News From Museum Association of New York

e-connections  Newsletter of the new Museum Association of New York November 2013 265 River Street, Troy, NY 12180  www.manyonline.org 1-518-273-3400  info@manyonline.org

The MaNY Adventures of the Director... Museum Institute at Sagamore As we prepare for Thanksgiving I'm inclined to reflect upon the clever people, serendipitous moments and fruitful opportunities that we've enjoyed this first year of consolidation. I'm delighted to recall several occasions upon which I declared "this is our mission in action!" as we gathered together with old friends and new acquaintances weaving together the rich resources that lie within the inspiring individuals in our community. Our recent "road show" included three IMLS funded More Fun, More Learning: Libraries and Museums Working Together for Young Learners workshops and seven regional MANY Meet-ups! Many thanks to our hosts for welcoming our guests and supporting our mission. If you are interested in hosting a 2014 Meet-up, let me know.      Leading off this issue is a highlight of advocacy opportunities in Albany and Washington, DC. I attended the Regents Advisory Council on Museums meeting this month where the conversation centered upon statewide collaborations and Museums and the Common Core. Much more to come on this topic and the potential for a Museum Education Act.     Our focus now turns to end of the year logistics and planning our 2014 advocacy agenda and program slate. Many thanks for sharing your ideas, challenges and support towards visioning our 2014 offerings.  In this season for giving thanks, I am grateful to the MANY community for generously sharing your passion for extraordinary museums. With best wishes for a lovely Thanksgiving,    Catherine Gilbert, Director  ____________________________________________ Stay Connected - Please be sure to update our  contact information  Catherine Gilbert, Director director@manyonline.org Dana Krueger, Associate Director-Programsdana@manyonline.org    https://www.facebook.com/nysmuseums https://twitter.com/nysmuseums http://manyonline.org/membership/join-the-conversation Board News  The Museum Association of New York Board of Directors will meet on Monday, December 9th. On the agenda will be setting 2014 strategic priorities based on the conversations that have taken place at the regional Meet-Ups, as well as 2014 budget planning. Advocacy Update Albany Want to be updated on the actions/meetings of the Regent's Advisory Committee? Click here to read theNovember 2013 meeting's agenda and materials. Washington update:  Register for Museum Advocacy Day Museums Advocacy Day 2014 is Feb. 24-25! And Museum Association of New York is a sponsor!! "The event has become an invaluable, annual opportunity to advance the cause of our museums and the work of those who lead and support them. The training, information packets, logistics and results get better every year, and will no doubt lead to many successes in the future. Museums Advocacy Day 2014 is already on my calendar-for me, it is now an annual commitment!" -Pete Watson, Howell Living History Farm, Mercer County Park Commission, Titusville, NJ, and President of the Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums Will you be there? Since 2009, Museums Advocacy Day has resulted in: Nearly 1,000 advocates making 1,391 visits to Capitol Hill offices Increased Congressional support for museums New awareness of the vital role of museums Valuable networking opportunities Check out more here. IMLS and AAM are pairing up to strengthen state museum associations like Museum Association of New York. To learn more about this great endeavor, click here! Museum Association of New York Has Hit the Road! MANY is traveling this fall to various locations across the state to host Regional Meet-Ups. Hopefully we have already either met with you in your local area or will soon be doing so! Our events thus far have been wonderful! We love hearing about all of your great work in the various museums and affiliations across the state. Topics of discussion have included Common Core; Formula Funding; tourism initiatives; collaborations within communities and the local CVB or REDCs; MANY as a "clearing house" for information,professional groups and more; the need to advocate for NYSCA to gain more funding; and more!  Thank you to all of our hosts: Corning Museum of Glass, Everson Museum of Art, Fenimore Art Museum, FDR Presidential Library and Museum, National Museum of the American Indian - New York, and Hofstra University Museum. If you didn't catch us at one of the above venues, don't fret! We still have 2 more stops on our roadshow!  Please join us as we discuss advocacy issues that face all of NYS's museum community. (And bring a colleague or two!) RSVP info@manyonline.org. December 3 at 4pm -Buffalo Museum of Science, Buffalo December 4 at 10am - The Strong, Rochester  See you in your region soon! Membership Renewals    Giving You Great Benefits! Don't let your membership slide! Renew or join today! If you have received a renewal letter, please send in with payment so you can continue to receive all the great benefits MANY has to offer!   Visit our website for easy renewal! 2013 Museum Institute at Sagamore   Another Successful Year at Sagamore! We had an amazing 4 days with the Museum Institute at Sagamore participants and presenters! The group learned about collaborations, communication, leadership, time management and value proposition. They started creating their own professional development strategies and brainstormed to help each other successfully maneuver their obstacles. The weather made for a beautiful time in the Adirondacks and the group took full advantage of it with walking around the lake, canoeing and kayaking in their free moments. There was even a bit of healthy competition in Great Camp Sagamore's newly opened bowling alley! Thanks to all who participated. It truly was a fantastic Institute and couldn't have been so fulfilling without full commitment on everyone's part. Thanks also to Great Camp Sagamore and the staff for being wonderful hosts. We have made great connections and hope you took home a wealth of new and exciting resources as well as a refreshed outlook for your work!  About the Museum Institute at Sagamore... The Institute is a reflective, intensive, four day retreat at Great Camp Sagamore in the Adirondacks that gives New York State museum professionals the opportunity to learn, reflect, and work with their colleagues from across the state. The 2014 Museum Institute at Sagamore will take placeSeptember 23-26th. Acceptance to the Institute is by application only. For more information please visit:www.manyonline.org   Want to learn more about Sagamore? Be sure to attend the Sagamore Session at this year's Museums in Action conference!

