22nd Annual Visitor Studies Association Conference Program

July 21 - 25, 2009 St. Louis,

For What It’s Worth: Wrestling with Relevance, Public Value, and Impact We’re About Visitors

St. Louis photography provided courtesy of: The , Felix Vallé House State Historic Site, Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, The Magic House, Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri Historical Society, The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts, , Saint Louis Science Center and the Saint Louis 2009 Conference Team Dear Colleagues and Friends: Susan Foutz, Abstracts Editor Welcome to St. Louis and the 2009 VSA conference! Elisa Israel, Local Host Committee Chair Julie I. Johnson, VP, Professional Development This year’s theme – For What It’s Worth: Wrestling with Cheryl Kessler, Workshops Chair Relevance, Public Value, and Impact – is sure to spark Judith Larsen, Conference Committee Chair intriguing insights, engaging conversations, and interesting Kelly Lidinsky, Program Co-Chair discoveries. The challenge for many practitioners and Caren Oberg, Marketplace Coordinator researchers alike is in how to show and share what we know Jessica Sickler, Incoming Conference Committee Chair our organizations mean to communities, how the experiences Kathleen Tinworth, Awards Subcommittee Chair we create relate to visitor needs, and how a program or an Robert “Mac” West, Resource Development Chair Elee Wood, Program Co-Chair exhibit can bring about a change. Demonstrating relevance, Randy C. Roberts, VSA Association Manager public value, and impact in museums and informal learning environments is a pressing reality. Wrestling with these issues — really digging in, discussing, and defining them – Local Host Committee is what this conference is all about. Elisa Israel, Chair, Saint Louis Science Center Halcyone Brown, Saint Louis Science Center We are confident that the conference will provide you with Lisa Harper Chang, The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts many opportunities to learn, share, and grow. There are an Carolyn Daniel, The Magic House array of dynamic panels, papers, posters, and roundtables. Spruce Fraser, St. Louis Public Library Karla Frye, Missouri Department of Natural Resources Conference sessions reflect a wide range of strategies and Tami Goldman, methods for defining and measuring public value. Andrew Hahn, The Campbell House Museum • How do you determine public value? Jenny Heim, Saint Louis Science Center • Who determines public value? Delecia Huitt, Missouri Department of Natural Resources • How can you define relevancy in communities? Leslie Mitchell Jackson, Missouri Botanical Garden • What are the internal and external perspectives Louis Lankford, University of Missouri – St. Louis Bob Moore, Jefferson National Expansion Memorial that shape our understanding and measurement Amy Niedbalski, Saint Louis Zoo of “value”? Joe Polman, University of Missouri – St. Louis • What does having an impact really mean and Stephanie Recht, Saint Louis Art Museum how can we assess it? Jan Simons, Missouri Botanical Garden Carey Tisdal, Tisdal Consulting We hope the backdrop of the Gateway City provides the chance Staci Willis, Saint Louis Science Center to catch up with old friends and meet new colleagues. Enjoy the chance to network with some of the most forward-thinking 2009 Session Proposal Reviewers professionals in the field today. Swarupa Anila Wendy Meluch Enjoy the conference amidst our fine Midwest hospitality. Stephen Bitgood Ken Morris Have fun exploring vibrant St. Louis! Minda Borun Michelle Nichols Kerry Carlin-Morgan Heather Nielsen Christine Castle Kathryn Owen Lisa Harper Chang Chris Parsons Rita Deedrick Phyllis Rabineau Cathleen Donnelly Melissa Schreck Susan Foutz Jessica Sickler Elee Wood Kelly Lidinsky Todd Gieseke Matt Sikora Program Co-Chair Program Co-Chair Ellen Giusti Erin Stafford Joshua Gutwill Jill Stein Joe Harber Martin Storksdieck Joe Heimlich MaryJane Taylor Barbara Henry Geralyn Warfield Beth A. Twiss Houting Karol Allison Wickens Judith Larsen Linda Wilson Kiersten Latham Victor Yocco

1 Conference Schedule at a Glance

Monday, July 20 Friday, July 24 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Registration Open 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Registration Open 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. President’s Address and VSA Tuesday, July 21 Business Meeting 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. Registration Open Grand Ballroom G & H 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. Registration Open 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Keynote Presentation Grand Ballroom G & H 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Pre-Conference Workshops 10:00 – 10:30 a.m. Coffee Break Wednesday, July 22 Grand Ballroom G & H 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Concurrent Sessions – Three 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Registration Open Grand Ballrooms G & H, F, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. VSA Board of Trustees Meeting Mills Studios 1, 2, 3 Mills Studio Three 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. April Award Luncheon 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Pre-Conference Workshops Grand Ballroom A & B 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Pre-Conference Walking Tour 2:15 – 3:30 p.m. Concurrent Sessions – Four Meet at 4th Street Entrance Grand Ballrooms G & H, F, 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. Welcome to St. Louis Opening Event Mills Studios 1, 2, 3 (ticket required) 3:30 – 3:50 p.m. Coffee Break Buses depart from 4th Street Entrance Grand Ballroom Foyer at 5:30 p.m. 3:50 – 4:50 p.m. Concurrent Sessions – Five Grand Ballrooms G & H, F, Thursday, July 23 Mills Studios 1, 2, 3 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Registration Open 4:45 – 6:00 p.m. Open House at The Old Courthouse 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Members and New Attendees (No ticket required) Coffee Talk 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Grand Evening of Art and Music Grand Ballroom G & H (ticket required) 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Welcoming Remarks and Buses depart from the Old Keynote Panel Courthouse at 5:45 p.m. Grand Ballroom G & H 11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Marketplace of Ideas, Products, Saturday, July 25 and Services 9:00 – 9:30 a.m. Coffee Break Posters on Display Grand Ballroom Foyer Grand Ballroom A & B 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. Concurrent Sessions – Six 11:00 – 11:20 a.m. Coffee Break Grand Ballrooms A, B, F, G Grand Ballroom Foyer 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Closing Luncheon 11:20 a.m. – 12:35 p.m. Concurrent Sessions – One Park View Room Grand Ballrooms G & H, F, 1:00 – 10:00 p.m. Post-Conference Trip Mills Studios 1, 2, 3 Bus departs from 4th Street Entrance 12:35 – 2:00 p.m. Lunch on your own at 1:00 p.m. 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Concurrent Sessions – Two Grand Ballrooms G & H, F, Mills Studios 1, 2, 3 3:00 – 3:30 p.m. Coffee Break Grand Ballroom Foyer 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Marketplace of Ideas, Products and Services continues Poster Session Grand Ballroom A & B 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. Come Play Like a Kid at The Magic House (ticket required) Buses depart from 4th Street Entrance at 6:30 p.m.

