Get the skills-building information you need to help you and your institution operate at the highest level. Each recorded webinar toolkit provides you with six-month access to the multipart series, presentation handouts, resources, closed-captioning and transcripts.

• Collections Steward Toolkit
• Educators Toolkit
• PR and Marketing Toolkit
• Executive Toolkit
• Managing People/HR Toolkit
• Project Management Toolkit

AAM Members: $44
Non-Members: $144

HOW IT WORKS

1. Register once for any single toolkit. 
2. You should receive a receipt and confirmation notice within 24 hours of your purchase. No refunds will be given once registration has been processed. 
3. You will receive access instructions in your confirmation within 24 hours of your purchase.
   
4. Questions? Please contact registration@aam-us.org.

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Collections Steward Toolkit

Register online.
Download registration form.

Collections Conundrums
A practical review of collection issues—made more difficult by dwindling resources—including institutional guidelines, processing incoming objects, accessioning and keeping track of collections.

Presenters:           
Jeanne Benas,registrar, Smithsonian National Museum of American History
Rebecca A. Buck,deputy director for collection services, Newark Museum
Jean Gilmore,registrar, Brandywine River Museum

The Basics of Developing a Collections Management Policy
Explore practical tools to help you develop a collections management policy that reflects a shared institutional vision and commitment to sound practices; increased knowledge of resources; and policy longevity.

Presenter:John Simmons, principal, Museologica

Step-by-Step Collections Acquisition

Focus on step-by-step procedures used by art, science and other museums when objects are acquired (by gift and purchase) or when they are reposited. Presenters also discuss current ethical and legal trends and their implications on the acquisitions process.

Presenters:
Rebecca A. Buck, deputy director for collection services, Newark Museum
Jean Gilmore, registrar, Brandywine River Museum
Kara Hurst, museum curator, Bureau of Land Management Utah State Office

The Basics of Handing Two-Dimensional Objects and East Asian Scrolls and Screens

Experienced practitioners discuss basic principles and practices for handling two-dimensional Western objects, including works on paper and paintings. In comparison, guidelines for safe display and care of traditional East Asian painting and calligraphy formats are addressed.

Presenters:        
Walter Andersons,collections manager, Brooklyn Museum
Andrew Hare,supervisory conservator, East Asian painting, Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

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Educators Toolkit

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Download registration form.

Interpretive Planning Basics

Explore the basics of the interpretive planning process as it relates to visitor experiences, educational opportunities, and interpretation in informal learning institutions.

Presenter: Marcella Wells, president, Wells Resources, Inc.

Understanding Life Stages of the Museum Visitor

Leading experts share their research from over 30,000 Core Visitors to museums as they discuss museum audiences, their needs and how you can better meet their expectations.

Presenters:         
James Chung, president, Reach Advisors
Susie Wilkening, senior consultant and curator of museum audiences, Reach Advisors

21st Century Museum and School Partnerships

Learn the basic components of sound museum programs for schools and examples of 21st-century partnerships in action.

Presenters:        
Kim Fortney, deputy director, National History Day
Amanda Kodeck, manager of school programs, The Walters Art Museum
Carla Myers, assistant director, Government Relations, AAM
Mark Osterman, lead curriculum manager, museums magnet program, Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Beverly Sheppard, President and CEO, Institute for Learning Innovation

Universal Design: Beyond ADA
In collaboration with Smithsonian Affiliates through the generosity of the Smithsonian Women’s Committee
Leading practitioners examine integrating universal design (UD) principles into exhibitions and public programs. Topics include defining universal design, accessibility and program access and the value of universal design to cultural arts organizations.

Presenters:         
Ray Bloomer, director of education and technical assistance, National Center on Accessibility
Valerie Fletcher, executive director, Institute for Human Centered Design
Betty Siegel, director of accessibility, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Beth Ziebarth, director, Smithsonian Institution Accessibility Program

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PR and Marketing Toolkit

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Download registration form.

Adopting Interactive Marketing and Social Media Strategies (2-part)

Get the lowdown on how to successfully meld the best of traditional marketing with social media strategies and better leverage the tools available; build a plan to engage visitors and key influencers; and demonstrate value to internal stakeholders and decision makers.

Presenters:
Deirdre Breakenridge, president, PFS Marketwyse
Anne Edgar, president, Anne Edgar Associates
Cindy Hwang, project associate, Anne Edgar Associates
Jay Geneske, assistant director of marketing strategy and online media, Shedd Aquarium
Jon Landers, managing principal, Marketing for Museums Consulting
Steve Rubel, senior vice president, director of insights, Edelman Digital

Planning for Crisis Communications
Explore how to better prepare and manage strategic crisis communication plans, develop crisis communication systems and tools in advance, respond effectively in crisis situations, and reestablish or rebuild your institution's post-crisis reputation.

