Welcome from the NMAM President
Our 2010 Annual Conference will surely
be a “wild” affair in a city once known
as the “wildest of the wild, wild west.”
In its heyday Las Vegas lured a variety
of interesting characters including Doc
Holliday, Big-Nose Kate, Jesse James,
Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp, and some of
my favorites: Rattlesnake Sam, Cock-
Eyed Frank, and Web-Fingered Billy.
Today, Las Vegas is celebrated for its
cultural charm, exquisite architectural
heritage, and unique academic
institutions such as the Armand
Hammer United World College of
the American West and New Mexico
Highlands University.
Plan now to attend NMAM’s Annual
Conference, 21st Century Museums
in the Wildest of the Wild West,
scheduled for November 3-5, 2010.
Join us on Wednesday with a preconference
oral history and legacies
workshop presented by Rose Diaz,
followed by registration and a
welcoming reception at the Plaza
Hotel. Known as the “The Belle of
the Southwest” when it was built in
1882, our host hotel—the Plaza—is
a beautifully appointed building that
presides over the town’s historic
plaza. Listed on the National Register
of Historic Places, the rooms and
amenities reflect period opulence.
Make your reservations early to
guarantee your stay at this one-of-akind
hotel.
We are very excited that Nina Simon,
California-based author of The
Participatory Museum and innovator
of the blog Museum 2.0, will join us
as our keynote speaker. Eric Siegel,
Director and Chief Content Officer of
the New York Hall of Science states,
“The Participatory Museum has the
resonance of a manifesto and the
potential to make a transformative
impact on museum practice and
visitors’ experience in museums in the
coming decades.” Nina’s innovative and
practical ideas for engaging audiences
through participatory change, coupled
with her enthusiasm for technology
and the social networks, will certainly
animate our conference theme.
Sessions and round table discussions
abound and cover a range of
topics from oral history projects
and community collaborations
to interactive media for tribal
communities. For the fourth year,
New Mexico Highlands University
Media Arts students will host what
continues to be a fascinating showcase
for interactive exhibit technology. As
a rare treat, we’ll dine at the Masonic
Temple (1894-95) on gourmet fare
reminiscent of that era while enjoying
opera and short plays that showcase
chapters in the history of Las Vegas.
Our final evening in this unique city
includes an art walk in the cultural
district and a Saloon Salon for
networking and discussion. Las Vegas
is a great site for what will be a fun and
enlightening annual meeting. Don’t
waste a minute—register and make
your hotel reservations today. See you
in November for a great meeting.
Laurie Rufe
NMAM President
Annual Meeting
Laurie Rufe, NMAM President