2 What you need to know … REGISTRATION AND EXPLORING ST. LOUIS For information on getting around St. Louis via MetroLink, St. Louis’ light rail system, INFORMATION DESK The institutions listed below will offer go to www.metrostlouis.org. Check in at the registration desk, located discounts to conference delegates at the Grand Coatroom, for conference July 20-26 (must show conference name Another fun thing to experience is St. Louis’ materials, badges, tickets, information, badge). Because St. Louis is fortunate to annual summer festival, Live on the Levee. and your 2009 tote bag. Learn more have several museums that are already This popular event, which draws large about the sites of St. Louis from local free to the public, the discounts offered to crowds, happens every Friday and Saturday hosts who will be on hand to steer you in delegates vary by institution. Please refer to evening in July. River levels permitting, the right direction. the separate insert for details on available you’ll find live musical performances – discounts and for updates to this list. Registration Desk Hours: both local and national names, food Monday, July 20, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. • Campbell House Museum stands, and a fantastic fireworks display on Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd., along the Tuesday, July 21, 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. • Chatillon-DeMenil Mansion , under the Arch. If crowds and 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. • Eugene Field House and Saint Louis Toy Museum aren’t your thing, the conference hotel is Wednesday, July 22, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ideally situated to provide you with a great Thursday, July 23, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. • Jefferson National Expansion Memorial view of the fireworks, which typically begin ( & Old Courthouse) around 9:15 p.m. If you are attending the ABSTRACTS • The Magic House – St. Louis’ Friday evening event at The Pulitzer In keeping with the “green” movement, the Children’s Museum Foundation for the Arts, the buses are 2009 Abstracts publication is available this • Missouri Botanical Garden scheduled to return from the event in time for the fireworks. Please check at the year in an electronic format only, not as a • Missouri History Museum printed handout. Visit hospitality table or with the hotel concierge • Saint Louis Art Museum www.visitorstudies.org and click on the for updated information on the festival, Conference page to view or download a PDF • Saint Louis Science Center including the lineup of musical performers. of the abstracts. The abstracts provide • Saint Louis Zoo overviews of all poster, panel, and paper • Scott Joplin State Historic Site sessions presented at the conference.

CONFERENCE EVENTS Open House at the Old Courthouse LUNCHEONS Friday, July 24, 4:45 – 6:00 p.m. Tickets are required for the following events 13th Annual April Award Luncheon FREE to all conference attendees! unless otherwise noted. (Tickets ARE NOT Friday, July 24, 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. The Old Courthouse is across the street AVAILABLE ON-SITE; however a ticket $40 from the Hyatt; look for the green dome! exchange board will be located in the Grand Ballroom A & B Buses will depart from the Old Court House registration area. If you have an extra ticket at 5:45 p.m., for those attending A Grand or are looking for one, please check the Closing Luncheon Evening of Art and Music. ticket exchange board). Please check event Saturday, July 25, 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. description for bus departure information. FREE, advance registration is required A Grand Evening of Art and Music Park View Room Friday, July 24, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. EVENING EVENTS $30 Buses depart from the Old Courthouse, Welcome to St. Louis! adjacent to the Hyatt Regency, at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS, FREE with full conference registration, PRODUCTS, AND SERVICES advance registration is required. MEMBER BREAKFAST Buses depart from the 4th Street Entrance Thursday, July 23 3rd Annual Membership and of the Hyatt Regency at 5:30 p.m. Open 11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. New Attendees Coffee Talk Meet poster presenters and sponsors Thursday, July 23, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m., FREE, Come Play Like a Kid at The Magic House! 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Advance registration is not required for Thursday, July 23, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. this event. $45 Grand Ballroom G & H Buses depart from the 4th Street Entrance New conference attendees, members, and of the Hyatt Regency at 6:30 p.m. prospective members welcome. 3 Pre-Conference Workshops Tuesday, July 21 and Wednesday, July 22

Registration is required (Fee: Full Day Workshop – $125 Member, $155 non-Member; Half Day Workshop – $65 Member, $80 non-Member). Registration may be available on-site pending space availability. Please check at the Registration Desk for more information.

Attendees are responsible for transportation to and from workshop locations. Please check for transportation information, including those seeking shared taxi rides, at the Registration Desk.

Tuesday, July 21 Insights from the World of Market How to Conduct Effective Full Day Workshops, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Research Part I: Segmentation, Prototype Testing with Value, and Brand Mechanical Interactives Audience-Based Inquiry through Saint Louis Art Museum, One Fine Arts Saint Louis Zoo, One Government Drive Focus Groups and Naturalistic Drive (in ) (in Forest Park) Methods Linda Wilson, Director, Audience Research Sofie Davis, Audience Researcher, Science Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd. and Evaluation, John G. Shedd Aquarium Museum, London Elee Wood, Assistant Professor of Museum Kelly Lidinsky, Manager, Audience Research Visitor Studies 101: Evaluating Studies and Teacher Education and Public and Evaluation, John G. Shedd Aquarium Scholar of Museums, Families and Impact Learning, IUPUI School of Education Tuesday, July 21 Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd. Measuring Attitude Half Day Workshop, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Ellen Giusti, Visitor Studies Consultant St. Louis Public Library, downtown branch, Insights from the World of Market Wednesday, July 22 1301 Olive Street Research Part II: Customer Half Day Workshop, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Joe E. Heimlich, Associate Professor and Satisfaction, Behavioral Extension Specialist OSU Extension@COSI Economics, and Web 2.0 Assessing Learning in Real-Time: Steve Yalowitz, Senior Research Associate, Saint Louis Art Museum, One Fine Arts Videotaping Visitors in Museums, Institute for Learning Innovation Drive (in Forest Park) Part I Saint Louis Zoo, One Government Drive Tuesday, July 21 Linda Wilson, Director, Audience Research and Evaluation, John G. Shedd Aquarium (in Forest Park) Half Day Workshops, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Kelly Lidinsky, Manager, Audience Research Joshua P. Gutwill, Acting Director of Visitor Beyond Counting Hits: Strategies and Evaluation, John G. Shedd Aquarium Research, Exploratorium for Evaluating Websites Adam Klinger, Evaluation Design Specialist, Half Day Workshop, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. Exploratorium Kemper Museum of Art, Washington University, corner of Skinker and (Note: this workshop begins and ends later Wednesday, July 22 Forsyth Blvds. to accommodate travel time) Half Day Workshops, 1:00 – 4:00 pm Jennifer Borland, Associate, Rockman, et al Understanding Public Value: A Saul Rockman, President, Rockman, et al Task for Evaluators AND Assessing Learning in Real-Time: Monnette Fung, Rockman, et al Practitioners Videotaping Visitors in Museums, Part II Participatory Evaluation: Using Hyatt Regency Hotel, Mills Studio One Mary Ellen Munley, Principal, MEM and Saint Louis Zoo, One Government Drive Interactive Techniques to Involve (in Forest Park) Stakeholders in the Evaluation Associates Process Randy Roberts, Senior Associate, MEM and Joshua P. Gutwill, Acting Director of Visitor Associates; VSA Association Manager Research, Exploratorium Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd. Adam Klinger, Evaluation Design Specialist, (in Forest Park) Wednesday, July 22 Exploratorium Amy Grack Nelson, Evaluation & Research Full Day Workshops, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Assistant, Science Museum of Minnesota Getting Published Robby Callahan Schreiber, Youth Program Taking Control of Your Saint Louis Art Museum, One Fine Arts Manager, Kitty Andersen Youth Science Quantitative Data Drive (in Forest Park) Center, Science Museum of Minnesota Old Courthouse, 11 N. 4th St. Jan Packer, Senior Research Fellow, School Steve Yalowitz, Senior Research Associate, of Tourism, University of Queensland Institute for Learning Innovation Roy Ballantyne, Professor, Head of School Claudia Figueiredo, Research Associate, of Tourism, University of Queensland Institute for Learning Innovation

