Adam Yauch Makes Me Wanna Holla: Generation X Session at #AAM2012

By James G. Leventhal

Beastie Boy Adam “MCA” Yauch and The Venerable Palden Gyatso, Tibetan Freedom Concert, SF, CA 1996

So quotes my friend Jennifer Caleshu:

These times especially call for more than mere incrementalism. Let’s demand that our leaders get in over their heads, that they remain a little bit naive about what they’re getting into.

It’s from WIRED.

And my friend Erin Potts wrote about Adam Yauch, our “MCA”:

He was deeply strategic–most of the time–always passionate, and always welcoming. He believed in our team of inexperienced but determined 20-somethings, and our ability to do the impossible. And with that belief in us and in nonviolence, together we DID do the impossible. Never before has more fun been had while changing the world!! Yauch’s work for Tibet helped jumpstart and nurture an international youth movement for Tibet and nonviolence–the best example of which can be found in Students for a Free Tibet, our sister organization and partner during all of the Tibetan Freedom Concerts. That this organization and movement is stronger today than when the last Concert ended is a testament to Yauch’s vision, leadership, and belief in young people.

Adam Yauch died last week at the age of 47.

Jennifer Caleshu, Director of Earned Revenue and Project Management, Bay Area Discovery Museum at the podium at AAM in Minneapolis, MN

At the tailend of last week’s American Association of Museums meeting in Minneapolis I had the good fortune to be part of a panel about Gen X leadership in museums.

It was on honor to be there with you on stage, Amparo Leyman Pino and Stacey Swigart.  And it was fun.  Were we the only session with a DJ?!  Thanks, Scott Stulen…and what you do at the Walker rocks our worlds!  Thank you, Jennifer for bringing us all together.  To see the slides, please click here.

This post is intended as a rally cry, a gathering place and a link garden.  Were you there?

With the passing of Adam Yauch, I am overwhelmed at the need to plant this seed as a tribute, without a ton of exposition.

Please can I encourage others who weren’t at the podium to craft longer posts or comments and submit them here? @Louiseoffcourse? @jolifanta? @bathlander?

And a more cogent post with more links and documentation is forthcoming.

‘Til then let us celebrate our own potential, in life and what’s next.

Together, we have a feast.

by Kristen Olson

“Cutting the pies and cakes at the barbeque dinner, Pie Town, New Mexico Fair”

Imagine a large room, filled with light, buzzing with electric conversations. You hear a shout from across the room, saying “come sit over here!” and someone is waving you over, pulling out a seat to a table. As you navigate through the crowded path of circular tables covered in pieces of paper, you hear impassioned voices saying things like “I’ve wanted to try that forever – how did you get it going?” or  ”that is rough! But maybe if you tried…” or ”we have to talk next month – what’s your email?”

You might imagine this is chaotic, but as you sit down to the table, you are met with a warm welcome and asked “So what brings you here?”

You have arrived at the session at the Western Museums Conference next month in Hawai’i, ”Peer Advocacy and Networks without Borders” led by me, Kristen Olson, along with colleagues Rachael Faust, Jason B. Jones, Sara Kabot, and Louise Yokoi.

For some, networking means: handshake, trading of business cards, 30-second elevator speech, make the introduction memorable in hopes of a job/raise/interesting opportunity/project. The actual definition of networking is “to interact or engage in informal communication with others for mutual assistance or support.” (I like the latter definition; the former gives me performance jitters.)

Perhaps others prefer finding out about what people are interested in, what they think about, what makes them tick. I really get a kick out of the fact that not everyone thinks like me (not you either) and just talking to someone about a museum-y shared topic is fascinating.

This session sprang out of a series of conversations last year at WMA 2010 about networking. Truthfully, the conversations ran all over the place, but the undercurrent was that we all sought professional connections that had little to do with comparing our resumes, and much, much more about seeking support.

And thus, “Peer Advocacy and Networks without Borders” came to life. We all had questions about the field, the future of our different-stage careers, finding avenues for success – in however we defined it – and found that having a colleague to chat with who wasn’t invested in the scenario was really helpful.

We believe that by simply talking about ideas and challenges, you are reclaiming ownership of the situation as well as creating your own group of powerful advocates. In formal-speak: our goal is to structure a session that addresses your professional challenges, be they dealing with internal politics or wishing to try new ideas within your institution, you are meeting your own goals while forging new connections. In this informal session, we’ll make networking as easy as we can – and coming from a natural introvert, that is saying something.

