We’re pleased to announce the 2018 call for candidates to be considered to serve on the Board of Directors of MCN. This year, MCN is looking to recruit four (4) Board members to replace those whose 3-year term will be ending in November.
From left to right starting with back row: Darren Milligan, Greg Albers, Keir Winesmith, Lori Byrd-McDevitt, Desi Gonzalez, Matt Tarr, Mitchell Sava, Bert Degenhart Drenth; front row: Samantha Diamond, Susan Edwards, Elizabeth Bollwerk, Laura Mann, Deborah Howes; Eric Longo in the center. Suse Anderson absent.
WHY SERVE ON THE MCN BOARD OF DIRECTORS?
MCN is a membership-based professional association that provides a space for museum professionals to connect, share resources and best practices, develop their careers, and advance digital transformation in museums.
Founded in 1967 by a group of early museum technologists eager to explore practical applications for computers in museums, MCN has provided a space for our community to connect, share their experiences and support each other, thereby leading the thinking around emerging technologies in museums. Much has changed in the past 50 years, but what sparked MCN to life then, remains unchanged today – this is a testament to its vibrancy and relevance as we continue to lead our museums into the future.
For many past and current Board members, serving on the board of MCN is a way to give back to an organization and a community that have helped them throughout their museum careers, but it also provides an enriching and valuable professional development experience. Serving on the Board gives you the opportunity to be part of a team of talented museum professionals who, together with MCN’s Executive Director and staff, shape the strategic direction of the organization and constantly think about new ways to better serve the needs of our community.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
The Board recently spent a weekend on retreat to develop MCN’s 3-year Strategic Plan (2019-2021). As a Board member you will be integral to achieving MCN’s strategic objectives and play an important role in the growth and evolution of the organization. At their first Board meeting in November in Denver, new Board members will actively participate in developing the next calendar year Work Plan, which is a series of smaller goals and tactical tasks that support the objectives of the 3-year Strategic Plan, and guides the work of the organization and the Board for the whole year.
For MCN to have a meaningful impact on its community, it is essential that the Board of Directors be composed of committed individuals who have the relevant skills and a wide range of perspectives to effectively lead the organization. The freshly developed 2019-2021 Strategic Plan (which we will share with the community this fall) will focus on:
- Ensuring that MCN grows in a sustainable fashion
- Expand opportunities for community members to actively contribute to MCN’s projects and programs
- Transform MCN’s online presence into a user-centered destination for all of your MCN needs
- Simplifying MCN’s various offerings as well as how we communicate their benefits to you
So we’re looking for leaders in our field to help MCN execute the current 3-year Strategic Plan (2019-2021), and to contribute their expertise to make MCN the “go-to” professional support and development organization for digital technology in museums.
While all members of the community with an interest in serving MCN are welcome to apply, this year we are particularly interested in candidates who bring specific expertise, or have a background and experience, in one or more of the following key areas:
- Sustainable practices and development expertise: as a community-centered organization, MCN’s sole purpose is to serve its members. Faced with limited resources and capacity, MCN needs to be mindful both strategically and operationally to how it can become self-sustainable. If you have expertise running programs or organizations that resulted in demonstrated sustainable outcomes, we want to hear from you. Skills or expertise in business development, strategic partnerships, sponsorship and fundraising are equally desirable.
- Community development: we’re seeking a board member who has empowered communities to act with more autonomy while effectively running unique support functions for the community. If you’ve led volunteer programs, fortified community-based practices, or inspired large groups to rally around projects, we’d like to hear from you.
- Systems infrastructure: if backend infrastructure, systems administration, architecture and integration are your claim to fame, let us know. We’re looking for someone with a strong IT systems background.
- Product development and communications strategy: the objective here is to align all of MCN’s present and future offerings on a model that emphasizes the benefits so that you clearly understand their value. We are seeking a board member with the skills and experience to help us strategically develop, implement and support a range of products or offerings. If you have prior experience in product development, as well as demonstrated skills in marketing and communication practices around messaging, we want to hear from you specifically.
WHAT’S EXPECTED OF MCN BOARD MEMBERS?
MCN’s Board of Directors is both a governance and a working board. This means that in addition to the fiduciary duties expected from Directors of a 503(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, the Board members of MCN are also expected to volunteer their time in doing hands-on project work. For most, this means taking an active role on one or more of our internal committees.
As a working board, MCN Directors are expected to dedicate about 8-12 hours per month working on MCN business, including attending a monthly conference-call board call as well as other committee meetings. Additionally, they are also expected to attend two (2) annual board meetings in person: one the week of MCN’s Annual Conference (typically in November), and another, generally in the spring, the week of the Museums and the Web conference wherever that location may be. Directors cannot be compensated and MCN does not pay Directors for travel or other related expenses.
Once appointed, MCN Directors serve a three-year term. For reference, MCN’s By-Laws are posted on our website; feel free to familiarize yourself with them.
The MCN Governance Guidelines list the key expectations from MCN Board members:
- 8-12 hours per month, depending upon activities
- Play an active leadership role in delivering on MCN’s overall business in general and on assigned strategic priorities specifically
- Attend and prepare for each Board meeting
- Be prepared and willing to lead the Board and/or a committee
- Join and participate actively in the activities of at least one committee
- Follow, participate and contribute to online Board discussions in a timely manner
- Make every reasonable effort to bring financial support to the Organization annually from external sources, e.g. identify and introduce sponsor prospects and secure sponsorships
- Leverage personal relationships with others (including corporations, professional service firms, vendors, foundations, and individuals) to assist the staff of the Organization with implementing fundraising strategies, including adding names of potential sources of support to the Organization’s mailing list
- Actively participate in the development of the annual conference
- Attend the annual conference
- Actively participate in MCN fundraising efforts
- Travel at their own cost (MCN doesn’t cover travel expenses for Board members) to attend two (2) annual board meetings in person: one the week of MCN’s Annual Conference (typically in November), and another, generally in the spring, the week of the Museums and the Web conference wherever that location may be
- Directors cannot be compensated and MCN does not pay Directors for travel or other related expenses
WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR
MCN encourages people from diverse backgrounds, institutions, and experiences to apply. MCN does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression and identity, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.
In addition, to ensure that a diverse range of institutions are represented on the Board, each individual institution may be represented by only one member of the Board at any given time. Candidates are encouraged to review the current Board members’ list below to check the institution that they are currently affiliated with.
WHAT’S THE NOMINATION AND APPOINTMENT PROCESS?
To be considered by the 2018 Nominating Committee, please fill out and submit the application form. If you believe someone you know would be a qualified candidate, please encourage them to apply. Applications are due Sunday July 31, 2018 at 11:59pm PT. We will let you know if we require additional information about your application.
WHAT’S NEXT?
MCN’s 2018 Nominating Committee will review all applications and propose a slate of candidates to the Board of Directors for discussion, followed by a vote on the individual appointment of each proposed candidate for Director. We anticipate notifying successful candidates by early September 2018 at the latest (it’s often sooner). The newly appointed Directors will also be announced on our website and shared with the MCN community on MCN-L.
WHAT IF I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?
If you have any additional questions, please contact Eric Longo, MCN’s Executive Director at [email protected].
We encourage all qualified candidates to apply or hope that you will refer someone you think would be a qualified candidate.
Thank you for being a part of MCN.
MCN 2018 Nominating Committee
- Suse Anderson, President
- Elizabeth Bollwerk, VP-President Elect
- Laura Mann, Director
- Mitchell Sava, Director
- Eric Longo, Executive Director
2018 MCN board members list