4 Pre-Conference Schedule

group may choose to eat together or you Wednesday, July 22 can have lunch on your own. Please bring a 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. bottle of water with you. Meet at the 4th Street Entrance of the Hyatt Regency. Pre-Conference Walking Tour of Downtown St. Louis FREE, pre-registration required 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. Explore St. Louis’ history and architecture! Welcome to St. Louis! See the world’s first true skyscraper, the FREE with full conference registration. Pre-registration is required. Evening includes site of the transfer of the Upper Louisiana dinner, entertainment, and transportation. Cash bar will be available. Purchase, the world-famous Eads Bridge, the location where the Lewis and Clark Come to the Saint Louis Science Center for a warm welcome to the city and to our 2009 Expedition ended, and other amazing sites VSA conference! Begin with appetizers and a cash bar in the main galleries where you can on a special walking tour conducted by take a spin on a Segway, watch a live science demonstration, and don a lab coat and National Park Service historian Bob Moore. goggles to conduct an experiment in the new, interactive Life Science Lab. A buffet dinner A scholar of both St. Louis history and will be served under the stars in the James S. McDonnell Planetarium. Begin to ponder the architecture, Dr. Moore will lead an conference theme during a star show featuring the vocal talents of local singer Charles exploration of historic buildings that are Glenn. Following the opening program, enjoy dessert and dancing to music provided by a currently standing and a discussion of the local DJ. Buses depart at 5:30 p.m. from the 4th Street Entrance of the Hyatt. location of past structures. The tour will Event hosted by the Saint Louis Science Center. Dinner co-sponsored by the Institute for end in historic Laclede’s Landing where Learning Innovation and Informal Learning Experiences. Transportation sponsored by there are a variety of lunch options. The the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Conference Schedule

Thursday, July 23 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Welcoming Remarks and Keynote Panel: “Perspectives on Measuring 3rd Annual Membership and New Value, Engagement, and Impact” Attendees Coffee Talk Grand Ballroom G & H Grand Ballroom G & H Sponsored by The Museum Group Sponsored by Julie I. Johnson This year’s opening keynote session VSA’s Membership Committee invites new features a moderated panel attendees, members, and prospective discussion of varying perspectives members for coffee and conversation! This on measuring value and impact in is an opportunity to meet other members, arts, humanities, and sciences. network with colleagues, see what VSA Drawing from a unique set of membership is all about, and share your backgrounds and many years of Maxwell L. Emily Beverly ideas about how VSA might better serve leadership experience, panelists Anderson Zimmern Sheppard your needs. Hope to see you there! Don’t will examine different frameworks miss this opportunity to see old and on metrics, discuss the practical realities of research and evaluation on impact new friends. within their organizations, and showcase the many varieties of public engagement that demonstrate their institution’s commitment to visitors. Panelists include: Maxwell L. Anderson, The Melvin & Bren Simon Director and CEO of the Indianapolis Museum of Art; Emily Zimmern, President and CEO, Levine Museum of the New South; and Beverly Sheppard, President of the Institute for Learning Innovation. Moderating the panel is Elee Wood, VSA 2009 conference program co-chair, and Public Scholar of Museums, Families and Learning, and Assistant Professor of Museum Studies and Education at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).

