• Hillary Pine, Michigan DNR - Michigan History Center
• Craig Kasmer, Michigan DNR - Marketing and Outreach Division 

Join the Park Interpreter and Historian from Hartwick Pines State Park to learn about the threats that are endangering natural and cultural landscapes. Are there invasive species that threaten your site? Is your site prepared for climate change, an increase in extreme weather events, and increased wildfire risks? We’ll provide examples from Hartwick Pines and guide you through a discussion on how you can identify threats at your site and how to work with natural resource professionals to lessen those risks. You’ll leave with tips and tricks on how to more closely engage with your site’s natural environment and who to ask for help.

• Andrew Schneider, The Henry Ford/Michigan Oral History Association
• Kim Schroeder, Wayne State University/Michigan Oral History Association

New technological advances have created new accessible avenues for organizations to conduct oral history projects. This workshop emphasizes how using newly developed tools to capture oral histories, especially from missing voices, can improve visitor experiences and develop libraries that will preserve community’s heritage and first-hand accounts without stretching limited resources. We will walk through the foundation of a quality oral history project supported by online resources, software, and cloud services, from project creation to short- and long-term storage. Through an informational and collaborative environment, we hope to provide an affordable technological toolbox that will benefit any organization passionate to preserve community stories. 

• Jared Yax, Tri-Cities Historical Museum / Walker Fire Department
• Brian Jaeschke, Mackinac State Historic Parks / Mackinaw City Fire Department
• Jill Eastcott, Zekelman Holocaust Center

The session will introduce participants to the Incident Command System (ICS) Level 100, tailored for heritage sites. Attendees will learn how to manage time, people, and resources within a command hierarchy during a disaster event. Case studies will be used to demonstrate how the system should be implemented during a real-life emergency. Each position within the ICS 100 system will be covered to show how museum professionals at any size institution can succeed when assignedICS roles. It is highly recommended that attendees take the free ICS 100 certification class through FEMA at https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=is-100.c&lang=en before they attend the session.

• Caitlyn Perry Dial, MSU Libraries

Michigan museums thrive on the generosity of donors. However, navigating donor relations can become complex, especially when their interests intersect with collections management and philanthropy. This session offers a safe space for open discussion of real-life scenarios museum professionals have encountered. We will troubleshoot problem scenarios both in collections and philanthropy, offer advice, and model language for navigating difficult donor conversations.

• Bonnie Fink, Travel Michigan/MEDC 

The Pure Michigan website–Michigan.org--had over 9 million users in 2023. This session will discuss and help you add your museum and events onto the Pure Michigan website. Posting your museum, museum events, and museum deals/packages on the Michigan.org site will give visitors your information and boost their interest for your museum’s cultural experience. Learn how to add/update your museum, events and packages on michigan.org. This is a complimentary tool that gives the visitors your information to boost their interest in your museum’s cultural experience. Prior to the session create your log-in if you don’t already have one here. Bring your computer with you to the session and follow along as we help you navigate our database and create/update your listing, package or event on Michigan.org.

More information coming soon . . .