| "Dear George: Remember, no man is a failure who has friends. Clarence." |
|  NEWSLETTER
| December 13, 2016 | 
| | T.B. Sutton General Store
Historic Granville
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2017 TAM Conference Call For Sessions
Deadline Extended! | | | NEW Deadline: December 31 | | | March 15-17, 2017, Pigeon Forge | |
 We've received lots of great conference session proposals, but we are
pushing back our deadline to accept more! With Dolly Parton’s 1971
hit, “Coat of Many Colors,” serving as inspiration for this year’s
conference theme, Museums of Many Colors, we want to know how you
are patching all of your museum pieces together to create unforgettable
guest experiences, maintaining best practices, exploring current trends,
and embracing your diverse audiences. TAM invites you to submit session proposals for the 2017 Annual
Conference that reflect these vibrant experiences of today’s Tennessee
museums. Deadline for submission is December 31, 2016. Please contact Theresa Hammons, chair of the TAM Conference
Committee, at theresah@jonesboroughtn.org or Debbie Shaw,
TAM State Coordinator, at 615-495-3354 or at
tnmuseums@gmail.com with any questions. To submit your
proposal online, follow THIS LINK. We look forward to seeing all your colorful session proposals!
CALLING ALL SPONSORS, EXHIBITORS AND ADVERTISERS!
NEW Registration and Payment Deadlines - February 17, 2017! As always, we look forward to and welcome all of our invaluable sponsors, exhibitors and advertisers. There are numerous opportunities for your company or organization to show your support of TAM and reach out to approximately 200 individuals who will converge on Pigeon Forge in March from all corners of the state. TAM's popular Passport program encourages conference delegates to actively seek out exhibitors. Exhibitors and other organizations may also choose to become a Conference Sponsor, which includes additional benefits. All 2017 Conference Sponsors automatically receive TAM Corporate Member benefits. Whether or not you exhibit, an advertisement in the conference program is an excellent way to make sure that conference participants return to their institutions with information on your products and services. Exhibitors receive a discount on advertising in the conference program. Handout distribution in conference packets is also available.
For Sponsor Levels, Exhibitor Fees, and Advertising Information, CLICK HERE or contact Polly Brasher, TAM Development Chair, at pbrasher@discoveryparkofamerica.com, or Debbie Shaw, TAM State Coordinator, at tnmuseums@gmail.com or 615-495-3354.
TAM EXHIBIT / SPONSOR REGISTRATION FORM
TAM ADVERTISEMENT FORM
DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION, PAYMENT AND SUBMISSION OF ADVERTISEMENT ART IS FEBRUARY 17, 2017! | | | | | TAM Awards of Excellence, Scholarships and More! | | | January Deadlines! |
|  Have you started thinking about those TAM Award of Excellence nominations? All Tennessee museums, regardless of staff size or budget, are encouraged to participate in the 2016 TAM Awards, highlighting special projects and accomplishments achieved at your museum during 2016! Your AWARDS COMMITTEE has been working very hard the past few months to update and improve the whole nomination process. Please look over the updated guidelines HERE, and updated nomination form HERE. Our goal is to make the nomination process less confusing, and clarify the judging process, which is now based on a points and percentage system.
Don't forget about the Emerging Museum Professional Award. This award recognizes exceptional promise and potential for emerging professionals in the museum field. The nominee will have demonstrated excellence and leadership in museum activities at his/her institution, as well as for the museum profession as a whole. The nominee must be currently employed by a TAM Institutional Member, or a graduate student in a history-related program, and must have five years of service or less in the field. This is a wonderful way to recognize the emerging professionals that help cultivate success at your organization and within our profession.
Contact your Awards Committee Representative, Awards Chair Tori Mason at tmason@nashvillezoo.org, or State Coordinator Debbie Shaw at tnmuseums@gmail.com or 615-495-3354 with any questions you may have. There are several new committee members so be sure to look over the member list to see who your representative is. At-large representatives can also be contacted with any questions.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS JANUARY 20, 2017
Online registration form can be found HERE.
For more information, click HERE.
We look forward to seeing all the amazing things you've accomplished this year! Good luck!
TAM is pleased to once again announce our joint scholarship program with Humanities Tennessee for the 2017 TAM Conference. TAM will be offering three scholarships to emerging museum professionals in each of the three grand divisions of the state (West, Middle and East.) Registration deadline is January 13, 2017. Humanities Tennessee will be offering scholarships to volunteers without museum related backgrounds who work with a nonprofit museum, or organization that is starting a museum. Organizations with paid, professionally trained staff are not eligible, nor are previous scholarship recipients. Preference will be given to applicants whose organizations are new to TAM. More details including deadlines will be announced soon.
For more information on all scholarship opportunities and how to apply, CLICK HERE.
Have you made your hotel reservations yet? Pigeon Forge is still welcoming visitors after the wildfires last month, and they're ready to see us next spring! To secure the group rate of $72.99 per night, please call 1-800-555-2650 and mention the Tennessee Association of Museums 2017 Annual Conference Room Block. Last day to reserve a room at the group rate will be January 30, 2017. Rooms are going fast!
The Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center Pigeon Forge is located at
3230 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN. |
| | | | | - News You Can Use - | The Importance of Interpretation (From National Assoc. of Interpretation) 
Holidays are normally a time filled with laughter, love, family and friends. But for some families, this holiday season may be a more awkward family gathering than usual. This year's election revealed just how divided our country truly is. Many of us have questions and concerns about the future of education, conservation, funding for cultural institutions, and more. Through all the change and uncertainty, one thing remains clear: interpretation has never been more important. Difficult conversations have become the norm. The effective delivery of our interpretive messages to our guests in respectful, inclusive, and informed ways is vital in fostering education, protection, and conservation efforts at the special places where interpreters work. Interpreters have the unique opportunity to help heal our troubled nation, one visitor at a time.
Regardless of which candidates you supported or how you feel about the results of the election, interpreters will play an important role in helping our nation to reconcile, through messages of protection and conservation, hope, unity, truth, and a bright future. ***********************************
Upcoming AASLH Webinars and Courses 
Leadership and Administration in History Organizations
Jan 9-Mar 6, 2017
Online Course
Cost: $199 AASLH Members/ $300 Nonmembers
Social Media 101 for Museums and Historic Sites
Jan 17, 2017, 3pm EST
Webinar
Cost: $40 AASLH Members / $65 Nonmembers
For more information, visit http://learn.aaslh.org/calendar/
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Year-End Giving
As 2016 winds down to a close, we ask you to consider TAM in your year-end giving plans. One place you can donate is "The Sherry Kilgore Fund." Named for long time TAM member and supporter Sherry Kilgore who passed away suddenly in September 2015, this fund is designated for educational opportunities outside of the annual conference, including providing funding for workshops, professional programs and lectures.
CLICK HERE to donate to TAM today. Thank you for keeping TAM in mind for your year-end giving, and for your support!
| | Museum Advocacy Day
February 27-28, 2017
 The election is over. A new Presidential term and a new session of Congress, with dozens of new legislators taking office in the House or Senate for the first time, begins in January. What will our new president propose on tax reform or charitable giving? Will Congress reshape federal education programs? What will be the future of museum and grant funding? We need to ensure that lawmakers know how museums will be affected.
"As Museums Advocacy Day enters its 9th year, there has never been a more critical time for every museum professional, supporter and trustee to get involved in making the case for museums to their legislators," said AAM President and CEO Laura Lott. "Policymakers simply can't know the pivotal role museums play in education and their communities unless we speak up and speak together about the unique value of museums."
There are many ways to become involved: - Create an economic impact statement for your museum
- Contact your representatives and invite them to your museum
- Become part of Museum Advocacy Day in Washington on February 27-28
Learn more about Museum Advocacy Day and how you can speak up for museums.
*************************************** Grants for Libraries and Archives
Application guidelines for the second cycle of the 2017 National Leadership Grants for Libraries and the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program are now available.
National Leadership Grants for Libraries support projects that address significant challenges and opportunities facing the library and archive fields and that have the potential to advance theory and practice. Successful proposals will generate results such as new tools, research findings, models, services, practices, or alliances that will be widely used, adapted, scaled, or replicated to extend the benefits of federal investment.
The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program supports professional development, graduate education, and continuing education to help libraries and archives develop a diverse workforce of librarians to better meet the changing learning and information needs of the American public.
Deadline for both applications is February 1, 2017.
 | | | | - Upcoming Opportunities - | | | National Council for History Education Conference
"Histories Seen and Unseen"
March 30-April 1, 2017, Atlanta
Join K-12 history teachers, college faculty, museum staff and other lovers of history for the best three days in history education. To register for the conference, go to http://www.nche.net/registration
*************************************** National Council on Public History
Annual Meeting
"The Middle: Where Did We Come From? Where Are We Going?"
April 19-22, 2017, Indianapolis Join NCPH at their home city of Indianapolis, the “Crossroads of America,” for this year’s conference. Highlights include over 70 sessions and working groups, 10 hands-on workshops and 13 tours of Indianapolis – including two service-oriented trips where you’ll get to know the host community while giving back. For more information including how to register, visit http://ncph.org/conference/2017-annual-meeting/
******************************** From your TAM Board of Directors, we want to wish you and yours a very happy and safe holiday season! We look forward to serving you in 2017!
| | ALHFAM Southeast Regional
Conference "Moundbuilders to Law Builders: Making Your Site's Stories Inclusive"
March 31-April 3, 2017, Nashville
Historic Traveller's Rest Plantation in Nashville will be host to the Southeast Association of Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums (SEALHFAM) regional conference March 31 - April 2, 2017. "Moundbuilders to Lawbuilders; Making Your Site's Story Inclusive" is the theme for this regional conference. CALL FOR SESSION PROPOSALS is now available! Deadline is January 20, 2017. For more information on the conference, contact Tonya Staggs at tonya@travellersrestplantation.org, or visit ALHFAM's webpage here.
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Have news to share??
Send it to tamnewsletter@gmail.com by the 1st of the month for publication on or around the 15th. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND the following:- We will try to include as much submitted information as possible, but have limited space.
- The primary focus of the newsletter will be announcements, grant and professional opportunities, and news about members and member institutions.
- If an event is happening at the beginning of the month, we will need your information the PRECEDING month for it to be included.
- If there is timely information, publication may be earlier than the 15th of the month
- Photos are welcome and encouraged!
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