5 Conference Schedule (cont.)

Perceptions, Relevancy, and Art 11:00 – 11:20 a.m. Individual Papers Session C Museum Visitation Mills Studio 3 Coffee Break Theopisti Stylianou-Lambert Grand Ballroom A & B Seen AND Heard: Defining Impact of an Sponsored by Jeff Kennedy Associates, Inc. Exploring the complex relationship After-School Program between perceptions, issues of personal Kathleen Tinworth relevancy, and visitation decisions, this Though students, families, and schools are 11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. presentation introduces a conceptual model that emerged from in-depth target audiences, with programs and Marketplace of Ideas, Products, qualitative research. The model explains partnerships developed specifically for them, little is known about the impact and Services how different filters “color” the way we perceive art museums and influence our these efforts make. This presentation Grand Ballroom A & B visitation frequency and museum uses. chronicles one approach to addressing Co-sponsored by Science Museum of value, relevance, and impact of a museum- Minnesota and Columbus Area Visitor and Individual Papers Session B led after-school program, including how Audience Studies Community of Practice Mills Studio 1 evaluation results can guide future programming and decision-making. Poster Session Memories of Wildlife Tourism: From (Meet Poster Presenters 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.) Experience to Action Measuring the Impact of Free-Choice Co-sponsored by ERA and Roy Ballantyne, Jan Packer STEM Experiences on Girls TPT/Twin Cities Public Television This paper explores the process through Lynn D. Dierking, Dale McCreedy which wildlife tourism experiences can lead This paper describes Phase 1 of a four- 11:20 a.m. – 12:35 p.m. to long-term changes in conservation phased research study investigating behavior, and build community capacity for long-term impacts of free-choice science, Concurrent Sessions – One sustainable living. Responses from 240 technology, engineering, and mathematics Sponsored by Wells Resources participants revealed four aspects of the (STEM) experiences on girls. Phase 1 Individual Papers Session A experience that should be maintained and explored ways young women discuss Grand Ballroom F strengthened: Sensory Impressions; these early experiences to support the Emotional Affinity; Reflective Response; development of a web-based The Millennials Are Coming: and Behavioral Response. questionnaire for Investigation #2 Understanding the Next Generation designed to explore program impacts. of Art Museum Visitors Mapping Many Voices: Self-Organizing Amanda Krantz Maps as a Tool for Creating Dialogue Testing an Audience Development among Visitors and Stakeholders Model Art museums typically draw older adults. Mikko Myllykoski Joe E. Heimlich Yet, to remain relevant, art museums must consider the next generation of visitors: the “Dialogue in Silence” is a powerful This study was undertaken in order to Millennials, the generation born between exhibition where deaf guides invite hearing suggest strategies and tactics for building 1982 and now. This presentation begins to people to communicate non-verbally audience of a performing arts organization, demystify Millennials, investigating their through body language and sign language. moving toward behavioral outcomes. The visiting preferences and attitudes toward The exhibition was accompanied by a self- study examined the literature on audience art museums in addition to implications organizing map technology, which mapped behavior and audience development, for museums. visitors according to their attitudes towards conducted interviews and surveys, and deafness and sign language and gave them applied structural equation modeling to Family Learning in Interactive Galleries the chance for in-depth discussion. determine intention to act. in Art Museums Jessica Luke Promoting Label Readership: Panel Presentation: A Critical An Interactive Challenge Look at “Critical Appraisal” Focusing on current research investigating Cathy Hamaker the value of family-based, interactive Mills Studio 2 galleries in art museums, this presentation Interactivity is a staple of so many Stephen Bitgood, John Kelton, Renee Burt elements of our exhibits – but does describes a large-scale, 3-year study across Critical appraisal can be a cost-effective interactivity increase label readership? three art museums. The study was evaluation tool when in the hands of an A study of reading behavior in two designed to better understand who uses unbiased, knowledgeable professional. children’s museum exhibits indicates these galleries, in what ways, and how the While a number of museums have used that it can and does. experience impacts families. this method (e.g., Bitgood & Benefield, 1995; 1998), little has been written on its reliability and validity or on how to use it most effectively. This session describes the technique, gives examples of usage, and offers guidelines for use.

6 Interactive Session: How to Interactive Session: Dimensions Panel Discussion: Examining Measure Impact at Your of Public Engagement with Families at Touch Tanks: Institution: A Dialogue Science: Building Towards a Discussing Methods, Findings, Grand Ballroom G & H Framework for Evaluation and What Comes Next Jenny Heim, Theresa Esterlund, Grand Ballroom F Mills Studio 1 Pino Monaco, Amy Niedbalski, Staci Willis Ellen McCallie, Christine Reich James Kisiel, Shawn Rowe, Joe Heimlich, Are you currently in the throes of setting This talk builds on previous VSA conference Judy Koke, Steve Yalowitz up a system for measuring impact or sessions on Public Engagement with In this unique session, researchers will preparing to begin? In this facilitated Science (PES) by presenting the invite conversation regarding a project discussion, participants will: raise overarching consensus and findings of the aimed at understanding the activities and questions; hear focused case studies; CAISE PES Inquiry Group. Specifically, this impacts of aquarium touch tank exhibits. and begin to identify common challenges, presentation seeks to generate discussion Following presentation of methodology and effective solutions, and key components about a proposed conceptualization of PES preliminary findings, project leaders will in the iterative process of creating an in informal science education. engage a panel of advisors in questions institution-wide approach. and critique, providing a forum for visitor Individual Papers Session D research discussion. Mills Studio 3 12:35 – 2:00 p.m. Panel Discussion: Explorations in A Study with Museum Explainers and Collaboration: Geology, Informal Lunch on your own their Interactions with Visitors Preeti Gupta Learning, and Grand Canyon National Park 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. This presentation describes a study where Explainers in a science center take on the Mills Studio 2 Concurrent Sessions – Two role of co-researchers and participate in an Marcella Wells, Deborah Perry Co-sponsored by Tisdal Consulting and activity where they document and examine The Trail of Time is an interactactive Oberg Research their own interactions with visitors in order geology timeline trail located on the south Interactive Session: Discussing to improve practice. rim of the Grand Canyon. This presentation will discuss a 3-year collaboration among the NRC’s Consensus Study on The Past’s Presence: Visitors’ geologists, evaluators, designers, and Learning Science in Informal Experiences with Costumed Interpreters others to develop a world-class outdoor Environments Cheryl Kessler, Kathleen Tinworth, exhibition aimed at helping visitors Johanna Bromberg Grand Ballroom G & H develop a better understanding of geology Sue Allen, Kirsten Ellenbogen, Costumed interpretation takes place in and deep time. Michael Feder, Cecilia Garibay, many diverse settings, supplying a Laura Martin, Dale McCreedy framework for engaging in powerful and Earlier this year, the National Academy of unique ways in different types of museums. 3:00 – 3:30 p.m. Sciences published a report, Learning Three studies presented here provide Coffee Break Science in Informal Environments: People, insight and best practices from which Grand Ballroom A & B Places, and Pursuits, which summarized costumed interpretation creates relevancy Sponsored by RPH Communications, LLC the evidence for the learning of science in a and value to the visitor experience. broad array of informal environments. In Understanding Kenyan Learners this session, several of the authors through Jua Kali Visit Discourses 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. facilitate a discussion of some of the key David Anderson findings and implications. Marketplace of Ideas, Services This paper reports the outcomes of a study and Products (continues) on ways Kenyan High School students Grand Ballroom A & B come to know and understand the world Co-sponsored by Science Museum of through their cultural ways of knowing. The Minnesota and Columbus Area Visitor and research employed the experiential context Audience Studies Community of Practice of a visit to a local manufacturing sector – the Jua Kali – as a window into how Stop by the Marketplace and meet students learn within their traditional and conference sponsors and exhibitors. Find contemporary cultural worlds. out more about the resources that are available to help you better understand and serve visitors. While you’re visiting the Marketplace, stop by the VSA Table and learn how you can become more involved in VSA.

