American Association for State and Local History

AASLH ProfessionalDevelopment 2012 Programs

Building Leaders in the Field of State and Local History

Your Home for HistorY

AASLH is committed to inspiring

and building generations of history

leaders. No matter what stage you or your

institution is in, AASLH has a professional

development opportunity for you. We offer

everything from traditional workshops and

online courses to vast

networking opportunities to

give you the tools you need for an effective

career and successful organization. Whether

you are an individual, volunteer, employee,

or institution, AASLH provides the highest

quality training to advance the

field of state and local history.

Onsite WOrkshOps

Museum education 101Through interactive activities, hands-on training, and case studies, participants will learn about volunteer management, docent training, tour techniques, active learning with people of all ages, developing exhibits with visitors in mind, and online education. Participants will leave the workshop with information and materials they can take back to their organizations to adapt and use.

Instructors: Nancy Cutler, Museum Education Consultant, Phoenix, AZTim Grove, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DCLocation: Historic New England, Otis House, BostonDates: March 15 – 16, 2012Fee:$250 members / $325 nonmembers; $20 discount if payment is received by February 10

historic house Museums issues and OperationsThis workshop presented in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation focuses on the unique needs, management, and interpretation of historic houses. With a focus on historic house museums, topics covered include collections care, types of research appropriate for historic house museums, exhibition development, interpretative tours, volunteers, and building and landscape maintenance.

Instructors: George McDaniel, Drayton Hall, Charleston, SC; Max van Balgooy, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Washington, DCLocation: National Trust for Historic Preservation, Washington, DCDates: March 22 – 23, 2012Fee: $250 members / $325 nonmembers; $20 discount if payment is received by February 17

AASLH’s professional training is for everyone—individuals, volunteers, employees, and institutions. We offer Onsite Workshops and Online Training for anyone looking to further their knowledge of the field. Our sessions are led by seasoned professionals in the field with years of experience in public history.

Four scholarships are available for paid employees of history organizations to attend a 2012 Workshop. www.aaslh.org/workshops

professional training

2 professional training > Onsite WOrkshOps

exhibit MakeoversLearn innovative and engaging ways to bring exhibitions to life for visitors through interpretative storytelling. Using examples, participants will experiment with ways to make exhibit content meaningful and memorable for visitors by employing media, educational components, label writing, and design.

Instructor: Alice Parman, Museum Consultant, Portland, ORLocation: Johnson County Museums, Shawnee, KSDates: April 12 – 13, 2012Fee: $280 member / $355 nonmember; $20 discount if payment is received by March 9

Collections Management and practicesLearn about your institution’s responsibility toward its collections through policies, procedures, and best practices. With an emphasis on shoestring budgets, become familiar with current collection-care issues and trends; the role of collections in exhibition and interpretation; the basic steps of collections management from acquisition to disposal; professional standards and ethics; and resources available for collections preservation.

Instructor: Vicki Berger, Retired, Phoenix, AZLocation: Historic New Orleans Collection, New Orleans, LADates: June 13 – 14, 2012Fee: $250 members / $325 nonmembers; $20 discount if payment is received by May 16

Collections Camp: Military historyThis two-and-a-half-day workshop will focus on the care and conservation of military artifacts in museum collections, particularly items from the 19th century. Spend time working with conservators and curators to learn how to be a better steward of your military history collection.

Instructors: Gordon Blaker, US Army Artillery Museum, Ft. Sill, OK; Myers Brown, Tennessee State Museum, Nashville, TN; Gordon Jones, Atlanta History Center, Atlanta, GALocation: Atlanta History Center, Atlanta, GADates: June 27 – 29, 2012Fee: $280 member / $355 nonmember; $20 discount if payment is received by May 23

professional training > Onsite WOrkshOps 3

Online training

steps Webinar seriesAASLH is able to offer the following webinars free of charge with funding generously provided by an IMLS 21st Century Museum Professionals grant. Webinar content is supported by StEPs standards and performance indicators. Pre-registration is required.

Telling a Good StoryA good guided tour is a good story told well says guest speaker Linda Norris. Join us to learn the basics of creating a meaningful tour and creative ways tour guides can connect with visitors who arrive at your site with many different interests.