So bring your challenge, an idea you’ve been mulling over, your curiosities, your listening hat, and yes, your business cards.

Will I see you there?

More to know:

1. WMA 2011 Conference Preliminary Program now available online.
2. WMA 2011 online registration: click-click-click.
3. Feeling facebook-y? Invite yourself and your colleagues here.
4. Can’t make it to the conference, but interested in this idea? Contact me.
5. Curious about the story behind the photo? Check out more about “Pie Town.“

News from the Getty Leadership Institute at CGU

by Leonie Fedel

James Leventhal recently got in touch and asked if I’d post a short update on what’s been happening at the Getty Leadership Institute.  James’ timing was perfect, as there have been a lot of changes recently.

Many of you probably already know in January 2010, we moved from being part of the Getty Foundation to being an independent institute within Claremont Graduate University. We relocated our office about 50 miles east of the Getty Center to the beautiful tree-lined streets of the Claremont campus, which Claremont Graduate University shares with five undergraduate colleges. The campus also contains a botanical garden and a number of art museums.

The Getty Foundation continues to support the Getty Leadership Institute, now named the Getty Leadership Institute at Claremont Graduate University with a generous $2.2 million three-year grant. This allows us to continue to offer the Museum Leadership Institute (MLI) and one other program annually. We are also seeking additional funding to help us do more to support and strengthen leadership in the museum field.

MLI Participants

We will host our 33rd annual MLI program for the first time in Claremont from June 18-July 8, 2011. After being at Berkeley and the Getty, we look forward to continuing to build on MLI’s strength and tradition here at the Claremont Campus, where space enables up to 45 to be admitted.

We are also excited to reintroduce our Museum Leaders: The Next Generation program (NextGen) in Spring 2011 (March 14-18), also on the Claremont Graduate University campus.  In addition, we are collaborating with the Alberta Museums Association and the University of Alberta Museums to bring NextGen:Canada to Alberta in May 2011 from May 9-13, 2011. Join us in Claremont or in Edmonton!
 
In June 2011, we will again be involved in the Instituto de Liderazgo Museos’ third annual PADEM program in Mexico City – this collaborative effort customizes our MLI design for museum leaders in Mexico.

Our other activities include a project with National Arts Strategies to collate recent leadership research that has applicability for the cultural sector, and providing technical assistance to the Qatar Museums Authority and the Heritage Board in Singapore. We are busy!

Going to WMA in Portland?  My colleague, MiJin Hong will be there, moderating a panel presentation entitled, “Reject the Ladder, Enter through the Side Door: Alternative Paths to Museum Leadership,” at 11 am on Tuesday, October 19, 2011. Do stop by and say hello.

That’s our news!  Finally, we’re making our first forays into social media. Connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter.

Why WMA Portland 2010 (Nos. 12 and 35): Building a Fundraising Plan that Works

By James G. Leventhal

"Board and Staff Roles" from #wma2009 (photo Lydia Johnson)

There’s a long list of reasons to be part of the Western Museums Association.  For example, the last email news update notes that WMA serves professionals during difficult economic times providing: a professional lifeline to the unemployed; a touchpoint for the retired and a springboard for those just entering the field; core networks of support for museum professionals throughout the region; and a true community for the exchange of ideas and expertise, and the sharing of resources.

The annual meeting and conference have an important convening component, for sure.  But really sometimes the most important things about the annual meeting are the meaningful sessions with the tangible takeaways that help us do the work we need to better — reasons number #12 and #35 for why WMA matters.

This year’s conference is WMA Portland 75, Register here The WMA Annual Meeting is always a great way to catch up on a variety of program areas across the museum field from collections to education, technology and experiential discussions to important and useful explorations about business and administration.

A perfect example from this year’s conference will be session B5 “Building a Fundraising Plan that Works.”  Here’s the description below taken from the recently released preliminary program for PORTLAND 2010:

A strong development and membership fundraising plan is an essential tool by which to measure success and provide guidance. It is not as difficult as it might sound to create one. There are some tried and true methods that are helpful, and really it’s the anecdotal, the hands-on and unexpected experiences – the triumphs and the pitfalls – that round out the picture of this process. Join us as three fundraising professionals share their experiences with sound models as starting points.

