February 26 | 2024

International African American Museum, Charleston, SC (photo by Sahar Coston-Hardy)

Keep an eye on this section of E-News to learn more about what the SEMC Council is actively working toward on behalf of all SEMC members. Questions about the work of the SEMC Council? Please reach out to Zinnia Willits to put you in contact with individual Council members.

The Southeastern Museums Conference will hold its 2024 Annual Meeting October 21-23, 2024 at the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

About the 2024 Conference Theme

The 2024 SEMC Conference in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, focuses on innovation and inspiration. How should museums move forward in a rapidly changing world? Over the last four years, we have experienced substantial shifts in governance, economy, community, societal beliefs, and technology. Despite these challenges, how can we continue to inspire our visitorship? Our donors? Our workforce? Let’s explore innovative ideas for change across our field, to ensure museums remain relevant and impactful now and in the future.

Join SEMC attendees for direct conversation, networking, and professional growth and development next fall in Baton Rouge!

Baton Rouge African American Museum

Greetings, Members!

It’s an exciting time at SEMC as we gear up for the annual Mid-Year Meeting. I would like to extend a gracious “thank you” to everyone who took the time to develop a proposal for the annual meeting in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I’m excited to report that we received close to 100 submissions! The Program Committee is now hard at work in their small groups reviewing proposals. Each team reviews a portion of the submissions and in the next two weeks, they will meet to discuss their selections and make recommendations. Proposals are reviewed based on certain criteria. The conference theme and the suggested topics from 2023 are also considered.

The work will culminate at the Mid-Year Meeting in Baton Rouge on March 7^th. The Committee will meet in person to view the session spaces and determine the final selection of submissions for inclusion in the SEMC2024 program. This will be an all-day, spirited discussion, with the ultimate goal of creating the most diverse and well-rounded program possible. By late March, all session chairs will receive notification of the Committee’s decision.

This time of year is always exciting as the Annual Meeting begins to take shape. Thank you again to all who submitted proposals and a special acknowledgment to the hard-working and dedicated 2024 Program Committee. Because of all of you, SEMC 2024 in Baton Rouge will be a conference to remember!

Heather Nowak

SEMC Program Administrator

SEMC is pleased to announce the 2024 Program Committee Co-Chair: Christa McCay! Christa is the Collections Manager for the Marrietta History Center (MHC) and the City of Marietta, Georgia. This year will be her 20th anniversary at the Marietta History Center where her main duties include the acquisition, registration, maintenance, and care of the MHC's collection. Christa has served on the Georgia Association of Museums (GAM) Board of Directors and in 2023 she received the GAM Museum Professional of the Year award. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master’s Degree in Heritage Preservation with an emphasis in Public History from Georgia State University. 

The Program Committee Co-Chair works closely with the Program Administrator and assists with providing informational, administrative, and organizational support to the Program Committee at large throughout the year.

Is your company interested in supporting the SEMC2024 Annual Meeting through sponsorship? Contact Zinnia Willits to learn more about sponsor opportunities, levels and benefits at zwillits@semcdirect.net or 843-224-0876

Are you a member of the Southeastern Reciprocal Program (SERM) program?

What is SERM? It’s a program for museums to offer their members an opportunity to visit participating museums in our Southeastern region. Reciprocity is for general admission only and is for active SEMC Institutional Members.

Is there a cost to join SERM? There is no cost to join the SERM Program and no renewal process.

How can my museum participate in the SERM program? Contact the SEMC membership department (cphillips@semcdirect.net) to register and receive the SERM logo. For member verification, add the SERM logo to your digital membership cards and/or add the SERM logo visibly on your website.

Are there any restrictions to the SERM program? Check the SERM list on the SEMC website (https://www.semcdirect.net/reciprocal) for individual museum restrictions. Museums may restrict reciprocal admission if the museum is hosting a special event or an exhibit opening. We recommend telling members to call the museum ahead of time for the most updated admissions information.

Have additional questions about the SERM program? Feel free to contact the membership department (cphillips@semcdirect.net), we’re here to help!

If you have membership ideas, feedback or suggestions let me know. It always makes my day when I hear from SEMC members!

Don’t forget to follow us on social media so you can stay in the know about all things SEMC!

Instagram     semcdirect

Facebook     southeasternmuseums

Twitter          semc2

Have a fantastic week,

Carla

Carla Phillips

Membership & Communications Manager

cphillips@semcdirect.net

Thank you for supporting SEMC through membership!

Questions about SEMC In-Person Programs? Contact Zinnia Willits zwillits@semcdirect.net or Heather Nowak, hnowak@semcdirect.net

SEMC is proud to feature Michael Morris, as the One to Watch this month! Michael is the Director of Two Mississippi Museums

Michael's nomination letter highlights the broad range of professional experience he brings to his new role leading Two Mississippi Museums and emphasizes his commitment to preserving and sharing Mississippi histories.

