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The Southeastern Museums Conference remains a leading regional museum professional association. Although the economy has taken its toll, SEMC anxiously anticipates a return to the level of prominence and excellence of the last decade. Unfortunately, SEMC has recently experienced difficult fiscal challenges and staff changes. As a result, the Executive Committee and Board of Directors voted to unfund the position of full-time Executive Director as of June 5, 2009. Therefore, Richard Waterhouse is leaving the organization after many years of service. We thank him for his dedication and wish him much success in the future. We are pleased to announce that Past President Graig D. Shaak, Associate Director Emeritus of the Florida Museum of Natural History, will assume the part-time position of Interim Executive Director. Graig has agreed to serve until SEMC is able to conduct a search for and fund a full-time Executive Director. We project that this will take place in early 2010. The Florida Museum of Natural History will be the host institution for SEMC until a new Executive Director is named. The FLMNH has pledged full support and will provide many of the routine support services. Graig may be reached at gdshaak@flmnh.ufl.edu.

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SEMC fosters professionalism, mutual support, and communication among its members and the larger museum community. A nonprofit membership organization, SEMC strives to increase educational and professional development opportunities, improve the interchange of ideas and information, and encourage respect and collegiality.

 SEMC programs and services include:

• An annual meeting held one of the first three week/weekends in October (Tuesday through Saturday).
• Jekyll Island Management Institute
• Professional Development
• Quarterly newsletter