Grants:TPS/Thelmadatter/New Mexico Association of Museums annual conference/Report
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- Event name
- New Mexico Association of Museums annual conference
- Description of your participation
My main purpose in going was to present about Wikimedia to representatives from various museums and other cultural institutions in the state of New Mexico. This presentation was given on 8 November 2012 (pics here [1]). Response was quite enthusiastic especially from the media services director for state museums, Mimi Roberts. Over the two days I was there I made contact with people such as Prudy V. Correa, Vice chairwoman of Acoma Business Enterprises, Carolyn Gregory, affiliated with several museums, Richard Reycraft of New Mexico State Monuments, Joanne Beer of the Las Cruses Railroad Museum, Arthur Wolf of Wolf Consulting (involved in projects with Native American communities in the state) and Jaimie Blosser fo Atkin Olshin Schade Architects (museum builders) as well as regional and national contacts such as Kathyrn Flynn of the National New Deal Preservations Association, Carol Kennis Lopez of the Association of Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums and Theresa Breznau of Living Earth Studios in Utah.
- What lessons were learned that could help others in similar events?
The first and most important lesson here is that there is a LOT of enthusiasm here for GLAM and technology-related projects in general. About half of the presentations were related to technology in some way and Wikipedia was mentioned and discussed in several... not just my session! It is REALLY important that we jump on this opportunity to establish a Wikipedia community in the western United States. One problem I had was that I ran out of business cards! Several have expressed concrete interest in photo donations and Mimi Roberts wants to schedule some kind of formal or semi-formal training session to get started. One weakness for me was not knowing really what the Foundation can or cannot do as to the next steps as there are no "hard core" Wikipedia volunteers or chapter in this area. I really need the help of Lori Phillips on this one as soon as possible. I can work on photo donations as I do not have be in New Mexico. I have also already found a teacher at my school from the state, who is keen on helping out on this end here in Mexico City.
Cross border work is definitely interesting to these museums, but we will have to get established with New Mexico topics before we start cross-border work.
- What impact did your participation have on the Wikimedia Mission goals of Increased Reach, Increased Quality, Increased Credibility, Increased and Diversified Participation?
The main impact on this conference was showing the reach that Wikipedia has. The page visit stats were impressive as well as how photos are handled on Wikimedia Commons. There were about 25 people at my session, most of whom asked questions and/or commented and I chatted with at least 25 others. I also sat down for breakfast with Mimi Roberts the next day to begin "strategizing" what the next steps should be. In addition to whatever we can set up before then, she definitely wants to set up an editathon/training session for the pre-conference day of next year's conference in Las Cruces.
- Detail of expenditures
- Flight from Mexico City to Albuquerque: 504.08 USD
- Accomodation: 165 USD
- Incidentals: 50 USD
- Amount underspent/left-over (please specify currency)
- $ 450 left over ($1200 estimate, $730 spent. Airfare came out much cheaper than estimated)