2023 KMA Conference Speakers Announced
The Kansas Museums Association is please to announce keynote speakers for the 2023 Annual Conference! Make plans to join us in Hays November 6-8 and hear from:
Angela Bates – Historian | Organizer and Founder of the Nicodemus Historical Society

Keynote: The Road to Nicodemus

Bates is a fourth generation descendant of the settlers of Nicodemus. She is the founder and executive director of the Nicodemus Historical Society and Museum (est. 1988). She spearheaded efforts to get Nicodemus established as a unit of the National Park Service and has continued to work with them as a partner since its designation in 1996. A most recent project with the Park Service was when she managed four community interpreters staffing the Park Service Visitor Center from 2017-2020. In 1992 she established the Nicodemus Historical Society archive and photo collection at the University of Kansas – Kansas Collection, Spencer Research Library, which is used extensively by film makers, students, historians, descendants, and writers. She was appointed by the governor in the early 90s to the board of the Kansas State Historical Society and ultimately became the Vice President. She was also a board member of the Kansas Humanities Council, and Kansas Preservation Alliance. Among the many awards received for her preservation efforts, she is most proud when she was honored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as an African American Preservation Hero (1996), and the We Can Preservation Award by the Kansas Sampler Foundation in 1992. The highest award was given to her by the Round Table Associates, A Life Time Achievement award in 2002. In the early 90s, Angela started researching the trail from Ellis, Kansas where the original setters disembarked from the train to their new home at Nicodemus 35 miles north. Once she discovered the original route, she started hosting auto history tours for visitors to Nicodemus. Recently she created and developed five large historical signs installed across three counties, at specific historical points along the trail. In July 2021 an official dedication of the trail and its signs was held during the annual Emancipation Celebration. Angela’s latest efforts include working with the Kansas Department of Transportation and Kansas legislators to get the Ellis Trail designated a ‘historic trail’ by the state. She completed at 30-mile bike/hike/auto history trail through the historic Nicodemus township, to include 14 historical signs. She is currently working on finishing a documentary on the Ellis Trail to Nicodemus, to be publicly aired in the summer.
Deb Goodrich – Author | Garvey Historian in Residence at the Fort Wallace Museum

Keynote: Interpreting History Through Art

Deb is a storyteller. Whether through writing or on camera, she educates and inspires. She is co-host of the weekly television show, Around Kansas, the Wednesday feature of Agamin Kansas. Deb is writing Our Charley: From Reservation to Washington (film script and book) on the life of Vice President Charles Curtis, son of the Kaw Nation, and producing a documentary, "Thof's Dragon," about Capt. Theophilus Turner and his discovery of a plesiosaur in 1867. Deb is a past instructor for Osher, Lifelong Learning, and is much in demand as a speaker. In Spring 2012, the History Press released her book, The Civil War in Kansas: Ten Years of Turmoil (foreword by Gen. Richard Myers, 15th Chair of the Joint Chiefs). She and co-author Michelle Martin wrote Kansas Forts and Bases: Sentinels on the Prairie, released in February, 2013 (foreword by retired Col. Jerry Morelock, Editor in Chief of Armchair General Magazine).Her third book with History Press was released in November, 2014. KMHOF President Allen Blasco wrote the foreword to Kansas Music: Stories of a Rich Tradition.

Author Esther Luttrell based the lead character in her newest book, Murder in Magenta, on Deb.

Deb has appeared on CSPAN and in numerous documentaries including two new releases: Gunslingers on American Heroes Channel and The Road to Valhalla from Lone Chimney Films (WINNER of the 2015 WRANGLER AWARD).
Public Services Specialist (Gallery) – Alice C. Sabatini Gallery at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, Topeka
Exterior of the brick Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library
The Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library is looking for a Public Services Specialist (Gallery) that has excellent customer service skills, is organized and self-motivated, and has a passion for art, history, and culture.The Gallery Specialist provides customer service to visitors of the Alice C. Sabatini Gallery and the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. The Specialist supports the initiatives of the Gallery and the Library by helping to develop and install Gallery exhibitions, presenting programs and classes, and leading tours. The Specialist works independently and as part of a team to spark curiosity and a love for the arts and learning in our community.

As the Gallery Specialist some things you will do are:
  • Visitor Engagement: Engage with visitors in the Alice C. Sabatini Gallery providing tours and information on exhibitions. Deliver high quality customer service by assisting library customers with resources, materials, technology equipment, and other services. Engage with visitors and customers in-person, over the phone, through email or by text messaging. Promote the use of materials, services, and programs to customers.
  • Exhibition Planning and Collection Care: Work with the Gallery Team to plan and install exhibitions such as helping develop themes, layout, text and research. Provide exceptional care regarding the safety of the Library’s permanent art collection while moving or installing art.
  • Programming: Plan and present programs to the public individually or as part of an organized team based on the interests and needs of the community. Follow the Library’s programming framework when planning, presenting, and evaluating programs.
  • Attendance: Maintain prompt arrival and efficiently and dependably maintain scheduled hours.

Position Requirements/Preferences

Required:
  • High School diploma or equivalent.
  • A combination of customer service and/or post-secondary education to total three years.
  • Valid Kansas Driver’s License with insurable driving record.

