MISSION: The Southeastern Museums Conference is a networking organization that serves to foster professionalism, mutual support, and communication.  A non-profit membership association, SEMC strives to increase educational and professional development opportunities and improve the interchange of ideas, information, and cooperation.

VISION: The vision of SEMC is to be essential to its members and the broader museum community.

PRINCIPLES: In planning for the future, SEMC should:

1. Develop new initiatives within the larger context of the profession and not commit organization resources to unnecessary programs and activities. 
2. Be fiscally responsible in all its work. 
3. Be responsive to the needs of its various audiences (Annual Meeting participants, the larger membership, and the field) and how much they are willing to commit in terms of time and money. 
4. Encourage diversity and foster mutual respect and collegiality in all its programs and activities. 
5. Not rely solely on quantitative measures (e.g., number of participants or costs) in assessing an initiative but recognize that value or impact may be perceived and evaluated in different ways. 

GOALS: SEMC should look both outward at its relationship with its members and the larger profession and inward at its structure and resources.  The following goals are organized to address those two perspectives.

1. SEMC: ITS MEMBERS AND THE PROFESSION  
1. To strengthen membership, SEMC will:
1. Analyze its membership history to assess distribution of members by dues category, rate of growth, rate of retention, and return on promotions. 
2. Define who can be a member and review categories and dues levels. 
3. Develop initiatives to foster diversity. 
4. Review and expand member benefits and services, with particular attention to retaining current members. 
5. Develop and implement annual initiatives to recruit new members. 
6. Develop a business plan that will maximize return on investment.
2. To foster better communication within the membership and across the profession, SEMC will:
1. Coordinate with other groups and institutions within the museum community
2. Review format and frequency of Inside SEMC, SEMC/Jobs, and SEMC Membership Directory.
3. Explore electronic publications and services, including setting up a Web page and/or listserves and converting existing publications (such as the membership directory) to electronic form. 
4. Assess the possibility of other publications, electronic and print, addressing research and good practice. 
5. Expand public relations efforts.
3. To increase educational and professional development opportunities, SEMC will:
1. Develop vehicles for recognizing and supporting new members. 
2. Expand scholarship and mentorship programs at the Annual Meeting. 
3. Assess member needs in developing the Annual Meeting. 
4. Encourage member participation in standing professional committees and affinity groups and involvement of those groups in SEMC. 
5. Develop workshops, publications, and other on-site and distance learning opportunities, coordinating with other organizations and institutions. 
6. Explore the possibility of serving as a clearinghouse on museum studies and internship opportunities. 
2. SEMC: ITS STRUCTURE AND RESOURCES
1. To ensure effective governance, SEMC will:
1. Review and revise as appropriate the bylaws and committee structure. 
2. Develop appropriate policies and procedures addressing (but not limited to) organization and jurisdiction of committees, orientation and responsibilities of officers and board members, leadership development, diversity, editorial restrictions in and content of publications (print and electronic), investments and endowments, terms for establishing awards and scholarships, terms and selection criteria for individual awards and scholarships, and role of standing professional committees and affinity groups. 
3. Investigate liability insurance for officers and staff.
2. To develop and maintain an effective administrative support system, SEMC will:
1. Review overall operations of headquarters office, assessing budget, staffing, and location. 
2. Develop job descriptions and performance evaluation criteria for all staff. 
3. Review and provide appropriate compensation and benefits. 
4. Support staff professional development. 
5. Assess current office equipment (including hardware and software) and determine future needs.
3. To foster fiscal growth and stability, SEMC will:
1. Evaluate overall resource management and develop a business plan. 
2. Increase revenue from existing sources, evaluating the dues structure, Annual Meeting fees, advertising, list sales, and other sources both in terms of SEMC's revenue history and in comparison with other organizations. 
3. Develop new revenue sources. 
4. Develop an investment policy and plan.