Date:November 17, 2011

Creating Historic House Interpretive Plans that ConnectInterpretive plans that connect with your visitors and their lives are the keystone for a positive visitor experience. Guest speaker Nancy Bryk will show participants how research is an integral part of the interpretive planning process.

Date:December 8, 2011

Redefining AudiencesWho are our current audiences and how can we engage new ones? Looking at the most recent U.S. Census, Susie Wilkening will discuss demographic change and the valuable ways in which history organizations can use census data.

Date:January 27, 2012

4 professional training > Onsite WOrkshOps / Online training

professional training

All AASLH Onsite and Online Workshops may help institutions achieve standards and performance indicators as part of the StEPs Program.

s e e p a g e 7 f O r M O r e i n f O r M a t i O n .

the Basics of archivesProceed at your own pace through this online course covering the basics of archival management and practices. Developed by a team of specialists, participants learn the core aspects of managing and protecting historical records using best practices for acquisition, processing, housing, and access and outreach.

Instructor: Charlie Arp, Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OHDuration:15 – 20 hours, self-pacedDates:

• Anytime between October 31 – December 2, 2011 Registration opens online August 3, 2011

• Anytime between January 16 – February 10, 2012 Registration opens online November 1, 2011

• Anytime between May 7 – June 2, 2012 Registration opens online February 1, 2012

Fee:$85 members / $160 nonmembers

are You ready for Volunteers?*Help eliminate high volunteer turnover and improve volunteer-run programs by addressing management issues associated with volunteers. Participants will learn how to address common pitfalls of volunteer-run programs and how to make sure your nonprofit is ready for them.

Duration:2 – 5 hours, self-pacedDates:

• Anytime between March 1 – 30, 2012 Registration opens online January 5

Fee:$40 members / $115 nonmembers

seven steps to a successful Volunteer recruitment program*Having volunteers in the wings who can give eight hours a day is no longer the case. This course will give practical advice for successful volunteer recruitment, identifying the right people for the right task, and how to create the environment where people want to volunteer their time.

Duration:2 – 5 hours, self-pacedDates:

• Anytime between April 1 – 30, 2012 Registration opens online February 1

Fee: $40 members / $115 nonmembers

*These online courses presented in partnership with the University of North Texas

professional training > Online training 5

AASLH’s Leadership programs are designed for individuals, volunteers, and employees looking to advance their career and gain administrative leadership skills.

project Management for history professionalsThis unique program improves how history museums operate and serve their community by bringing in outside experts to teach the fundamentals of project management to history professionals. Everyday work—exhibitions, programming, fundraising, special events, outreach, and collection care—benefit from the knowledge gained. Through a series of onsite workshops and webinars providing thirty-five hours of formal training, participants learn:

• Strategic planning • Successful budgeting processes• Resource allocation • Task management• Risk assessment • Fundraiser/sponsorship expectations• Effective communication

www.aaslh.org/projectmanagement

Developing history leaders @shaClass of 2012

Dates: October 27 – November 17, 2012

SHA is the longest-running professional development seminar in the country. For over fifty years, this leadership program has provided an intensive, three-week residential program for history professionals. SHA is designed for full-time, paid staff of history institutions with a minimum of three years of challenging work experience in the history field and who are now in a position of administrative responsibility or are preparing for such a role.

The program will enhance the leadership of its participants and strengthen their organization’s capabilities. SHA employs case studies, workshops, forums, and field trips to present best practices and ideas of history organization leadership and management.

www.aaslh.org/histadmin

6 leadership Opportunities

leadership Opportunities

AASLH’s Institutional Planning opportunities are geared towards organizations interested in improving their institution and taking strategic action towards fulfilling their mission.

stepsWatch your organization take a giant leap forward with StEPs, a self-study program for small- and mid-sized history organizations. With StEPs, your organization will create more meaningful goals and budgets, build credibility with funders and your community, and better track and articulate your successes.

Developed by AASLH with funding from IMLS, StEPs offers specific recommendations for meeting national museum standards. StEPs performance indicators help your organization answer the question, “How do we know when we are meeting a national standard?”