The session will be on Monday afternoon October 18, 2010 from 3:45 pm – 5:00 pm and the presenters will include:

• Bridget Keane, Regional Vice President at CCS Fund Raising
• J.S. May, Director of Development, Portland Art Museum
• Anthony Plamondon, Vice President, West Coast Operations, The Lukens Company

Together Bridget, J.S. and Anthony will deliver the tools you need to develop a fundraising plan for your organization. Whether you are small or large; whether your museum has a strategic plan with which to align the fundraising plan or not. It’s a great way to communicate with your volunteers and leadership and an essential component of this necessary work both when resources are tight or plentiful.

And this great group of presenters display the depth of experience at the annual meeting and the myriad ways that careers are developed in and around the museum field.

Anthony Plamondon, The Lukens Company

For example, prior to working at The Lukens Company Anthony Plamondon was the Director of Membership and Development Operations at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA).  And prior to his time at MOCA, Anthony worked for varying companies that have focused on non-profit fundraising with a specialty in telemarketing.  As Vice President of SD&A Teleservices, Anthony oversaw operations for clients in the political, zoo, aquarium, and art community and worked on a variety of phone fundraising campaigns including: membership, annual fund, capital campaigns, monthly giving, acquisition, and upgrades.  Now Anthony works with a group of museums across the western region from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the Pacific Science Center, the Bishop Museum in Hawaii, the Seattle Art Museum, to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and the Contemporary Jewish Museum.

"Disquieted" at PAM (February 20 - May 16, 2010), 28 renowned artists from four continents explore our social condition and respond to the most compelling issues of the day (photo: Evrim Icoz)

John Stuart (J.S.) May, the Director of Development for the Portland Art Museum, is seasoned fundraising and communications professional and has worked with a wide range of local, regional, national and international nonprofit organizations. He and his teams have helped raise more than $250 million.  Prior to the Art Museum, for seven years J.S. led the fundraising practice for the Metropolitan Group, a Portland based social marketing firm. For the six years prior to MG he led the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Foundation at Oregon Health and Science University through a highly successful $42 million capital campaign. Prior to Doernbecher, J.S. spent six years as the director of corporate support for Oregon Public Broadcasting. A graduate of the University of Oregon, J.S. volunteers for numerous nonprofit organizations and has served multiple terms as president of the board for both the Portland Schools Foundation and the Portland Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

The New Crocker, opening fall 2010!

And Bridget Keane‘s background is varied as well, with an important run as the Campaign Director for the venerable, trusted Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento.  The Crocker was the first public art museum founded in the West.  The Museum was established in 1885 and remains the leading art institution for the California Capital Region and Central Valley.

With thanks to Bridget’s work with CCS (and more as a tribute to a core group of dedicated volunteers, supporters and the Crocker’s now Mort and Marcy Friedman Director Lial Jones), the New Crocker museum will celebrate its Grand Opening this fall!  Now Keane is working on the UCSF Medical Center’s campaign where there was recently announced a major $100 million gift from Lynne and Marc Benioff.

Let this group help you believe that success is possible today.  Get to WMA Portland 2010, then take back the tools this session will provide to bring planning and mission-driven values to your museum, your colleagues, peers, volunteers and to bring about positive change in the world.

If you can’t make the conference, supporting materials will be available through this blogsite.  Stay tuned.

(By the way, renew your WMA membership through our new online membership system. Or if you prefer, you can mail in payments by check or money order to PO Box 8367, Emeryville, CA 94662. And if you have questions or concerns regarding membership, please contact us at westernmuseumsassoc@gmail.com.)

LEAD in San Diego: Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability

The westmuse is please to help promote the upcoming 10th annual Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability conference from August 25-29, 2010 in San Diego, California.  Conference sessions on August 25-27 and the Capacity Building Workshop on August 28-29 will take place at the Courtyard Marriott San Diego Airport/Liberty Station. Conference sessions on August 28 will take place at cultural arts organizations in Balboa Park.

Per the event organizers:

2010 is a momentous year. Aside from being the 10th gathering of the Kennedy Center’s Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability network, it is also the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a key civil rights law, and the fourth anniversary of the ground-breaking international recognition of the rights of people with disabilities by the United Nations General Assembly – a vital step towards addressing human rights internationally.

