Local Historian
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Volume 32 Issue 3 May/June 2016 THE Local Historian Mastering Effective Meetings Effective meetings take a lot of preparation, but can get a lot accomplished in a short amount of time. Photo courtesy of the Ohio History Connection. By: Kate Smith, Special Projects Coordinator, Dennison Railroad and it was clear that I was clueless Have a Clear Objective/Goal: Depot Museum, Dennison on how to run a quality meeting. Whether it’s a one-time meeting or a Early in my career I wanted to make Unfortunately, meetings sometimes routine staff meeting, every meeting sure I was on the right track. I asked get a bad rap because they can be needs a clear goal to get off to a great several people to brainstorm some unorganized, are poorly facilitated, start. ideas that would help guide me in or have attendees that are unfo- Be Respectful of Time: I’ve my new position. I scheduled a meet- cused, show up late, and are dis- had a glance at my boss’ schedule. It’s ing with an idea of what I wanted to tracted by their cell phones. I hope overwhelming how many meetings accomplish but was care free about this list gives you some tools to make she is expected to attend and then get the details. It was far from a ‘good’ your next meeting effective and some work done on top of it. People meeting. Attendees were late and leaves people wondering when they are busy. Make sure you are meeting conversation was unorganized. My can meet with you again! only when necessary and have a plan meeting was in no way “effective,” (continued on page 3) Building Your Agenda WHAT’S INSIDE: I gave a presentation on effective meetings several years ago. I interviewed ten professionals to get some stats for my talk. One of them said, “I think 2 President’s Message agendas are a must for meetings. In fact, I hate meetings that don’t have 3 Mastering Meetings (con't) one.” The other nine responses were similar. No matter how it looks, agen- das are a necessity for an effective meeting. Here are some quick tips for 4 Partnerships: developing a great agenda! Making Connections Send agendas out ahead of time. It not only serves as a reminder but helps 5 Save the History Fund everyone to prepare for the meeting. Don’t forget to schedule breaks. 6 Glass Plate Negatives You should also plan to stick around after the meeting for a few minutes. 7-9 Announcements If someone tries to pull the group on a tangent, you can suggest that they meet with you afterwards to chat. 10 Calendar I always try to end a few minutes early, if possible. 11 News from the Regions At the bottom of the agenda I like to list any upcoming meetings. Occa- sionally, if we need an extra boost of progress, I’ll even put how many days 12 New and Renewing until the event. Members (continued on page 1) The Local Historian ᅵ May/Juneᅵ 2016 1 a fulfilling activity, especially surrounded most cost and time effective way to utilize President’s by Ohio local historians. We share a pas- the resources at your disposal. Deliberate, Message: sion to protect and preserve history, so thoughtful strategic planning that involves a sitting around a table for two days produced group of people who have a common interest some interesting ideas for how to assist our can be invigorating, validating, and produce Early in April, the Ohio Local History Alli- members and provide more opportunities for some innovative approaches to problems and ance Board met at the Youngstown Museum education, advocacy, and communication. concerns. If your organization has not under- of Industry and Labor for two days to work You will be hearing more about the strategic taken forward-thinking and goal-oriented on a new strategic plan. Our previous strate- plan at the annual meeting in October. long-range planning recently, or ever, take gic plans have guided the organization as it the time to consider what it could do to help re-branded and reorganized. As you are planning programs, trying to preserve photographs of your community, your mission. Along with eating some great Youngstown and raising funds for a new roof for your pizza, spending time together in an inter- house museum, strategic planning may Beth Weinhardt esting location, and enjoying each other’s seem like something for bigger organizations President, Ohio Local History Alliance Local company, we did work. Brainstorming and and corporations. However, developing a History Coordinator, Westerville Public Library creating a plan to implement new ideas is (614) 259-5028, [email protected] strategic plan for your organization is the 2016 Board Members Ohio Local History Alliance President Immediate Past-President Region 4 Region 8 Beth Weinhardt, Local History Maggie Marconi, Museum Admin- Nancy Newton, Trustee Joel Kohler, Historian Coordinator istrator Canfield Historical Society, Canfield Mason Ohio Historical Society, Mason Westerville Public Library, Westerville Sandusky Library/ Follett House Museum (330) 533-3458 (513) 398-6750 (614) 259-5028 Sandusky [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] (419) 625-3834 www.canfieldhistory.org www.masonhistoricalsociety.org/ westervillelibrary.org/local-history [email protected] Melissa Karman, Director Jamie Glavic, Director of Marketing & www.sandusky.lib.oh.us/follett_house 1st Vice President The Sutliff Museum, Warren Communications National Underground Ex-Officio (Executive Secretary) (330) 395-6575 Railroad Freedom Center, Cincinnati Todd McCormick, Curator/Director [email protected] (513) 333-7500 Logan County Historical Society, Mark Sundlov, Manager www.sutliffmuseum.org [email protected] Bellefontaine Local History Services, www.freedomcenter.org (937) 593-7557 Ohio History Connection, Columbus Region 5 [email protected] (614) 297-2343 Kate Smith, Special Projects Coordinator Region 9 www.loganhistory.org [email protected] Dennison Railroad Depot Museum Margaret Parker, Trustee www.ohiohistory.org 2nd Vice President Dennison Meigs County Historical Society, Region 1 (740) 922-6776 Pomeroy Wendy Zucal, Executive Director [email protected] (740) 992-3810 Dennison Railroad Depot Museum, Gary Levitt, Director www.dennisondepot.org [email protected] Dennison Museum of Postal History, Delphos Christy Davis, Registrar meigschs.org (740) 922-6776 (419) 303-5482 Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton Jessica Cyders, Curator [email protected] [email protected] (330) 588-3616 Athens County Historical Society, dennisondepot.org www.postalhistorymuseum.org [email protected] Athens Secretary Holly Hartlerode, Curator www.ProFootballHOF.com (740) 592-2280 Wood County Historical Center, Bowl- [email protected] Ruth Brindle, Curator ing Green Region 6 athenshistory.org Quaker Heritage Center (419) 352-0967 Leslie Blankenship, Trustee Wilmington College, Wilmington [email protected] Franklinton Historical Society, Region 10 (937) 481-2456 www.woodcountyhistory.org Columbus Jim Geyer, Director for Museums [email protected] (614) 527-1957 Pioneer & Historical Society of Musk- www2.wilmington.edu/qhc Region 2 [email protected] ingum County, Zanesville Treasurer Gale Martin, Executive Director franklintonhistoricalsociety.org (740) 454-9500 Marion County Historical Society, Marion [email protected] Kathleen Fernandez, Historian and Andrea Brookover, (740) 387-4255 www.muskingumhistory.org Museum Consultant, North Canton Executive Director [email protected] Fairfield Heritage Association, Lan- Judy Robinson, Trustee Trustees-At-Large www.marionhistory.com caster Noble County Historical Society Leann Rich, Manager of Education & Jessica Maiberger, Local History (740) 654-9923 Caldwell External Relations Librarian [email protected] (740) 732-2654 Mahoning Valley Historical Society, Milan-Berlin Library District, Milan www.fairfieldheritage.org [email protected] (419) 499-4117 http://www.rootsweb.ancestry. Youngstown Region 7 (330) 743-2589 [email protected] com/~ohnoble/histsoc.htm [email protected] www.milan-berlin.lib.oh.us Chris Burton, Executive Director www.mahoninghistory.org Armstrong Air & Space Museum Region 3 Wapakoneta Jim Oda, Director Rebecca Larson-Troyer, Librarian (419) 738-8811 Piqua Public Library, Piqua Special Collections Division [email protected] (937) 773-6753 Akron-Summit County Public Library, www.armstrongmuseum.org [email protected] Akron www.youseemore.com/piqua Kasey Eichensehr, Curator (330) 643-9030 Clark County Historical Society Pat Smith, Director [email protected] Springfield Allen County Museum & Historical sc.akronlibrary.org (937) 324-0657 Society, Lima Timothy Daley, Executive Director [email protected] (419) 222-9426 Cuyahoga County Soldiers’ and Sailor’s www.heritagecenter.us/ [email protected] Monument, Cleveland http://www.allencountymuseum.org (216) 621-3746 [email protected] www.soldiersandsailors.com The Local Historian ᅵ May/Juneᅵ 2016 2 Mastering Effective Meetings (Continued from page 1) to accomplish as much as possible. because it’s ideal for meetings where difficult people during meetings and Start on time. End on time. Stay on you want to encourage network- you can never stop getting better at it. track. Be sure to inform attendees of ing or brainstorming. It promotes a Try to anticipate any problems that exactly what they should expect at the social atmosphere and conversations. may arise and have a plan for how to meeting, as well as the time commit- Frankly, if your meeting reminder handle them. Stay calm when an out- ment involved. All will be happier at indicates there will be donuts or pizza, burst or an obvious physical display is the end of the meeting when some- I just might show up! Some steer clear causing problems at your meeting. Be thing has been accomplished in a of snacks. They feel it’s a distraction, prepared to change the subject, meet short amount of time. an expense and leads to more needed with someone individually, or address breaks. Decide which works best for the problem right then and there. Good Timing is Key: You your meeting.