* * *
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Greetings,
I'm sure you folks from the higher latitudes are
anxious to get to Tucson. It has been a brutal winter in North America
and similarly so in parts of Europe/Asia. Hopefully the high pressure
ridge will hold for your visit and we will stay dry and warm
(unfortunately for those of us in the southwest, but we're kind of weird
that way).
As the world economy begins to emerge from the great
recession, hopefully funding of museums and their activities may
improve. The burgeoning phenomena known as social media is becoming an
increasingly important part of day to day living for many people. It is
also provides a new vehicle for making the public and decision makers
notice and value your collections. This year's program, prepared by
Katherine Dunnell, will hopefully better educate us its importance. I
hate to say this but as part of the "older generation" I know I am not
properly educated or motivated on the subject. However, it is obviously
important in the next generation of visitors and curators. I'm looking
forward to the education. Perhaps you can justify increased funding to
tap into this - maybe even come up with a proposal for SMMP?
An important aspect of the Tucson meeting is to elect
the Board of Directors. Julian Gray, Penny Williamson, and Terry Ottaway
terms are expiring. Please consider any changes you may want to make to
the board and be prepared to nominate any candidates you might feel are
effective. The current slate can also be returned office.
Jim and Gail Spann are also hosting a "Meet the
Curators" social event again this year. I would like to publicly thank
them in advance for their generosity. It is a great opportunity to share
good fellowship after our meeting.
Looking forward to seeing
you all in
Tucson,
Virgil Lueth, President
* * *
MINUTES OF THE
DENVER MEETING September 2013
Unfortunately, the minutes have gone
missing.
* * *
Report on the joint
meeting of the IMA-Commission on Museums and
SMMP-Europe Munich, Germany - October
25,
2013
Click on the link above to view the
minutes.
* * *
BEST PRACTICES PROJECT
"Best practices" documents are posted on the SMMP website:
BEST PRACTICES REPORT NO. 1:
Research Sampling of Collections
BEST PRACTICES REPORT NO. 2: Moving
Specimens
We are actively looking for more volunteers to
author other best practice documents.
* * *
SMMP RESEARCH STUDY GRANTS
Awards are to support curatorial research and
methodologies that address one or more of the Society of Mineral Museum
Professionals (SMMP) mission statement goals: 1) foster recognition of
mineral science collections as essential scientific, educational and
cultural resources, 2) promote support for growth, maintenance and use
of collections and exhibits and, 3) advance museum practice through
cooperation in the development, review and dissemination of information.
Amounts vary up to a maximum of $1000 per grant. Grant awards determined
by SMMP
Board of Directors.
Grant applications and more details are posted on our website:
http://www.agiweb.org/smmp/support-SMMP.htm
Grant proposals are due: August 1, 2013
* * *
Board of Directors election
Three board member terms will
be expiring this year. Please be prepared to nominate candidates and vote.
Board members whose terms
expire this year are:
Julian Gray Penny
Williamson Terry Ottaway
Term expiration dates of the other board members are provided in
parentheses in the sidebar.
* * *
NEW JOB APPOINTMENT
New Director at the National Mining
Hall of Fame Leadville,
Colorado
National Mining Hall of Fame & Museum Appoints New
Executive Director Leadville, CO – January 14, 2014: After a
nationwide search, the Board of Directors of the National Mining Hall of
Fame & Museum (NMHF&M) has appointed Dr. Stephen L. Whittington as its
new Executive Director. Dr. Whittington brings more than 20 years of
experience in leading successful museums, as well as an impressive
background in academics, publications and community involvement. Most
recently the Director of the Museum of Anthropology at Wake Forest
University in Winston-Salem, NC, Dr. Whittington is also Director of the
Teozacoalco Archaeological Project in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Chairman of the NMHF&M Board of Directors, Paul C.
Jones said, "We are very pleased to have someone of Dr. Whittingtonâ€âââââ‚ÂÃÆâ€ââ |