Gear Up for the 2014 Museums in Action Annual Conference! Are you a vendor who would like to be a part of the largest gathering of museum professionals in New York State? Do you think the work we do is SUPER and you would like to be a sponsor? Then this is thelink for you! Museums in Conversation is now Museums in Action! Come be a part of the Action! Check out the levels of participation for exhibitors and sponsors for the 2014 conference. Bring your goods and set up a display or if you can't make it there in person, we have options for you! New this year:  Become a sponsor and get an advertisement our new program booklet!  Feeling like we need to be more technologically savvy? Sponsor our conference app! For more information on this year's conference exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities, check out the website. Thank you in advance for your support! The "Skinny" on this year's Annual Conference... This year's Museums in Action annual conference theme is STEM to STEAM! How will you participate and help your peers through this important conversation taking place at the 2014 Conference?   What is STEAM? STEAM = Science and Technology integrated through Engineering and the "Arts", all based in Mathematical elements. Museums + STEAM While teachers are limited in the classroom and traditional schools are only just considering merging disciplines, this is something that museums already do! And we do it well! Museums' non-traditional educational environments are perfect for this cross-curricular approach to teaching. Many museum programs have already been adding the A for Arts into the STEM programming. This includes visual and performing arts, humanities, social sciences, language arts and history. Whether it be through exhibitions, scope of collections or educational programming, museums have the natural capability to excel at STEAM initiatives! To learn more click here for the conference website. See you in Albany! Awards of Merit Nominations are Now Being Accepted! MANY Director Catherine Gilbert with 2012 Award of Merit Winner in the Innovation in Interpretation category: Museum of the Earth at the Paleontological Research Institution  New York's museums and heritage organizations are many and diverse. These institutions collect and interpret art, history, natural history, science, technology and culture. These valuable organizations provide opportunities for inquiry, engagement, inspiration and education about the state's cultural and natural heritage. The Awards of Merit program acknowledges outstanding programs and individuals who have made the state's museum community richer and more relevant. They reward the innovative efforts of staff and volunteers and they provide encouragement for the development of new and remarkable projects. Nominations are sought for contributions made in 2013. The awards will be presented on Monday, March 31, 2014 at the Luncheon of theMuseums in Action Conference at the Albany Marriott on Wolf Rd. in Albany. Submitting a Proposal Nominations may be submitted in the following categories (for yourself or others):  The Rising Star Award: Awarded to a museum professional, currently employed in an institution, aged 25-35, for his/her creativity and ability to tackle institutional/programmatic challenges in innovative and inspiring ways. Anne Ackerson Innovation in Leadership Award: This award recognizes board and staff leaders through creatively and effectively bringing their organization and its people through a significant challenge or opportunity.  Innovation in Collection Access: Collections are the vital backbone of museums and heritage organizations forming the basis for new research, programs, exhibitions, publications and web content. Nominations for this category are exemplary projects that concern broadening intellectual or physical access to collections; outstanding or cutting-edge preservation, cataloging or care. Innovation in Interpretation: This award category recognizes outstanding interpretive methods that forge emotional and intellectual connections between audiences and the meanings inherent in objects, artifacts, landscapes and place. Engaging Communities Award: A critical element of any museum or heritage organization is the way that it interacts with its community. Nominations for this category should highlight efforts that engage your community or create new audiences for your organization. These projects could include interpretative exhibitions, lecture series, educational or public programs, focus groups, strategic planning, evaluation or other community engagement effort. Excellent "Failure" Award: Recognizing that innovation stems from taking risks and that risks often lead to unpredicted results this award pays tribute to those that have made the most of such 'failures'. Nominations should indicate the initial goal of the endeavor, what went awry and highlight what was learned/how the organization has benefited as a result. Individual Achievement Award: Any successful organization has the support of a devoted team of staff and volunteers. Nominations in this category should be for those people who have played pertinent roles in moving their organizations forward over a sustained period. Nominations can by for an individual or a team of museum staff and/or volunteers.   Click here to submit a Nomination The deadline for submissions is December 13, 2013. Contact MANY with any questions at info@manyonline.org. Let's celebrate you!!

