NEWSLETTER

Volume 14, #1                       January 27, 2011
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TUCSON MEETINGS

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TENTATIVE TUCSON AGENDA 

1. Call to Order (Lueth)

2. Introductions

3. Approval of the Denver Meeting Minutes (Lueth)

4. Treasurer's Report (Domitrovic)

5. Membership Report (Domitrovic)

6. Collections/Curators Committee Report (Lueth)

7. Education Committee: Tucson 11 and Denver 10 exhibits, (DeMouthe)

8. Best Practices Initiative (Lueth)

9. SMMP Europe Report

10. Discussion of Tucson meeting day and time

11. New Business

12. Board of Directors Election

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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Greetings from the Land of Enchantment,

As La Nina wrecks havoc on much of the world, the New Mexico Territories (New Mexico and Arizona) are blessed with warm and dry weather. Hopefully it will continue through Tucson show time for those of you who need the break.

A significant topic for our consideration this meeting has been suggested by our vice-president, Penny Williamson. I will use the text of her email to introduce the topic:

"In Denver a few curators were at dinner discussing mutual stuff and Tucson/SMMP featured. The gist is that Jeff Post, Julian Gray, Mike Wise & I were discussing how to get more curators involved in the SMMP meeting. A number of curators don't attend as they are on the floor on the first day of the show, doing what they're in Tucson to do ‒ look at minerals. The meeting takes up valuable mineral time and many leave the meeting as quickly as possible to get back to the floor. This is the only time that we are all together and many would like to socialise and chew the fat with similar souls, etc. Jeff was very keen to continue the SMMP socialising into the evening with say cocktails and or dinner. That led to re-thinking the timing of the meeting."

To get the ball rolling, Penny suggests we shorten the Board meeting by 30 minutes and shorten the general meeting by 15 minutes and begin SMMP festivities about an hour later than we do now. Essentially we would begin our meetings around 4:00 and the program would be held around 5:15 or possibly later. Please be prepared to voice your preference at the meeting.

Last year we also approved the concept of hosting a social, before or after the meeting, when we could all gather and "chew the fat with similar souls" (Penny's words). This year, Jim and Gail Spann have offered to host a "meet the curators" social during the Tucson show right after our meetings and program (6:00 to 8:00 p.m.) Please RSVP to me by Feb. 8 if you plan to attend (vwlueth@nmt.edu).

Throughout my tenure as president of the SMMP, I have pursued a philosophy for advancing the society by initiating one new project per year. Past annual projects include the research grant program, best practices project, attendance/donor surveys, among others. Most things have been adopted, but I wouldn't for a minute say that all are flying high. But, they are all available and if you need some money for a small project or care to share your expertise and publish it with a review by your peers we have a mechanism within the SMMP.

Looking forward to seeing you all in Tucson,
Virgil W. Lueth

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MINUTES OF THE DENVER MEETING
September 2010

Click on the link above to view the minutes.

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2011 Board of Directors election

Three board member terms will be expiring this year. Please be prepared to nominate candidates and vote. Board members whose terms expire this year are:

Penny Williamson     Terri Ottaway     Bruce Geller

Note that the term expiration dates of the board members are provided in parentheses in the sidebar.

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BEST PRACTICES PROJECT

 "Best Practices" documents are posted on the SMMP website at:

http://www.agiweb.org/smmp/rept-practices.htm

We are actively looking for more volunteers to author other best practice documents.

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SMMP RESEARCH STUDY GRANTS

Awards are to support curatorial research and methodologies that address one or more of the Society of Mineral Museum Professionals (SMMP) mission statement goals: 1) foster recognition of mineral science collections as essential scientific, educational and cultural resources, 2) promote support for growth, maintenance and use of collections and exhibits and, 3) advance museum practice through cooperation in the development, review and dissemination of information. Amounts vary up to a maximum of $1000 per grant. Grant awards determined by SMMP Board of Directors. Grant applications and more details are posted on our website. http://www.agiweb.org/smmp/support-SMMP.htm

Grant proposals are due: August 1, 2011.

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MUSEUM NEWS

A message from Prof. Viktor K. Garanin,
the new Director of the Fersman Museum

Dear colleagues!

In my new position as Director of the Fersman Mineralogical Museum RAS it is my great pleasure to greet the museum society.

The Fersman Mineralogical Museum is a scientific institute by its status, and for a long time it was rather difficult for the average visitor to enjoy our classic displays. However we always have to remember, that we are still a Museum and our main goal is to deliver science to public, making it attractive.

My personal scientific experience in the field of mineralogy & petrology of diamond deposits, which will be transferred to the Museum, yielded in the wide range of connections and relations from many levels in Russia, Europe, USA, Africa, Australia and Asia. I am open and excited about new collaborations in the museum world and between any scientific or museum institutions with a mutual interest.

We also would appreciate being kept informed on what is going on, any progress or loss, via our staff ‒ SMMP 'ambassadors' and new Department of International Cooperation, headed by my representative Dr. Maria S. Alferova, established for progressing above said collaborations.

Sincerely,
Professor of the Lomonosov Moscow State University
Viktor K. Garanin

Maryland Exhibits
Report by Ed Goldberg

My continuing effort to place mineral displays in public buildings in Maryland has had some progress this past year. Not only did Howard County Community College in Columbia expand its holdings of Maryland specimens on display, but the Maryland Science Center will soon display 5 small cases of Maryland minerals in the members' entrance lobby. Additionally, Carroll County, Md., type locality of carrollite, has expressed interest in hosting a display of specimens found within its borders. (These will include iron, copper, and cobalt ores, and the well-known calcites from Medford Quarry, many colored with todorokite and other manganese and iron compounds).  My effort is as a member of the Baltimore Mineral Society, but the specimens themselves are primarily ones I've collected on many field trips and explorations.  

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JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Associate Curator, Mineral Sciences
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Click on the link above to view the job announcement.

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SMMP AFFILIATIONS

American Geological Institute (AGI)

Natural Science Collections Alliance NSCA)

Although the Society of Mineral Museum Professionals maintains no official ties with the Commission on Museums (CM) of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA), the Commission resolved at its December, 2000, meeting in Melbourne, Australia, to support SMMP's efforts in uniting mineral museum professionals worldwide.

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SMMP LIST SERVER

You are encouraged to interact with your fellow SMMP members via our list server:

smmp@listserv.nhm.org

Please remember that when you reply to an email sent via our list server, you will be replying to the sender, although you have the option of copying the membership.

Tony Kampf processes additions to and deletions from the list server. That way we limit the list to our membership and if a member decides that they want to be dropped from the list, Tony will know whether to send them the SMMP Newsletter by snail mail. Note that you are only able to send via the list server from your email address that is on the list server. This should be the same one that is used in our on-line roster.

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PAYING DUES

SMMP dues are $10.00 U.S., payable to Anna Domitrovic, treasurer, 6118 W. Lazy Heart Street, Tucson, AZ 85713. Any directory changes or additions should be sent to Tony Kampf. In Europe, dues can be remitted to Peter Davidson, National Museums of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JF, SCOTLAND.

To make paying your dues easier (especially for non-US members), you can pay your dues on-line by credit card or using your own personal PayPal account. Just go to our Dues webpage.

Note that you can check your dues payment status on the SMMP on-line roster. The year shown in the last column indicates the last year for which you have paid. If you are delinquent, please remit your dues payment as soon as possible.

Remember to renew your membership. If you are planning to pay dues at the Tucson meeting, help Anna by filling out a membership application with your dues payment. Do it beforehand and save time at the meeting!