have questions.
You can also post your materials and list resources you recommend here.
Programming
- Programs for children - Leslie Leslie, Vice President, Westborough Historical Society (MA)
- Bringing History into the classroom - Lee Swanson, Curator/Archivist, Sudbury Historical Society (MA)
- Innovative uses of media in programs, including oral history and film - Kathy Lucero, President, Woburn Historical Society (MA)
- Hosting a craft faire - Jeannette Pothier, Tour Director, Friends of the Job Lane House, Bedford (MA)
- Holding a house tour - Sheila Fitzpatrick, Co-President, Waltham Historical Society (MA)
- Bus tours and Virtual tours - Lee Swanson, Curator/Archivist, Sudbury Historical Society (MA)
Collection care and management
- Collection care assessment - Barbara Mangum - President, Historic Somerville (MA)
- Collection management systems, including Past Perfect - Lee Swanson, Curator, Sudbury Historical Society (MA)
Financial management and facilities management
- Financial management, including treasurer processes and critical reporting requirements - Brandt Denniston, Treasurer, Springfield Historical Society (NH) - See Resources for the materials.
- Your building, including acquisition, transfer - A representative from the New Market Historical Society (NH)
- Restoration, including utilizing CDBG funds - Avery Meyers, President and Pete Guild, Secretary - Treasurer, West Bath Historical Society (ME)
Marketing and branding
- Rebranding and the bottom line - Karl Huntington Neugebauer, President, Historical Society of Watertown (MA)
Member communications: E-mail and the web
- Making the most of e-mail - Earl Taylor, President, Dorchester Historical Society (MA)
- Making the most of the Web (with little money and no technical skills) - Lee Wright, Trustee, Marlborough Historical Society (MA)
Networking and information sharing
- Networking opportunities in each state, with brief presentation by a representative from each state - MA: Diane Calvano, President, Leicester Historical Society
Members and volunteers
- Recruiting, retaining, involving, training, and rewarding - To be discussed as a group
Fundraising
- Grants, special events, memberships (incl. business memberships), and sponsorships - To be discussed as a group
These topics do not have speakers. If you have any experience with a topics below, please sign up. Remember that you don't have to be an expert, but rather be willing to share your experiences and insights for five or ten minutes, answer questions, and participate in discussion.
If you don't think the topic is that relevant, feel free to note that it should be a "low priority."
If there's a topic that you think should be covered but that isn't listed, please add it.
- Building acquisition and funding utilities and maintenance -
- Collections, including working through a backlog, storage -
- Handling requests for research, including staffing and charging -
- Developing a long-range strategic plan -
Noon - Lunch - We may include some tables focused on specific topics.
If you have special dietary needs, such as needing a vegetarian lunch, please let us know by the end of the day Wednesday.
After lunch - We'll pick up where we left off with the exchange of ideas, covering the topics above and adding others that are of interest.
2:00 p.m. - Wrap up, with topics based on what we've learned, such as …
- Collaboration - Are there some opportunities that have been identified, either among some small groups or among a larger group?
- Feedback - Was this useful? We have no plans to try and convene this large meeting again - perhaps someone else wants to - but there are ways that we could continue the idea exhange and stay in touch to answer questions using e-mail or some online tool.
3:00 p.m. - Hit the road - And we'll wrap up sooner if we can.
Next: Review What to bring and make changes or additions. Location information includes the address, a map, and last minute contact information. Evaluation is a draft of the form we'll ask people to fill out at the end of the day. Improvements welcome.