7 Conference Schedule (cont.)

3:00 – 4:30 p.m. cont. Deeper Understanding of Visitors Using Psychographics at Conservation Poster Session Focused Institutions Emily Meyer Grand Ballroom A & B Co-sponsored by ERA and New Directions: Enticing and Training TPT/Twin Cities Public Television the Next Generation Kris Morrissey, Nick Visscher Evaluating Docent Teaching Practices Sharisse Butler, Molly Kysar RFID: A New Tool for Visitor Studies 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. Jui-Chen Yu Come Play Like a Kid at The Magic House! $45 Measuring Learning Outcomes in Event hosted by The Magic House. Transportation sponsored by the National Science and Technology Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Museum,Taiwan. Connect with your inner child during a magical night at the Magic House - St. Louis’ Chi-Hsiang Wang Children’s Museum! Transform your silhouette into a kaleidoscope of color, climb a three- “Museum Fatigue”: It’s More Than story tall bean stalk, or visit the Oval Office. The Magic House, including its new addition, You Think! is yours to explore. Plus, everyone can take home a complimentary souvenir photo of your Stephen Bitgood, Renee Burt hair standing on end at the electrostatic generator. Bring your own musical instrument and participate in the first VSA sing-along and hootenanny, led by a local singer/songwriter. Learning from Virtual Objects: A Touch- Start working now on a visitor studies-themed song parody – you might win a prize in our screen Exploration of Maya Ceramics contest! Come ready to sing, explore, play, and create, plus enjoy favorite childhood foods Lynn Courtney, Paula Lynn (including ice cream sundaes!). Evaluative Inquiry and Team Exhibition Pre-registration is required. Evening includes dinner, entertainment, and transportation. Planning in Art Museums Cash bar will be available. Buses depart at 6:30 p.m. from the 4th Street Entrance of Ann Rowson Love the Hyatt.

Friday, July 24 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. Keynote Presentation: Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson President’s Address and VSA Grand Ballroom G & H Business Meeting Sponsored by University of Washington Museology Program Grand Ballroom G & H “Without a better grasp of how arts and cultural activity can and do shape communities, planners and policymakers cannot do Join fellow members and colleagues to their best work. With better data and analysis, we are making thank outgoing Board Members and strides in integrating arts and culture as a core topic alongside and within other areas of welcome incoming Board Members and concern like education, community development, and health. We have come a long way Officers. Attend the Association’s annual and there is much more to be done, but the assumptions that arts and culture are limited business meeting where you’ll hear the to downtowns, that the only impacts that matter are economic impacts, and that arts and latest VSA news, find out what’s in store for cultural activity are at the periphery of community life rather than at the core are fading the organization in the coming year, and as our grasp of how communities actually work and change comes into sharper relief.” vote on matters of importance to the Association. Maria Rosario Jackson, Progress in Arts and Culture Research: A Perspective, 2008.

Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson is a Senior Research Associate in the Metropolitan Housing and Communities Center at the Urban Institute and director of the Urban Institute’s Culture, Creativity and Communities Program. Her research focuses on urban policy, neighborhood revitalization and comprehensive community planning, the politics of race, ethnicity and gender in urban settings, and the role of arts and culture in communities. Her work has typically integrated both quantitative and qualitative research methods. She has provided technical assistance in planning and program implementation and consulted with a range of cultural organizations about their role in promoting civic engagement and community development.

8 Preparing for Evaluation: Using Logic Building Institutional Knowledge 10:00 – 10:30 a.m. Models in Program Planning at a New Across Evaluations Coffee Break Science Center Anna Lindgren-Streicher Grand Ballroom Foyer Heather Harkins Sponsored by Randi Korn & Associates For many evaluators, studies focus on This presentation will explore and examine evaluating the impact of one project. This the role of logic models in creating the presentation will use a series of studies 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. foundation for program evaluation. Existing focused on engaging visitors in engineering program logic models developed for a new as a case study that illustrates how a Concurrent Sessions – Three science center will be shared as well as the knowledge generation model was used to Sponsored by Chedd-Angier-Lewis evaluation plans developed as an build institutional knowledge, and share Productions outgrowth of the models. the techniques that were used. Roundtable Discussions What Did You Say? Facilitating Believing What We See: Use of Video in Grand Ballroom G & H Conversations in Planning and Museum Exhibits This year’s roundtable sessions will follow Evaluation Jennifer Borland, Saul Rockman three 30-minute rotations. During this time Bridget Basta This discussion explores factors related to participants will be invited to sit in on one Demonstrating relevance, public value, and the use of video in museum exhibits. It of the roundtable discussions and move as impact has become increasingly important includes a short summary of published they like to other presentations during each for developers. But how is this achieved findings as well as previously unpublished rotation or stay with the same roundtable. when there are different interpretations of findings from the presenters’ research and Effectively Evaluating the Various Forms what the project does and whom it serves? evaluation experiences. This presentation will explore techniques of Museum Theatre What Does a Museum Mean? A Sarah Cohn, Elee Wood for facilitating conversations throughout the development process to create Narrative Approach to Museum Impact Philipp Schorch Museum theatre is often used as an “shared language” in creating strong interpretive tool to emotionally involve programs/exhibits. This paper argues that the impact of visitors in exhibit content. Working with museums is best understood via the departments to expand theatrical goals Issues in Joint Evaluation: Bridging meanings visitors make and negotiate in from emotion to impact is a challenging Indigenous and Western Approaches the long-term. Applying the narrative task. This conversation focuses on framing Jill Stein methodology, with its inherent socio- studies that capture visitor experiences This discussion explores the process, cultural and individual layers of meaning, and communicating with departments to challenges, and potential benefits of will contribute to the fields of museology bridge emotion and impact. conducting a joint evaluation (with more and visitor studies. Do They Value Us? Attempting to than one external evaluator) to more effectively document multiple cultural Panel Discussion: The Roles of Measure Public Value Evaluation in Training Scientists Victor S. Yocco perspectives on learning and engagement. The author draws upon an NSF-funded in Public Communication This facilitated discussion focuses project, Cosmic Serpent, to discuss how on public value: specifically the who, Mills Studio 3 indigenous and western evaluation Elisa Israel, Staci Willis, Todd Gieske, what, when, where, why, and how of practices work together. measuring public value. Results will be Christine Roman, Bryan Wunar presented from a recent study conducted Rigorously Categorizing Museum Science museums are becoming by the Columbus Museum of Art attempting Offerings: Practical Applications for increasingly involved in training research to measure the museum’s value to Cluster Analysis scientists as public communicators. surrounding communities. Toni Dancu, Josh Gutwill A vital component of these programs is This presentation will provide an overview the inclusion of evaluation methodologies of cluster analysis, a statistical as training tools, improving understanding methodology for systematically of public audiences. Highlighting two categorizing museum offerings (e.g., NSF-funded science communication exhibits) into distinct types. Cluster programs, this session will explore how analysis will be presented in the context of evaluation techniques have strengthened an applied example, where Exploratorium such programs. researchers employed the methodology to enhance museum research and inform choices during exhibition development.

