Fundamentals Forum - Day 2

I'm a bit late getting yesterday's information up - it has been very busy here in Blacksburg!

Day 2 (Wednesday, June 16) started early - Scott Harris talked me into getting up for a morning constitutional (walk around campus). It did wake me up, and got my appetite roaring for breakfast in the dining hall. Hmm - French toast, omelet to order, belgian waffle or just good old eggs and bacon?

The first session was a general session on Museums and Boards presented by A.T. Stephens, Mike Henry and Doug Harvey. Breakout sessions followed for the rest of the day, 2-3 at a time: Daily Museum Operations, School Programs, Basic Marketing: Working with the Press, Outreach and Partnerships, Collections Management 101, Annual Fund and Membership, Technology and Social Media in Small Museums, and Administration: Personnel Issues.

We ended the day with another general session that basically provided an opportunity to explore some of the things that had come out of earlier sessions, get questions answered and to talk about our "aha moments" so far.

The faculty have been great - all the sessions have been outstanding, and they have provided a wealth of information and tips, referral to other resources, and generally the benefit of their years of experience in the museum world. They have made themselves available during breaks and mealtimes to answer questions, suggest options for specific situations our participants bring up, and have gone out of their way to be helpful.

After dinner, we had a special treat. Terry Nicholson, Museum Manager for the Town of Blacksburg, and Terri Fisher, Executive Director of the Giles County Historical Society, led the group on a walking tour of the Virginia Tech campus. Particularly moving was the memorial to the students and professors lost during the terrible shooting tragedy a year ago.

We also got to see the preserved Odd Fellows Hall, a museum celebrating the history of the African American inhabitants of Blacksburg,

and the GeoSciences Museum (thanks to Lyn Sharp, the Outreach and Collections Manager) where the highlight was the black light room showcasing the fluorescent and phosphorescent rocks.

Far out, man!

After our hike around campus, many folks came back to the dorm and headed for bed - it had been a long and full day. But there were a couple dozen folks who decided to continue the conversations from the night before in the Third Floor Lounge. On tap this evening was the movie "The Magnificent Seven", with contributed commentary. Quick - name the seven hired guns.

Did you remember Horst Bucholtz???

Margo Carlock