Enrollment benefits include the easy-to-use workbook, access to the StEPs website for sample forms, policies, and other helpful resources, the opportunity to earn Gold, Silver, and Bronze certificates, discounts on AASLH technical bulletins and workshops, a colorful window decal, and more! One-time fee with:

• no application • no eligibility requirements • no deadline for completion

Fee: $150; must be an AASLH institutional member to enroll

www.aaslh.org/steps

Visitors Count!One size does not fit all when it comes to meeting visitor expectations. AASLH developed the most comprehensive visitor research program available for mid- and large-sized history organizations. Visitors Count! provides confidential data and feedback that helps create visitor-driven strategic and long range plans, strengthens marketing and fundraising, and focuses improvement efforts on what matters most to your visitors.

In partnership with the Center for Nonprofit Management, the Visitor’s Count! program offers you a customized survey and then benchmarks results to other organizations. Pick the survey that is right for you:

• Museum Visitors • Historic House Visitors • Teacher/Student Visitors

2012 Registration Deadlines:Spring/Summer Visitor Survey Group – January 16, 2012Summer/Fall Visitor Survey Group – June 1, 2012Education Survey Group – September 1, 2012

Visitors Count! Survey Fee: $4,200 ($3,500 for AASLH institutional members); payable in two installments

www.aaslh.org/visitorscount

institutional planning 7

institutional planning

These opportunities are for everyone, and provide the perfect place to network, share, and learn from your peers while engaging in the history community.

annual ConferenceGet caught up on the latest trends in the field, gather new ideas to take back to your institution, and make valuable connections with colleagues across the country. With four days of workshops, sessions, roundtables, affinity lunches, and evening events at Salt Lake City’s museums and historic sites, you’ll renew your professional spirit while exploring Utah’s rich history.

2012 Annual ConferenceCrossroads: Exploring Vibrant Connections Between People and PlaceOctober 3 – 6, 2012Salt Lake City, Utah

www.aaslh.org/anmeeting

annual Online ConferenceAASLH’s Online Conference is a way for you to participate in our conference when unable to attend. Every year, AASLH features a selection of sessions broadcast as live webinars from the conference. Participants can interact with speakers and pay a one-time fee for all sessions.

8 get involved

get involved

AASLH AnnuAL Meeting

Salt Lake CityOCtOber 3–6, 2012

CROSSROADS:Exploring Vibrant Connections

Between People and Place

affinity groupsDiscuss the latest issues, share ideas, and help initiate changes that benefit you and your specific field of interest. Choose from ten different AASLH Affinity Groups and help develop programs and services that reflect current trends in your field.

Benefits include meal functions at the AASLH Annual Meeting, workshops, training opportunities, and more. Visit www.aaslh.org (click on “Programs”) to learn more about the mission and goals of these current AASLH Affinity Groups:

• Corporate History Museums and Archives • Educators and Interpreters • Field Services Alliance • Historic House Museums • IDEA – Internet Digital Encyclopedia Alliance • Military History • Presidential Sites and Libraries • Small Museums • Visitors’ Voices

history CareersWhether you are just starting out in the field or are a seasoned professional, AASLH is committed to helping you find the right career.

The AASLH Career Center is an online center specifically for history professionals, museums, historical sites, and institutions. Employers can target their search and Job Seekers can post their resume all in one place. It is the most comprehensive list of qualified candidates and open positions in the history field.

www.aaslh.org/jobsonline

get involved 9

To register for any AASLH Professional Development Opportunity,

please visit our website or contact us at:

www.AASLH.org

A A S L H1717 Church StreetNashville, TN 37203

615-320-3203 membership@aaslh.org

Your Home for History

cover: Clockwise, Connecticut historical society; tom Cogill; Missouri history Museum; Orange County regional history Center; indiana historical society Collections & librarypg 1: aaslh; atlanta history Museum Collection, atlanta history Center; Missouri history Museumpg 2–3: Missouri history Museumpg 4: franklin D. roosevelt presidential library andMuseumpg 5: special Collections, state historical society of iowa, Des Moines; indiana historical society Collections & library back: Missouri history Museump

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AASLH provides leadership and support for its members who preserve and interpret state and local history in order to make the past more

meaningful to all Americans.

www.AASLH.org