"I want to highlight Michael Morris, the newly appointed Director of the Two Mississippi Museums. Michael enters his new role after Pamela D.C. Junior, who retired in June. Since 2016 Michael has committed himself to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH), ensuring that the state’s rich history is preserved and shared with all regionally and nationally. In his previous positions, Michael served in public relations and, most recently, as Director of Public Engagement. He was responsible for co-leading the MDAH strategic planning process, coordinating community meetings, leading department research projects, planning major events, and supporting the department director and deputy director during legislative sessions. Michael will ensure that the Two Mississippi Museums continues to be the largest classroom for all Mississippians."

Congratulations Michael Morris: One to Watch!

This month we are pleased to share the good news that SEMC Council member, Ahmad Ward, was recently recognized by the Post and Courier newspaper as one of twelve black leaders to know in the state of South Carolina. Ahmad has served as Executive Director of Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina since 2017.

Congratulations Ahmad Ward! #SEMCProud

Today we are proud to feature another NEW SEMC Institutional member, the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum in Savannah, Georgia.

A visit to the Museum gives visitors an in-depth look at the city’s Civil Rights Movement. Located in a historic area of Savannah, the museum sits in what was once the heart of the city's black business community. With three floors to discover, visitors will find informative historic photos, documentaries, and interactive exhibits documenting the city's Jim Crow era and Civil Rights movement. The museum is steeped in the history of the heroes and sheroes of this city’s Civil Rights Movement and tells the story of the “freedom fighters” of the local chapter of the NAACP.

Here one will find the story of Westley Wallace Law, Savannah’s longest-serving NAACP president and founder of the museum, written by Vaughnette Goode-Walker, the current Museum Director. 

The museum is named after Westley Wallace Law’s mentor, Reverend Dr. Ralph Mark Gilbert. As the 13th pastor of Savannah’s First African Baptist Church, Dr. Gilbert is known as the “father” of the 20th-century Civil Rights Movement in Savannah.

For more information about the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum, visit their website https://rmgcivilrightsmuseum.com/.

Welcome to the SEMC community!

SEMC: Around the Region.....

SEMC staff has the opportunity to interact with members across the region each week...and we see and hear so much. Watch this E-News feature for information we pick up in weekly calls, emails, Zooms, and in-person visits with members!

On Friday, February 9, 2024 House Bill 4654 passed in the House and is on its way to the Senate.

This bill will amend and reenact §61-8A-3 of the Code of West Virginia relating to removing bona fide schools, public libraries, and museums from the list of exemptions from criminal liability relating to distribution and display to minor of obscene matter.

"The West Virginia Association of Museums (WVAM), the statewide museum association which serves and advocates for West Virginia’s 250 museums and cultural institutions, opposes House Bill 4654 currently before the West Virginia Legislature. West Virginia’s schools, public libraries, and museums are places that foster education, literacy, curiosity, and knowledge. An attack on these institutions is an attack on the present and future development, success, and prosperity of the state of West Virginia. We urge our representatives to consider a change in the language of the proposed bill to eliminate the danger to the museum and cultural community present in the bill as currently written.

WVAM is not opposed to protecting children from potentially harmful materials or ensuring that our museums, libraries, and schools are safe spaces. We are opposed to a change in the code that endangers the community of library and museum professionals while doing their jobs in these institutions. The proposed changes to §61-8A-3 of the Code of West Virginia makes an indiscriminate change that opens our cultural and educational institutions to damaging attacks and litigation due to vague language."

Read the full WVAM Statement on House Bill 4654

Sign the Petition to support WVAM's opposition to HB4654

Dear SEMC,

As Executive Director of a regional organization, travel is a frequent part of the job. Those who know me well understand how much I love to attend state museum conferences across our region and get to know and support our members better; if you ask me to speak the answer is always YES! I am also an accreditation reviewer for AAM and continue to enjoy this work, particularly when I am paired with museums in the southeast. This "on the road" aspect of SEMC and professional work has provided me with wonderful experiences traveling around the southeast. Over the last year, I have been to Jekyll Island, GA, Atlanta (lots of Atlanta), Charlotte, NC, Gastonia, NC, Baton Rouge, LA, New Orleans, LA, Columbia, SC, Laurel, MS, Jackson, MS, Knoxville, TN, Nashville, TN, Louisville, KY, Montgomery, AL and most recently, Marion, AL. There's more...but you get the idea. Driving this much I have certainly developed an appreciation for the unique, often quirky gas stations scattered across our region, including the surprising variety of cuisine that one can find therein.

When I saw the Bitter Southerner (a favorite site I have mentioned before) highlight this book, Thank You Please Come Again: How Gas Stations Feed and Fuel the American South, I knew it was a must-have. This book is a forever reminder of this unique time in my career and of all the experiences I am fortunate enough to have across the southeast...on the road for SEMC!

If you need a break this week, listen to this great interview with the author, Kate Medley, that was on National Public Radio earlier this month.

What's your favorite gas station and/or gas station food in the southeast?

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Zinnia Willits, Executive Director

zwillits@semcdirect.net