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Texas Association of Museums
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Fort Worth, TX 76102

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Email: admin@texasmuseums.org

Home > About TAM > Mission

Mission Statement

TAM strengthens our museum community.

Vision Statement

TAM serves our museum community by nurturing and training museum leaders, developing and celebrating the field, and voicing the public worth of museums.

Strategic Framework

Texas Association of Museums Strategic Framework 2013
Mission Statement: TAM strengthens our museum community.

Vision Statement:
TAM serves our museum community by nurturing and training museum leaders, developing and celebrating the field, and voicing the public worth of museums.

Strategic Framework for TAM:

1) Secure our Organizational Capacity
a. Develop and maintain staff leadership
- follow best practice in human resource management
- continue to use resource people in contract roles as appropriate
- review succession plan periodically

b. Develop and maintain Council leadership
- identify and nurture potential future leaders
- write current job descriptions for Council positions
- create board training for Council

c. Build TAM’s financial base
- improve Council’s fundraising and budgeting literacy
- write and initiate a board-driven development plan
- accomplish 100% Council giving beyond membership dues
- find new way to state TAM’s public value to increase appeal to funders

d. Update board governance practices and policies
- convene committee to review founding documents and recommend updates as needed
- convene committee to assure adequate coverage by current policies
- revisit Council election process to find ways to increase participation in Council elections

2) Nurture and train museum leaders
a. Foster community, collaboration, networking among museum staff and volunteers
- strengthen Annual Meeting
- support Affinity Groups
- facilitate informal networking through regional workshops

b. Initiate and deliver training for trustees
- create informational training tool that museum directors can use with their boards of directors/trustees
- develop an annual event that provides in-person board training

c. Supply fresh online content and forum for exchange
- continue to seek funding for website update
- maximize use of Facebook and other social media
- initiate periodic online chats with members

e. Incite pioneering museum practices
- establish a mechanism for recognizing and celebrating innovative practice

f. Expand participation to be both deeper and broader
- review membership structure and benefits
- initiate a membership drive
- understand and analyze retention challenges

g. Explore interest in and need for a TAM assessment program
- form committee composed of Council representatives and general TAM members to investigate the potential interest in and need for a Texas-specific assessment program
- determine how best to format and operate an assessment program

3) Voice the public worth of museums
a. Communicate changes in strategic environment
- increase substance of monthly newsletter
- take advantage of opportunities to learn from strategic leaders in diverse fields
- foster an opportunistic culture

b. Represent our museums within the field on the state, regional, and national levels
- maintain and increase credibility of Texas museums within the field on the state, regional, and national levels

c. Clarify, train, and build confidence for improved advocacy among our members
- develop a curriculum to empower TAM members to advocate effectively for themselves
- devise implementation plan for this advocacy curriculum

4) Develop and celebrate the field
a. Partner with affiliated organizations
- collaborate with NASMA to strengthen all state museum associations
- work with like-minded entities for mutual benefit
b. Inspire resource sharing
- set an example for collaboration
- work through Affinity Groups to identify resource sharing opportunities

c. Enable museum professionals to reflect and recharge
- provide members with opportunities for time away
- create situations that encourage reflection and inspiration
- develop opportunities to enjoy camaraderie with colleagues

# # #
Approved by TAM Council 12-7-2012
Member response invited at TAM Business Meeting, Friday, April 5, 2013, 11:30 a.m.

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