Conference Draws 250+ to Tarrytown

Opening Keynoter, Nina Simon

This year's Upstate History Alliance/Museum Association of New York conference underwent a major redo that focused plenaries and sessions on conversations. The range of topics was not only timely, but meant to attract museum professionals, board members, volunteers and students from across the wide spectrum of the field. The goal was to be a fresh, issues-oriented, and dynamic gathering of colleagues.

Did we succeed?

One participant made it a point of seeking me out to tell me that she really enjoyed the conference more than other years. "The discussion format allowed for more issues to be raised that never would have gotten out on the table," she said. Indeed, it's hard to predict where a topic might go when left to a group to manage it, but that was part of the intent...and, hopefully, the joy one gets from discovering something new or different.

Judging from the high buzz among participants in many venues, it seems that we got close. As we continue to refine and practice the conversational method, we will no doubt get better.

So, let us know your impressions of Tarrytown 2009.