Presenters:
Jill Allread, president, Public Communications, Inc.
Tim Hallman, director of marketing and communications, Asian Art Museum of San Francisco

Audience Research and Evaluation
Get an overview of evaluation planning, including an examination of institutional mission, vision and purpose and articulation of goals for any research or evaluation study.

Presenters:
Christine Reich, manager of informal education research and evaluation, Museum of Science, Boston
Steven Yalowitz, senior research associate, Institute for Learning Innovation, Annapolis, Md.

Communications in Economically Challenging Times 

Explore the critical importance of strategies for communicating with your internal and external stakeholders, including information flow across the organization; cost-effective marketing tools; creative promotional partnerships; and communicating mission and institutional values to your members and community.

Presenters:
Timothy W. Andrews, president, Andrews Creative Worldwide
Phillip Bahar, chief of operations & administration, Walker Art Center
Amy Ritter Cowen, executive vice president, marketing, public relations, guest services and interpretive programs, Shedd Aquarium
John G. Rodman, director of museum experience, Newport Mansions

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Executive Toolkit

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Download registration form.

Strategic Thinking and Planning
Learn the elements of long-term sustainability, drawing on proven organizational concepts from the business sector.

Presenter:  
John Durel, organizational consultant and leadership coach, Durel Consulting Partners/Qm2

Understanding the Value of Your Mission Statement
Focus on the importance of the mission statement as the driving force behind all institutional decision making and the relationship of the mission statement to the vision statement, institutional values statement, strategic plan and case for support.

Presenters:
John Durel, organizational consultant and leadership coach, Durel Consulting Partners/Qm2
Anita N. Durel, CFRE, Durel Consulting Partners/Qm2

Executive Suite: Planning for Leadership Transition (3-part)
Explore the many challenges of executive leadership, succession planning and fostering leaders across your institution.

Presenters: 
Maureen Robinson, noted authority on nonprofit leadership and author of Nonprofit Boards that Work
Anne Ackerson, executive director, Museum Association of New York (MANY)
Laura Roberts, principal, Roberts Consulting
Sheila Grinell, Grinell, LLC
Rick Moyers, Director of Programs, Meyer Foundation

Understanding the Three Dimensions of Your Board
Engage board members in more meaningful ways by understanding their fiduciary role and how they can be generative and strategic to engender enthusiasm for the organization.

Presenter:         
Maureen Robinson, noted authority on nonprofit leadership and author of Nonprofit Boards that Work

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Managing People/HR Toolkit

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Download registration form.

HR Basics: Evaluating and Coaching Employees
Gain valuable information about the challenges of the employee evaluation and coaching process, including effectively applying coaching strategies and implementing a termination process legally and ethically.

Presenters:  
Ellen Corradini, director of human resources, The Corning Museum of Glass
Charlotte Montgomery, director of resource allocation, Illinois State Museum

Managing People in Tough Times
Gain insight into how best to contemplate/conduct necessary staff reductions; how to get and keep the right employees in the right jobs; assist employees grieve the loss of their colleagues; and move forward in the best interest of the institution.

Presenters:
Wendy Luke, principal, Luke Weil & Associates
Claudia Ocello, Museum Partners Consulting, LLC
Casey Steadman, CFO, Atlanta History Center

Communicating with Your Staff, Your Teams, Your Boss (3-part)
Explore challenges and strategies for communicating effectively up, down and across your organization.

Presenter:
Gary Ford, principal, GLFord Consulting

Managing Multigenerational and Diverse Volunteers and Docents
Explore how to create volunteer opportunities for Baby Boomers, manage senior docents, identify and utilize family volunteers, and create access for hearing impaired volunteers and visitors.

Presenters:
Maretta Hemsley-Wood, docent program manager, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Robbin Davis, director of visitor services, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma Historical Society
Debbie Young, director of volunteer services, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
Carol Wilson, assistant chair of education, in-gallery programs, Smithsonian American Art Museum

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Project Management Toolkit

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Download registration form.

Project Management Basics
Learn the basics of project management, including what changes when you go from "doing" the work to "managing" the project; project management tools; how to plan the work of those involved; how to create budgets and timelines; and how to negotiate on behalf of the project. The program also explores different project management styles, giving you insights on how to build on your strengths to create effective project teams.

Creating a Scope of Work
Explore developing a project scope of work, including goals and objectives; measures of success; schedules and milestones; budget; assumptions and constraints; action steps and deliverables; and roles and responsibilities.  

Getting the Project Work Done
Review the project planning process and how to use those plans to keep the project on track, with an emphasis on the reality of implementing the project; exploring what goes wrong and why; and what you can do to stay on track, on budget, and on time. 

Closing and Evaluating the Project
Review the process of planning and implementing a project as the basis for evaluating if the project was delivered on time, on budget, and to specifications. The program outlines tools for assessing your experience on one project and turning it into a learning experience for the next.

Presenter:

Myriam Springuel, president, Springuel Consulting, Sarasota, Fla.