LEAD 2010 presents us with an opportunity to look back upon the past 10 or 20 years to see how our work to eliminate barriers and create welcoming, accessible and inclusive cultural experiences has ensured that people with disabilities and older adults can exercise their civil and human rights. It is also a chance to look forward and to discover new ways to address ongoing challenges and new questions. Legislation and regulations are updated, new technologies come and go, our audiences and their needs and wants evolve but the challenge to guide our communities and institutions in making choices that acknowledge the right of all to participate in the cultural arts – and to do so with independence, dignity and respect – remains.

We meet that challenge by coming together once a year to hear from knowledgeable individuals in the field; engage in a dialogue with patrons and visitors with disabilities; carry on discussions with our peers; and learn about and share resources, best practices, and solutions.

And this year the LEAD network is gathering in San Diego, California in partnership with the San Diego Zoo and Kids Included Together. And I think we know who runs the zoo…AAM’s recently appointed Chair of the Board Douglas G. Myers.  (Congrats to WMA Board member William T. Harris for his appointment to the AAM BOARD!)

Talkin’ About a (R)evolution?

By Jason B. Jones

As a graduate student in the San Francisco Bay Area, revolution is familiar territory. Ideas of changing the world permeate the culture of the Bay. At the John F. Kennedy University’s Berkeley Campus, on Saturday April 10, 2010, the Department of Museum Studies hosted a colloquium: Museums in a Troubled World.

Dr. Robert R. Janes discussed his recent book Museums in a Troubled World: Renewal, Irrelevance or Collapse? Janes presented a need for revolution in the museum field. Oddly, I found myself taking a step back.

I am not a revolutionary.  Perhaps years of being a politically active anarchist made me nervous about revolution. Revolutions tend to be unstable, and can swing back the other direction with a vengeance. As a result, I became an evolutionary. Gradual change through education and intentionally setting a direction will stabilize an organization and allow for more complete organizational acceptance of the new ideas.

I think these aspects are critical to holistic change. However, Janes’s talk and the following discussions framed the need for change in the museum field due to the irrelevance of museums as social institutions. Janes described how museums tend to ignore major concerns–including a broader commitment to the world, a growing adherence to marketplace demands, and unlimited collections growth and limited resources for care of objects.

He suggested mission statements that only address ‘what’ museums engage in and not the ‘why’ do not go far enough. Specifically, Janes thinks museums need to strengthen their commitment to making a difference, confront “sacred cows” in the museum field, and reevaluate the real work museums should be doing.

As most things do these days, the discussion made me think of the thesis that I am currently writing. In part, my thesis addresses a recent overhaul to the Tax Form 990, the annual financial reporting document for non-profits.With the changes to form, the IRS defines a new direction for non-profit management structures.  The ideas themselves aren’t new, but the IRS making them guidelines for non-profits is quite new.

So, I started to wonder: Has the IRS begun to revolutionize the non-profit sector in America, and therefore museums? I think the structural changes to policies and procedures needed to complete the Form 990 approaches the definition of a revolution.

If museums are in the midst of a revolution, then why not strive to re-imagine the place of museums in society? Why not create new organizational structures based on collaboration? Why not look to effective models outside the field? Why not make museums about the ‘why’? Upon reflection, perhaps I am a revolutionary. I certainly believe the museum field needs to adapt to survive. Why not adapt to thrive? Maybe surviving verses thriving is the difference between evolution and revolution. Man, one little ‘r’ can make a big difference.

Jason B. Jones is learning to better manage his time. His primary method for improving this skill is by concurrently completing an MA and a MBA in Museum Administration at John F. Kennedy University. He can be found on twitter.

Western Wisdom Predominates at AAM Annual Meeting in LA

By Dewey Blanton

When the 104^th AAM Annual Meeting and MuseumExpo convenes in Los Angeles May 23-26, the 5,500+ attendees will benefit from a big dose of Western wisdom.

Of the more than 160 program sessions on tap for the event, 60 will be chaired by museum professionals and experts representing the nine-state region. Of course, geography plays a role in this large Western presence ─ to a point.

The selection of program sessions is based on merit, and Westerners have demonstrated their knowledge and expertise to the independent (and discerning) Program Committee for the LA gathering.  Those in LA this spring will indeed learn from the masters: your Western colleagues.

For a complete list of program sessions and registration information on the AAM Annual Meeting, visit www.aam-us.org/am10.