Policy Poll: Government Contracting & Prompt Payment Practices

Take the "Government Contracting and Prompt Payment Poll": Help Enhance the Upcoming National Report with Real Stories from New York's Nonprofits!   Deadline: December 2nd As many of you are well aware, government contracting issues have an immense impact on the ability of nonprofits in New York State to carry out their mission.  Though we are the only state with a "Prompt Contracting" law designed to safeguard nonprofits through the contracting process, there are still many hurdles New York Nonprofits face when attempting to get timely, adequate payment for our services.  NYCON strives to be an active and committed partner both with our Members and representatives of  government on initiatives aimed at improving the state contracting process.   In order to do this, NYCON is now asking all nonprofits with government contracts to please take a few moments to complete this Pulse Poll: Contracts and Grants regarding your recent experiences. Results from this poll will be used to supplement and enhance the findings from the upcoming Urban Institute study. We would greatly appreciate any stories and specific examples you can provide on how your government contracts or grant experiences have affected your organization or those you serve.   All stories will be kept anonymous unless you have given your permission to use your experience as an example in any discussions or documents produced regarding these issues.   NYCON does expect media sources to be contacting our office after the study's release. We hope your answers can be a resource for us to draw upon to give a clear and realistic picture of how state contracting problems impact New York's nonprofits presently.      Click here to take the Pulse Poll: Contracts and Grants, or paste this link into your browser: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PulsePollContractsandGrants  Please complete your survey ASAP, but no later thanDecember 2, 2013. Also, please share this message broadlywith your colleague organizations that may have government contracts or grants.     If you have any questions, please call us at (518) 434-9194 ext 126or email avanderwarker@nycon.org. Sincerely,                  Doug Sauer, CEO New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. (NYCON) The Urban Institute, along with the National Council of Nonprofits, will be releasing a study on December 5th, 2013 on state contracting and payment practices.

Upcoming Events & Trainings

The Five "I's" of Fundraising [Lunch & Learn Webinar] November 14th, 2013 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Presented by Susan Weinrich, VP of Organizational Development & Capacity Building Services, NYCON Free for NYCON Members Only  Register Geared towards the Board members, participants will learn how fund development fits within their overall board responsibilities and how to organize themselves to help address this challenging area. This session covers a range of strategies for generating revenue with an emphasis on fundraising. Topics include: Creating a development plan Organizing a fund development committee Fundraising strategies for success Staff & board roles in fund development Most importantly, it will help Board Members overcome their fear of fundraising and recognize that their involvement is critical to the success and sustainability of the organization. NYS Grants Gateway Info Session: Best Practices for Nonprofit Governance & Policy Creation [Vestal]  Friday, November 15, 2013 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Presented by Michael West, Esq., Legal Advisor, NYCON  REGISTER  Are you in the process of becoming 'prequalified' with New York State in order to receive funding for a contract currently in place or for future funding for which you'd like to be considered?  Your prequalification status may be delayed for multiple reasons. If your application is being held (or if you haven't been able to complete it) due to questions about any of the following reasons this workshop will be a great resource for you. Operational documents (charitable determination letter from the IRS, audit, IRS Form 990, Organizational chart, etc.) Governance Policies & Practices (internal controls, separation of duties, nepotism and other clauses in your bylaws and personnel policies) Other Documents or Governance Policies that you don't have and aren't sure how to create. In this session we will be focusing on best practices for nonprofit governance and policy creation as they relate to the Grants Gateway portal, the prequalification questionnaire and the online Document Vault. We will also be discussing the options and process for NYCON assistance available to you as a member.    Striving for Self-Sufficiency: Earned Revenue & Entrepreneurial Strategies [Utica]  November 21, 2013 from 9:00AM - 11:30AM Presented by Doug Sauer, CEO, NYCON   Cost is $10 (At the Door)  A Program of the Mohawk Valley Nonprofit Leadership Group  Register  There was a time where the most stable and viable nonprofits were those that relied on the traditional business model of contributions and government grants. Dependency on the "market" forces of philanthropic and taxpayer support is increasingly being viewed a limitation regarding sustainability as often they are outside of the influence and control of the nonprofit. Achieving self-sufficiency involves a third leg to the revenue stool - earned revenue, where there is a direct exchange of a product, service or privilege for monetary value. Participants in this workshop will have an opportunity to discuss and learn about earned revenue and entrepreneurial strategies - the pros, cons, and preparation and cultural shifts necessary to proceed down the entrepreneurial path.   