9 Conference Schedule (cont.)

Individual Papers Session E 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. Panel Discussion: Different than Mills Studio 1 Other Settings? Visitor Studies in 13th Annual April Award Connecting Pupils, Curriculum, and Art Museums Luncheon Informal Learning Environments Mills Studio 3 Grand Ballroom A & B Theano Moussouri Barbara Palley, Judy Koke, Juliette Fritsch, Lunch sponsored in part by Studiocode This presentation will examine how mobile Joe Heimlich (moderator) The 2009 April Award recipient is Paula and web technologies can be used to Is visitor studies in art museums Lynn, Education Research Associate connect pupils, curriculum and informal different than in non-art settings? at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. learning environments. It will present Through a series of case studies and VSA’s past Board president and outgoing results from a formative evaluation study large group discussion, this session will Chair of the Professional Development carried out at the National Maritime explore how the nature of learning in the Committee, Mary Ellen Munley, is this Museum in London, UK. arts and the history and culture of art year’s featured speaker. Ms. Munley will museums might provide opportunities The “Enhanced” Fieldtrip: Study of address the key issues in this year’s and challenges for visitor studies. Audience Values and Institutional conference theme: relevance, public Impact value, and impact. Ms. Munley has Individual Papers Session F Scott Burg, Meg Burke, Lorie Topinka more than 30 years of experience as a Grand Ballroom F Evaluation of the California Academy of museum educator, administrator, and Sciences Enhanced Museum Visits for audience research and evaluation Investigating Parent-Child Students program provides a unique specialist tackling these challenging Metacognition glimpse into the many critical educational, issues. She is also a distinguished Kirsten Ellenbogen, Sarah Cohn, logistical, and experiential elements that recipient of the American Association David Anderson, Greg Thomas define a museum’s value for the public at of Museums award for excellence in the This study investigates parents’ large. Learn how this evaluation helped to practice of museum education. metacognition and views of learning. The reshape Academy internal and external interview process was designed to prompt programs and processes. parents to be self-reflective about interactions with their children at a math Chinese Museum and School Reforms: 2:15 – 3:30 p.m. exhibit in a science museum. Understanding Perceptual Barriers to Concurrent Sessions – Four Bridge the Divide Sponsored by MUSEUM DESIGN Effectively Researching Early David Anderson Childhood Learning This paper reports the perceptions of key Interactive Session: Rethinking Alice Stevenson stakeholder groups (museum staff, Institutional Models: Cross- What can science museums say about the teachers, university science educators) Pollination of Museum and early childhood cognitive, developmental, around the idea of school-museum Community Engagement and social learning that is happening in our collaboration in the context of modern-day Practices spaces? The New York Hall of Science China where school field trip visits to Mills Studio 1 started a research project documenting museums are not a tradition or practice of Lisa Harper Chang, Matthias Waschek, early childhood learners and soon came the K-12 education system. Betul Ozmat, Leslie Scheuler upon the many challenges of evaluating this age group and type of visitor. Solutions, Panel Discussion: The Role of This interactive session featuring issues, and next steps will be discussed. Emotion in Free-Choice Learning presenters representing the museum Grand Ballroom F world, applied social sciences, and Interactive Session: What Does it John Falk, Katie L. Gillespie, evaluation, focuses on how to share best Mean? Strategies for Lisa-Anne Kelly, Amy Niedbalski practices from all of these worlds to Communicating Research effectively engage communities. Implications Although emotion is often cited as being important to the visitor experience, few Grand Ballroom G & H researchers have investigated the topic. Jessica Sickler, Preeti Gupta This session will provide an overview of In this interactive session, panelists will current emotion research from a variety of briefly present four examples of disciplines and will highlight three research dissemination efforts designed to help studies attempting to investigate the role practitioners translate the findings of of emotion in free-choice learning. research or evaluation into action, followed by discussions about needs, strategies, and practical considerations for ways to communicate the practical application of visitor studies.

10 3:30 – 3:45 p.m. Panel Discussion: Improving the Interactive Session: Creating and Coffee Break Field-Trip Experience: Designing Sustaining Programming for Social Service Families Grand Ballroom Foyer Exhibits, Coaching Students, Sponsored by Hilferty & Associates Engaging Teachers Mills Studio 2 Cheryl Kessler, Jeanmarie Walsh, Mills Studio 1 Erik Shurink, Janice O’Donnell Scott Ewing, Josh Gutwill, Jim Kisiel 3:45 – 4:45 p.m. Learn how two children’s museums have This session explores three strategies for Concurrent Sessions – Five partnered with social services agencies to improving museum field-trips that focus on Sponsored by AldrichPears Associates develop and implement programs and different grain sizes: (a) designing exhibits family-friendly environments for families in Interactive Session: Evaluating that support facilitation by museum staff, crisis situations. Session participants will (b) creating facilitated programs to engage Long-Term Youth Programs: It’s a discuss the role and type of research that students more deeply with exhibits, and (c) Whole Different Ballgame could enhance program effectiveness and working with teachers to help them make Grand Ballroom G & H inform the field. better use of museum offerings. Carey Tisdal, Beth Shea, Christine Klein, Panel Discussion: Making It Diane Miller Paper Session: Measuring the Obvious: Building an Experience Impact of a Science Center on its Long-term engagement in out-of-school around Data programs by youth with risk factors in their Community Mills Studio 3 lives has potential for positive impact. In Grand Ballroom F Rita Deedrick, Joe Heimlich, this discussion, evaluators and program John Falk directors will share lessons learned and Nadya Bennett This presentation includes over a decade’s identify challenging program evaluation The Experience Testing Station was created research on the impact of a science center issues. Then session attendees will join to make the science behind the science of on its community, including results of three discussions to develop solutions to the museum explicit. A fishbowl station major telephone surveys conducted one these issues. was designed for front-end and prototyping year before and one and ten years after to engage visitors as both data providers opening. The discussion will focus on the and observers. We will discuss perceptions implications of findings on current of visitors versus staff, types of studies understandings of institutional impact. conducted, and lessons learned.

