Little Rock and the museum community welcome you to Little Rock for the SEMC 2007 Annual Meeting October 2-6, 2007.

The annual meeting theme is Making Your Museum Matter. In today’s economic and political climate, it is difficult to position your museum in a way that changes our society both internally and externally. The program committee is seeking proposals that show museums making a difference in their community through their innovative programming.

2007 ANNUAL MEETING IN LITTLE ROCK VERY SUCCESSFUL

With the new Clinton Presidential Center & Park and many renovated spaces of other museums, participants were able to gain insight into what makes Little Rock such a successful southern city.

The attendees enjoyed the Peabody Little Rock and the Statehouse Convention Center and commented on the comfy beds and free internet access. An added bonus for attendees was the location of the host hotel within walking distance of the convention center.

They were extremely appreciative of the sessions’ and workshops’ moderators and presenters and commented very favorably on what they learned at the programs. They enjoyed the wide range of offerings and suggested that many sessions and workshops be offered again. Please thank Karen Utz and Cherry Johnson, SEMC 2007 program committee co-coordinators and the entire program committee for a job well done.

The technology presentation and general session on Friday morning was well received by the attendees and over 150 attended. Because of the success for the past two years, the SEMC 2008 Program Committee will be looking at a similar format for next year.

The evening events were excellent under the leadership of the Local Arrangements Committee Coordinators Steve Rucker, Director, Arkansas National Guard Museum and Stephan McAteer, Director, Tuesday evening’s event evening’s event included the Arkansas Arts Center and the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History; Wednesday evening’s event included Clinton Presidential Center & Park, and the Museum of Discovery; and Thursday evening event included the Old State House Museum and the Historic Arkansas Museum. Thanks to all those institution that showed attendees a great time with great food and great entertainment.

Affinity Groups and Standing Professional Committees breakfasts, luncheons and receptions were very popular this year. The SERA Respite Reception was co-sponsored by Willis and Transport Consultants International.

The Directors’ Luncheon was well attended with over 40 directors throughout the southeast. The format was a bit different this year without a formal speaker so that directors could discuss issues important to them. For the 19th year, the luncheon was sponsored by Henderson Philips Fine Arts. An added bonus this year was a Directors’ track which included a session entitled Stronger Boards Make Stronger Museums moderated by Bill Eiland, Director of the Georgia Museum of Art

The tote bags were again sponsored by Sparks Exhibits & Environments and the wonderful SEMC Ducks that attendees took home with them were sponsored Creation Station, LLC. We are hoping for a wonderful stuffed figure for next year – stay tuned.

The Annual Business Meeting/Awards Luncheon offered on Wednesday afternoon had one of the largest attendances ever and was sponsored by Fairhaven Software. The agenda actually finished on time so attendees could have their dessert in the Resource Expo and get a sneak peak of all the excellent corporate firms. Without their support, SEMC could not offer such a reasonable registration fee which includes all the event events.

To entice attendees, several resource expo breaks were held including: Wednesday afternoon Dessert Reception contributing sponsor Smith Kramer; Wednesday afternoon contributing sponsor Alexander Haas Martin & Partners; Wednesday afternoon Resource Expo Grand Opening contributing sponsor 1220 Exhibits; Thursday morning Resource Expo Morning Break contributing sponsor Southern Arts Federation; Thursday afternoon Resource Expo Closing Reception contributing sponsor Studio Displays, Inc.

Now that attendees have returned to work and home routines and SEMC 2007 seems but a memory, attendees will remember all the friends met, the evening events attended and new knowledge obtained from many sessions and workshops.