This presentation is being funded by the Cororate Partners of The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties.   We appreciate their support.Please visit their website for more information, www.foundationhoc.org    How Changes in New York's Unemployment Program Affect Your Nonprofit [Lunch & Learn Webinar]  November 22, 2013 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM Presented by Cecilia Piazza, Director, Unemployment Program, First Nonprofit Companies  REGISTER  This webinar will discuss, in detail, the various unemployment insurance  coverage options currently available to nonprofit organizations, and specifically how unemployment compensation rates are assigned, the upcoming tax cost increases in New York State and various federal and state unemployment insurance benefit programs for claimants.  Did You Know? Nonprofits Have Options Nonprofits typically have fewer unemployment claims than the private sector; therefore, they often subsidize the state unemployment fund by paying more than necessary. Federal and state laws allow 501(c)(3) organizations to reimburse the state unemployment fund, rather than pay the UI tax in advance of having actual claims. FNC's unemployment programs may well reduce your unemployment costs if you currently participate in the state tax system, and can provide you with a safety net if you have already chosen the reimbursable option. Participation in FNC programs provides: Unemployment insurance savings of as much as 60% No pooling or shared risk Fixed annual cost Fully insured option to eliminate risk or Stop Loss Insurance with customized attachment points to minimize your exposure Professional representation in unemployment hearings and claim amount auditing included Access to training and services that can decrease the number of invalid claims If your nonprofit employs 10 or more people, this is an option worth learning about and exploring. FNC covers over 1,500 nonprofit employers across the country. They want to help even more organizations save money and avoid risk - starting right here in New York. Beyond Collaboration: Exploring & Navigating Corporate Affiliations [Hudson]  December 11, 2013 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM   A Workshop Provided by the New York Council of Nonprofits with Support from The Dyson Foundation Presented by Doug Sauer, CEO and Dave Watson, Senior VP of Legal Accountability and Compliance Services & General Counsel  Register Today      FREE Perhaps now more than ever, community-based nonprofits are seeking ways to do businessdifferently and are exploring whether affili  ation may be a path to sustainability and growth.  Join NYCON's highly experienced staff experts in learning about the various forms, processes, potential benefits and risks associated with corporate affiliations,including merger, acquisitions, subsidiary relationships and shared service arrangements. This initiative is available to help nonprofit organizations, libraries or units of government based in the Mid-Hudson Valley (Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, and Ulster counties) move from the exploring the feasibility of strategic restructuring, to planning the restructuring and implementing the plan, to enhancing the restructured entity. Funding is available for additional technical assistance, consulting, training or meeting facilitation and more. If, after this session, your organization is contemplating a serious merger or restructuring, then we encourage you to take advantage of this valuable resource through The Dyson Foundation. The "Beyond Collaboration" Workshops are provided as a part of The Dyson Foundation Nonprofit Strategic Restructuring Initiative. New Tools for Creating a Vibrant, Engaged and Energized Board in the 21st Century [Lunch & Learn Webinar] December 13, 2013 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM (EST) Presented by Andrew Marietta, Regional Manager, NYCON Central New York Office and Valerie Venezia, VP of Membership & Marketing Free for NYCON Members; $50 for Non-Members While we still have to recognize the traditional factors that motivate our Boards of Directors, we also need to acknowledge the fact that the most successful ways to connect with these individuals may have completely changed. Models of board meetings & board communication have not caught up with the current ways we engage in our "everyday" communication. This session will help identify motivating factors (both old & new), identify and discuss new ways of recruiting & engaging board members and how new online tools can help make the best use of everyone´s time and accomplish more with less. For those of you who attended this workshop at Camp Finance, on this webinar we will be able to spend more time on areas of concern like: managing & directing cultural change within your organization and additional specifics on tools you can use to make your (and your board members) life easier. Free for NYCON Members; $50 for Non-Members

