Basic Information
Annual Meeting
We are making history! For the very first time, TAM Annual Meeting will convene in Bryan-College Station, March 16-19, 2010. These twin cities in the heart of the Brazos Valley are full of natural and cultural history, trails, art, museums, and good old-fashioned “Aggieland” hospitality. We will have opportunities for museum visits, side tours, networking, and a meeting program that will take you where you want to go.
So, All Aboard!
Conference Theme ~ All Aboard: Museums on Track!
Texas museums are facing many challenges in these uncertain economic times. In addition to weathering a slower economy, many of our museums in Texas are also recovering from devastating weather conditions and are busy at work restoring their institutions. As non-profit organizations dedicated to preserving and promoting natural and cultural history and the visual arts, we take our missions very seriously and refuse to be “derailed.”
Our 2010 TAM Annual Meeting will focus on ways that museums can pull together to “stay on track.” Let’s explore resource sharing, collaboration on restoration projects, creative and innovative fundraising, and ways to motivate and inspire the “engines” in our museum communities. Come renew the “ties that bind” in Bryan-College Station, March 16-19, 2010.
Thank YOU!
TAM sincerely thanks all those who have contributed their time, effort, financial support, and in-kind donations to the 2010 Annual Meeting. Especially to the cultural community in Bryan-College Station and all the extraordinary museums that are opening their doors to TAM, many thanks.
Hosts
- Arts Council of Brazos Valley
- Brazos Valley African American Museum
- Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History
- Bryan-College Station Convention & Visitors Bureau
- The Children's Museum of Brazos Valley
- Cushing Memorial Library and Archives
- George Bush Presidential Library and Museum
- MSC Forsyth Center Galleries
- Museum of the American GI
- Sam Houston Sanders Corps of Cadets Center
- Star of the Republic Museum
- Texas A&M University Anthropology Department
- Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation
- Center for the Study of the First Americans
- Texas A&M University Conservation Research Laboratory
- Texas A&M University Special Collections
Welcome
Howdy! Welcome to Bryan-College Station, a community rich in tradition and history, set deep in the heart of Central Texas. In fact, these two cities are located within a 180-mile radius of over 80% of Texas’ population. Bryan-College Station, also known as “Aggieland,” is home to Texas A&M University, the George Bush Presidential Library & Museum, the Northgate Entertainment District, Messina Hof Winery and Resort, and Historic Downtown Bryan. This is a region so diverse you can stroll the campus of Texas A&M University, mingle with real cowboys at a thrilling rodeo, and take in a live symphony performance all in one day. While here, you can also explore the 20 museums and gallery collections the Brazos Valley has to offer, with more than 12 of those located in Bryan-College Station. You can also savor locally grown organic dishes, gourmet dining, or BBQ cooked by the same family since the 1930s … all at fabulous restaurants unique to our area. Enjoy the modern amenities of a big city, combined with a warm small-town charm, making this one of the friendliest places you’ll ever visit! Here, tradition and Texas hospitality are a way of life. When you come for the TAM Annual Meeting, you’ll find a Texas-sized “Howdy” waiting around every bend.
2010 Local Arrangements Committee Chairs
- Deborah Cowman, Executive Director, Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History, Bryan
- Lisa Kalmus Smith, Curator, Sam Houston Sanders Corps of Cadets Center, Texas A&M University, College Station
TAM Professional Development Certificate Program
The TAM Professional Development Certificate Program provides an incentive for Texas museum professionals to enhance their expertise by attending a series of educational programs in one of six areas of focus. Certificates reward participants’ dedication to improve their skills and enhance their knowledge of current museum practice. Program participants will be awarded a TAM Professional Development Certificate for completion of a workshop and five annual meeting sessions relating to one focus area. Eligible sessions in the six focus areas will be labeled as follows: (A) Administration; (R) Resource Development; (E) Exhibitions; (C) Collections Management; (ED) Education/Outreach; (T) Trustee. Please note that workshops presented throughout the year by TAM and TAM Affinity Groups count towards the certificate. It is not necessary to attend a workshop in conjunction with Annual Meeting. Cost to participate is $25 per certificate sought. Participants must be current TAM individual members. Register for the program on the TAM Annual Meeting registration form.
Credits and Sponsors
Texas Association of Museums is supported in part by a grant from Mid-America Arts Alliance, National Endowment for the Arts, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
TAM 2010 Annual Meeting gratefully acknowledges the support of
- City of Bryan
- City of College Station
- George Bush Presidential Library and Museum
Special thanks to Lisa Kalmus Smith for annual meeting logo design.
Special thanks to Christopher Rankin/Big Check Factory for Annual Meeting web site design.