Preferred:
  • Three years of customer service experience.
  • Multilanguage fluency.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
  • Ability to work with diverse populations.
  • Ability to find new ways to increase customer satisfaction and forge meaningful connections.
  • Knowledge of proper handling techniques for materials and objects.
  • Knowledge of art history and current trends in museums and galleries.
  • Knowledge of learning resources such as databases, print and online resources.
  • Research skills such as critical thinking and analysis.
  • Demonstrated organizational and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to perform detailed work with accuracy.
  • Interpersonal skills, strong written and oral communication skills.
  • Ability to work independently or in a team and adapt quickly in a fast-paced work environment.
  • Ability to work scheduled hours, arrive promptly and maintain regular and reliable attendance.

A pre and/or post-employment drug screen, criminal history record check and physical capacity testing are required as a condition of employment.

SCHEDULE: Days, nights and some weekend hours are required. 

PAY & BENEFITS: Starting hourly rate will be in the range of $17.80 to $22.25 depending on experience and qualifications. Excellent benefits including health & dental insurance with pre-tax premiums, and a retirement plan (Kansas Public Employees Retirement System KPERS). Group life, disability coverage and accidental death benefits are also provided. Other optional benefits available at employee’s expense include vision, life and cancer insurance and a deferred compensation plan.



Free Webinars:
The New Next: Skills to be Prepared and Proactive
You are invited: “The New Next: Skills to be Prepared and Proactive”

The Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute (WSU CEI) invites you to join us for a series of skill building and network expanding webinars.

You may be interested in these webinars if:
• you are someone who works or may be interested in working in the nonprofit or association world, and
• you are someone who has some experience, but you aren’t running the whole show (yet).

We are coaches and capacity builders with a heart for mission focused organizations and the people who keep them going.

These free webinars are sponsored by SSC Advisors. These sessions are an opportunity for you to sharpen skills in your current work and prepare you for future work you might encounter.
We look forward to meeting you at one of these webinars. Feel free to attend all three (sessions limited to 50 participants.)
Apply Now for KMA Awards, Grants, and Conference Scholarships
Logo for the 2023 KMA Conference. Image: stars over the outline of a bison; inside the bison is a representation of the seal of the State of Kansas, including bison, a steamboat, covered wagons and a settler's home. November 6-8, 2023 Great Plains Passages, Hays Kansas. 2023 Kansas Museums Association Annual Conference.
Awards

KMA wants to recognize your museum for the hard work and innovation you bring to the museum community. Apply today for a KMA Award – and check out the Volunteer Award category that is new for 2023! Self-nomination is highly encouraged in the following categories:

  • Technology Award
  • Project budget $10K and above
  • Project budget $9,999 and below 
  • Graphic Design Award
  • Project budget $10K and above
  • Project budget $9,999 and below
  • Award of Excellence 
  • Distinguished Service Award 
  • Volunteer Award **New this year!**

Application closes: September 29 at 5:00 pm

Grants

KMA is committed to funding grants to assist institutional member museums in completing projects to improve their operations and achieve their goals. Apply today for a KMA Grant to keep your museum moving forward!

Who is eligible?
Any current institutional member of KMA may apply. Preference will be given to museums that have not received a grant award in the last three years.

What expenditures can be funded?
Grant monies can be applied to any project-specific expenditure. These include, but are not limited to: materials, supplies, services, postage, and printing. Tools or equipment can be purchased, but must be required for the specified project. Routine operating expenditures, such as utilities, staff salaries, and general supplies are excluded from funding.

How much will be awarded?
Up to $500 can be awarded per grant. Smaller requests are acceptable.

Application closes: September 29 at 5:00 pm

Conference Scholarships

The Kansas Museums Association is committed to being the primary provider of professional development education and networking opportunities for Kansas museums, and we hold an annual conference to help fulfill these goals. The KMA Board and staff recognize that students, emerging professionals, volunteers, board members, and others might not have access to professional development funds, and we have pledged to help by providing scholarships to attend the KMA Annual Conference.

Scholarship Amount:
Scholarships cover full conference registration, but do NOT include pre- or post-conference workshops or tours. They also include a $300 stipend to help with travel and lodging expenses.

Eligibility: The scholarship is open to current individual members of KMA. Exhibitors/Business Members are not eligible for scholarships.

Application closes: September 12 at 5:00 pm.

Calling All Members:
Please Share Photos and Video with KMA
The Kansas Museums Association is excited by the prospect of developing a redesigned website that is easier to use, offers more resources, and showcases the hard work that our member museums do each day!

To help us feature your museum - to your colleagues and the members of the general public that visit our website - we are asking you to share images and video of your museum.

This could include, but is not limited to:
  • programs
  • exhibits
  • cool artifacts
  • special events
  • your staff working
  • historical reenactions/living history
  • and so much more!



If you have photos or video files to share, you can upload them here.

  • Please include your museum's name in the file name.
  • If your video is available via YouTube or a website link, please email Jamin with the link and she will pass it on.


**By uploading media files for your museum, you acknowledge that you own these files and KMA has the right to use these assets in the KMA website redesign.**

Thank you in advance!!
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Join or Renew Your Membership

Every individual and institutional membership is up for renewal at the beginning of 2023 - if you haven't already, renew here today!  Learn more about membership categories, benefits, and pricing, and for questions about membership, contact 
KMA Associate Kate Young at [email protected].
Save the Date

Kansas Museums Association Annual Conference
Monday, November 6 - Wednesday, November 8
Hays
Kansas Museums Association
Kate Young, KMA Associate

Jamin Landavazo, Assistant Director

Ph: 316.978.5130

Copyright 2023
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