New Report Addresses Opportunities for Funders That Collaborate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Cheryl Loe Communications Project Manager The Foundation Center (888) 356-0354 ext. 701 communications@ foundationcenter.org	Noah Rimland Flower Monitor Institute, a part of Deloitte Consulting LLP (415) 932-5345 nflower@deloitte.com
New Report Addresses Opportunities for Funders That Collaborate Companion "Interactive Tool Finder" Aids the Search for Technology Solutions New York, NY — November 7, 2013. A new report released today sheds light on how online tools are changing the way funders collaborate. Harnessing Collaborative Technologies: Helping Funders Work Together Better is the product of research conducted jointly by the Monitor Institute and the Foundation Center. This report helps funders learn about the different phases of collaboration and online tools that can help them advance all types of sharing, coordination, and cooperation. "Increasingly, foundations seek to leverage the impact of their giving by joining with others to address large, complex problems," said Katherine Fulton, president of the Monitor Institute, a part of Monitor Deloitte. "The logistical challenges they face in working together can be daunting, but new technologies can make collaborations easier by reducing inefficiencies and enabling new methods of working together that were difficult to imagine just a few years ago." The report aims to help funders get smarter about how emerging new technologies can help them work together more effectively and provides guidance on how to make thoughtful choices about investing in the development of new tools that facilitate collaborative work. An interactive tool finder developed by GrantCraft, a joint service of the Foundation Center and the European Foundation Centre, complements the report by presenting seven distinct collaborative needs (including finding partners, designing strategies, and assessing progress) and 17 types of tool functionalities (ranging from data gathering to project management) in an online matrix that facilitates intuitive exploration of available resources. This free resource helps users generate custom results that provide details on recommended solutions, including their cost; whether they are best for small-, medium-, or large-sized collaborations; how easy they are to use; and if there is a mobile-friendly version. "In a time when the challenges of repairing the world seem to know no bounds, working together as a global community of problem-solvers is more important than ever," said Lisa Philp, vice president for strategic philanthropy at the Foundation Center. "Technology is helping funders harness the power of collaboration, opening up new opportunities for strategic partnerships and making it easier to build effective relationships across organizations and geographies." The research on which the report is based included an extensive literature review on collaboration in philanthropy, detailed analyses of trends from a Foundation Center survey of the largest U.S. foundations, interviews with 37 leading philanthropy professionals and technology experts, and a review of more than 170 online tools. The content of the report is divided into three primary sections: an introduction to emerging technologies and the changing context for philanthropic collaboration; an overview of collaborative needs and tools; and recommendations for improving the collaborative technology landscape. Key Findings from Harnessing Collaborative Technologies outlines overarching themes from the report and serves as a companion piece to the full report. The Harnessing Collaborative Technologies: Helping Funders Work Together Better report and Key Findings executive summary can be downloaded for free in the Gain Knowledge area of the Foundation Center's web site and from the Monitor Institute's web site. Funding for the project was provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. About the Foundation Center Established in 1956, the Foundation Center is the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide. Through data, analysis, and training, it connects people who want to change the world to the resources they need to succeed. The Center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. and, increasingly, global grantmakers and their grants — a robust, accessible knowledge bank for the sector. It also operates research, education, and training programs designed to advance knowledge of philanthropy at every level. Thousands of people visit the Center's web site each day and are served in its five regional library/learning centers and its network of more than 470 funding information centers located in public libraries, community foundations, and educational institutions nationwide and around the world. For more information, please visitfoundationcenter.org or call (212) 620-4230. About the Monitor Institute Monitor Institute is a social change consultancy that works with innovative leaders at nonprofits and foundations to advance social impact across a diverse range of issues. Monitor Institute strives to be a scout for social innovation, bringing new approaches to clients and contributing to the public debate on leading-edge topics such as impact investing, strategic philanthropy, and networked collaboration. As a for-profit/for-benefit hybrid, Monitor Institute pursues social impact while operating as a fully integrated unit of Deloitte Consulting LLP. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. For more information, please visit monitorinstitute.com or call (415) 932-5382.