Congratulations to recipients of the April Award and Student Scholarships

The April Award and Student Scholarship programs help 2009 Student Scholarships: bring new talent to the field of visitor studies and the Visitor Johanna Bromberg Craig, University of Virginia Studies Association. VSA is pleased to welcome the following recipients to their first Visitor Studies Conference: Philipp Schorch, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand 13th Annual April Award: The Student Scholarship program supports first-time Paula Lynn, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Meet Paula at the conference attendance for active students interested in the April Award Luncheon on Friday, July 24. field of visitor studies. The April Award was established by Dr. Marilyn (Molly) Hood to honor the memory of her longtime research assistant, April Lahm.

11 Conference Schedule (cont.)

4:45 – 6:00 p.m. 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Open House at The Old Courthouse A Grand Evening FREE to all conference attendees! of Art and Music Come to an open house especially for VSA conference attendees $30 at The Old Courthouse, part of the National Park Service’s Event hosted by The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. Explore this majestic Pulitzer Foundation structure that exemplifies some of the more tumultuous events in for the Arts and the the history of St. Louis and our nation. Tour exhibits that trace the Contemporary Art story of urban slavery in St. Louis and the several routes to Museum St. Louis. freedom for persons of color. Visit restored courtrooms, like those Dinner sponsored by The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts. in which Dred Scott sued for his freedom and where Virginia Join us for an evening of cultural arts and conversation in Grand Minor’s case for a woman’s right to vote came to trial in the 1870s. Center, where art and life intersect. Grand Center is home to For a more personal perspective on 19th century St. Louis, enjoy numerous arts and cultural organizations, all of which help color short plays in which historical characters relate their experiences and strengthen the social fabric of the city. The evening will of the Louisiana Purchase and the feature an opportunity to view the Pulitzer Foundation for the Civil War. Theater performers Arts’ current exhibition, Ideal (Dis-) Placements: Old Masters at appear courtesy of the Missouri the Pulitzer, as well as the galleries of the adjacent Contemporary History Museum’s Theatre in the Art Museum St. Louis. You will also be treated to a performance Museum program. The Old by the local jazz group, Jazz St. Louis. After dinner, explore other Courthouse is across the street Grand Center venues and learn how they use the arts to engage from the Hyatt; look for the green the neighborhood and the surrounding metropolitan area. dome! Buses will depart from The Old Court House at 5:45 pm, for Buses for this event will depart from the Old Courthouse those attending A Grand Evening at 5:45 p.m. Pre-registration is required. Evening includes dinner, of Art and Music. entertainment, and transportation. Cash bar will be available.

Saturday, July 25 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. Interactive Interview: A 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. Concurrent Sessions – Six Conversation with Alan Friedman Sponsored by THINC Design Grand Ballroom B Visitor Studies Editorial Board Interactive Session: Stephen Bitgood, Alan Friedman Meeting Understanding the Value of Public Steve Bitgood will lead a discussion with Mills Studio 1 Participation in Research Alan Friedman, one of the most important Grand Ballroom A leaders in the visitor studies movement Rick Bonney, Ellen McCallie and a past president of VSA. The 9:00 – 9:30 a.m. conversation includes Alan’s perspectives Coffee Break This session will describe an effort to on how museum directors and visitor Grand Ballroom Foyer develop a systematic and reproducible studies’ professionals can communicate Sponsored by Noldus Information method of assessing the impacts of more effectively, and the state of the visitor Technology projects that involve the public in research studies profession. using the NSF Evaluation Framework as a guide. After a presentation of case studies, audience members will try their hands at adapting a rubric for their own use.

12 Post-Conference Schedule

Panel Discussion: Update from the VSA Institutional Review Board Task Force Grand Ballroom F Carey Tisdal, Jessica Luke, Kevin Coffee In May 2007, the VSA Board charged a task force to respond to the requirements of some funders that the research and evaluation studies proposed as part of grants need review for ethical treatment of human subjects. This session summarizes task force efforts and provides a mechanism for member input. Panel Discussion: The Value of Applying Multiple Evaluations on the Same Project Grand Ballroom G Maritza Macdonald, Ellen Giusti, Karen Wizevich In 2008 the American Museum of Natural History opened the temporary exhibition 1:00 – 10:00 p.m. Water: H20 =Life. In support of this exhibit the museum conducted three different Post-Conference Trip to French Colonial History in Ste. Genevieve, types of evaluation – teachers and student, Missouri, $60 general exhibition visitors, and visitors to public programs. Panelists will discuss the Bus departs from 4th Street Entrance at 1:00 p.m. and returns at 10 p.m. value of conducting different types of Relax and unwind after the conference on this trip to an historic Missouri town and the evaluations on the same topic. nearby wine country. Situated on the Mississippi River an hour south of St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve is a picturesque town steeped in history. Settled by French-Canadian habitants in the late 1740s, the village of Ste. Genevieve invites visitors to enjoy the 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. charm of its narrow streets, shops, museums, and the largest concentration of French Colonial homes in the United States. On this specially arranged tour, you will visit the Closing Luncheon Bolduc House, which dates to 1793 and the Felix Vallé House, built in 1818. After the Park View Room tours, explore Ste. Genevieve’s historic district on your own or take a short walking Sponsored by Independent Exhibitions tour led by Jim Baker, Felix Vallé House Site Administrator. The trip concludes with wine tasting (including a souvenir glass!) and a delectable dinner at the nearby Join your colleagues for a fun final farewell Chaumette Winery. conversation. Old friends, new colleagues and you have the last word and set the Pre-registration is required. Trip includes admission to the Bolduc House and the stage for more dialogue across the ether. Felix Vallé House, wine tasting, dinner, and transportation. Additional wine available for purchase at dinner. Transportation sponsored by the Missouri Department of Free; pre-registration required. Natural Resources.

13 Thank You 2009 Conference Sponsors

The Visitor Studies Association 22nd Annual Conference is supported by businesses, organizations, and individuals committed to understanding and serving visitors in informal learning environments. Please support those whose work furthers VSA’s vision of a world where lifelong learning is embraced, and where learning in informal settings benefits individuals, communities, and society at large.

GATEWAY SPONSORS

LEWIS & CLARK SPONSORS

with support from the following members: Carol Bossert, Timothy Chester, Daryl Fischer, Alan Friedman, Mary Kay Ingenthron, Janet Kamien, Mary Ellen Munley, Judy Rand, Paul Richard

14 MISSISSIPPI SPONSORS

CONSULTANTS We argue so you don’t have to

MISSOURI SPONSORS LACLEDE’S LANDING SPONSORS

AldrichPears Associates Design + Communication, Inc. Garibay Group, Research & Evaluation Chedd-Angier-Lewis Productions Judith Larsen Columbus Area Visitor and Audience Maltbie Associates Studies Community of Practice Minotaur Mazes Dr. Chan Screven MUSEUM DESIGN Selinda Research Associates ERA Serrell & Associates Unified Field, Inc. Oberg Research Visitor Studies Services Science Museum of Minnesota White Oak Associates THINC Design FRIENDS OF VSA

Tisdal Consulting Available Light TPT/Twin Cities Public Television Christopher Chadbourne & Associates Ellen Giusti Wells Resources, Inc. Sue Sturtevant Linda Wilson

15 VSA Board of Directors and Committees Special thanks to the following volunteers whose time, energy, and dedicated service have enabled VSA to increase the scope and quality of its service to the field.

THE VSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2009 – 2011 ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

OFFICERS Incoming Vice President, Rita Deedrick President – Kirsten Ellenbogen, Science Museum of Minnesota Thanks to outgoing Vice President, Daryl Fischer President-Elect – Dale McCreedy, The Franklin Institute Vice President, Organizational Development – Rita Deedrick, COSI Columbus BOARD DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Vice President, Outreach Development – Chair, Cecilia Garibay Matt Sikora, Detroit Institute of Arts Incoming Vice Chair, Laura Huerta-Migus Vice President, Professional Development – Thanks to outgoing Vice Chair, Caren Oberg Beverly Serrell, Serrell & Associates Secretary – Carey Tisdal, Tisdal Consulting Members: Ellen Giusti, Julie Johnson, Janet Rassweiler, Treasurer – Julie I. Johnson, Science Museum of Minnesota Linda Wilson Immediate Past President – Kathleen McLean, The Board Development Committee is charged with ensuring Independent Exhibitions effective board governance of the Association. The committee is responsible for overseeing elections, monitoring and BOARD MEMBERS AT LARGE assessing board processes, structures and roles, and providing Rick Bonney, Cornell Lab of Ornithology board members with the tools and support needed to fulfill Dorothy Chen-Courtin, Marketing and Management their board duties. Specific responsibilities include: Associates for Non-Profits developing a slate that meets the strategic needs of the Cecilia Garibay, Garibay Group Research and Evaluation organization, planning on-going professional development for Karen Graham, Canadian Museum of Civilization new and existing board members, and recognizing board Leslie Hartog, Hartog Consulting Group members for their contributions. Joe Heimlich, OSUExtension @COSI, The Ohio State University Elisa Israel, Saint Louis Science Center Cheryl Kessler, Institute for Learning Innovation Karen Knutson, UPCLOSE, University of Pittsburgh RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Randi Korn, Randi Korn & Associates Chair, Robert “Mac” West Ellen McCallie, Carnegie Museum of Natural History Vice Chair, Caren Oberg Kris Morrissey, University of Washington Members: Conny Graft, Karen Graham, Jeff Kennedy Caren Oberg, Oberg Research Saul Rockman, Rockman, et al The Resource Development Committee organizes, coordinates, Jessica Sickler, Institute for Learning Innovation and otherwise facilitates all planning and implementation Robert “Mac” West, Informal Learning Experiences related to the financial stability and growth of the organization. It is responsible for managing conference sponsorships, board Special thanks to the following outgoing Board Members for giving and other forms of earned income, contributed income, their dedication and professional service on behalf of the and in-kind contributions to the organization. Visitor Studies Association. Nikki Andersen, Higgins Armory Museum David Anderson, University of British Columbia Daryl Fischer, Musynergy Alan Friedman, Museum Development and Science Communication D.D. Hilke Jeff Kennedy, Jeff Kennedy Associates, Inc. Judith Larsen, Cincinnati Museum Center Mary Ellen Munley, MEM & Associates Martin Storksdieck, Institute for Learning Innovation

16 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OUTREACH DEVELOPMENT

Incoming Vice President, Beverly Serrell Incoming Vice President, Matt Sikora Thanks to outgoing Vice President, Julie I. Johnson Thanks to outgoing Vice President, David Anderson

CONFERENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE Incoming Chair, Jessica Sickler Chair, Karen Knutson Thanks to outgoing Chair, Judith Larsen Vice Chair, Jim Kisiel 2009 Conference Team Members: Susan Foutz, Elisa Israel, Members: Chantal Barriault, Susan Foutz, Jenny Heim, Cheryl Kessler, Kelly Lidinsky, Caren Oberg, Kathleen Tinworth, Robert Jakubowski, Jessica Luke, Preethi Mony, Robert “Mac” West, Elee Wood, Randy Roberts Melissa Wadman, Steven Yalowitz The Conference Planning Committee oversees the conference The Publications Committee provides oversight for all site selection, program, and logistics for each annual VSA publications related to the mission of VSA. This includes conference and serves as VSA board liaison for those serving as the VSA liaison with Francis and Taylor (publishers functions. This committee is responsible for setting the of the association’s journal Visitor Studies), working with the strategy and logistics for future conference site selection. The editors and editorial board of the journal, and overseeing committee provides guidance to the Conference Team and facilitation of the VSA website. This committee is also Local Host Committee, both of which are convened annually to responsible for development of the Conference Abstracts design, recruit, and organize the conference program for the publication and is involved in researching and making following year. recommendations about other publication venues to further VSA’s mission.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Incoming Chair, Cheryl Kessler MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE Incoming Vice Chair, Kathleen Tinworth Incoming Chair, Leslie Hartog Thanks to outgoing Chair, Mary Ellen Munley Thanks to outgoing Chair, Matt Sikora Members: Rick Bonney, Rita Deedrick, Jen DeWitt, Members: Kerry Bronnenkant, Elizabeth Daigneault, Kelly Lidinsky, Tammy Messick, Kris Morrissey, Sofie Davis, Amy Grack-Nelson, D.D. Hilke, Angela Wenger, Victor Yocco Anna Lindgren-Streicher, Giuseppe “Pino” Monaco, Melissa Wadman, Elee Wood The Professional Development Committee is responsible for providing training and growth opportunities for VSA members The Membership Committee works collaboratively with other and other museum professionals. The Committee develops, VSA Committees and Task Forces to: gather input from the organizes, and facilitates all training opportunities and membership at regular intervals; maintain a current professional development for VSA including workshops for membership profile and track and project trends in that profile; VSA members and others interested in the discipline, visitor identify members’ needs for programs, services, and benefits; studies training for other organizations, certification identify potential members, crafting strategies to attract and recommendations, etc. This committee is responsible for serve them; develop and implement strategies to build and facilitating pre-conference and regional workshops. retain membership; work with VSA Association Manager regarding policies and procedures related to membership management and retention.

17 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.visitorstudies.org