The JIMI Jabberwocky 2018

JABBERWOCKY newsletter of semc’s jekyll island management institute jimi | 2018

JIMI GRADUATES 2018 — 2

JIMI 2018 Class first row, l-r: Raychel Cesaro, Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida, Inc., Maitland, FL; Corinne Midgett (NCMC Scholarship), High Point Museum, High Point, NC; Melissa Jolley, SRS Cold War Preservation Program, Aiken, SC; Christina Carr, CIA Museum, Langley, VA; Beth Thompson (Lancaster Scholarship), Cookeville Depot & History Museum, Cookeville, TN; Iris Leigh Barnes (John Kinard Scholarship), Lillie Carroll Jackson Civil Rights Museum, Havre de Grace, MD; Abbie Edens, The Columbus Museum, Columbus, GA; Tiffany Charles, The National WWII Museum, New Orleans, LA. second row, l-r: Hillary Nina Winburn (SCFM Scholarship), Horry County Museum, Conway, SC; Kevin Edmiston (Col. Buddy Sturgis Memorial Scholarship), Atlanta History Center, Atlanta, GA; Samantha Bynum (Arkansas Museums Association Scholarship), Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources, Smackover, AR; Austin J. Bell (Peter S. LaPaglia Scholarship), Marco Island Historical Society, Marco Island, FL; Megan Griffin Raby (Gaylord Archival Scholarship), City of Raleigh Museum, Raleigh, NC; Jolie Johnson, Hilliard University Art Museum, Lafayette, LA; Samuel W. Black (John Kinard Scholarship), Senator John Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh, PA; Elise Solomon, New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA; Heather Sellers (Alabama Museums Association Scholarship), Cook Museum of Natural Science, Decatur, AL; John Thomas Fields (Alabama Museums Association Scholarship), UAB’s Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts, Birmingham, AL; Joshua Ingersoll, Mordecai Historic Park, Raleigh, NC; Stefanie Green, Kennesaw State University, Museums, Archives & Rare Books, Kennesaw, GA.

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CONGRATULATIONS to the JIMI Class of 2018, consisting of participants from Alabama (2), Arkansas (1), Florida (2), Georgia (3), Louisiana (3), Maryland (1), North Carolina (3), Pennsylvania (1), South Carolina (2), Tennessee (1), Virginia (1).

This year is the second of the three-year partnership with the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Association of African-American Museums, and SEMC to sponsor two scholarships and travel stipends for AAAM members. The two John Kinard scholarship awardees were Iris Leigh Barnes, Curator, Lillie Carroll Jackson Civil Rights Museum, Havre de Grace, Maryland, and Samuel W. Black, Director of African American Programs, Senator John Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Scholarships and/or travel stipends were provided by the state associations of Arkansas (Samantha Bynum, Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources, Smackover), North Carolina (Corinne Midgett, High Point Museum, High Point), and South Carolina (Hillary Nina Winburn, Horry County Museum). The Alabama Museums Association awarded a tuition scholarship this year for the first time. The scholarship was split between John Thomas Fields, UAB’s Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts, Birmingham, and Heather Sellers, Cook Museum of Natural Science, Decatur.

The Peter S. LaPaglia JIMI Scholarship was awarded to Austin J. Bell, Marco Island Historical Society, Marco Island, Florida.

Gaylord Archival provided one scholarship which was awarded to Megan Griffin Raby, City of Raleigh Museum,

Raleigh, NC. John and Cynthia Lancaster provided a full scholarship to Beth Thompson, Cookeville Depot and History Museum, Cookeville, TN. JIMI alumni lost a popular member this past year, Col. Ewell G. “Buddy” Sturgis, Jr. (JIMI Class of 2010), Director, South Carolina Military Museum, Columbia, SC. Buddy was an irrepressible character who not only oversaw the creation, construction, and opening of the South Carolina Military Museum, he was a strong supporter of JIMI and SEMC. To honor his memory, the museum established a JIMI scholarship in his name at the instigation of current director, Steven C. Jeffcoat (JIMI Class of 2013). The first awardee was Kevin Edmiston, Atlanta History Center, Atlanta, GA. Major sponsors are the Jekyll Island Museum and Historic Properties, LaPaglia Companies, Durham, NC, North Carolina State Historic Sites, Raleigh, NC, and the Southeastern Museums Conference, Atlanta, GA.

This year was very challenging as faculty member George Bassi, Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, spent 48 hours in airports and airplanes because of ice and snow, only to spend 6 hours on the ground before returning home. He was able to truncate his sessions on board management and strategic planning. Bob Hopkins, was down for the count with flu, so Jim Gardner (Washington, DC) and Martha Battle Jackson pitched in for his exhibits session.

An activity that has proved to be very popular is drawing for t-shirts, hats, mugs, tote bags, and other assorted “bling” provided by JIMI alumni. Donations this year were provided by:

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Holly Akkerman (JIMI Class of 2017) Telfair Museums Savannah, GA

Ashley Mann (JIMI Class of 2016) Minnetrista Muncie, IN

Laura Anderson (JIMI Class of 2005) Alabama Humanities Foundation Birmingham, AL

Marion Missy McGee (JIMI Faculty) Office of Strategic Partnerships National Museum of African American History & Culture Smithsonian Institution Washington, DC

Kendall Chew (JIMI Class of 2016) Birmingham Holocaust Education Center Birmingham, AL Meg Cook (JIMI Class of 2017) Mississippi Dept. of Archives and History Jackson, MS Schelly Corry (JIMI Class of 2015) Cook’s Natural History Museum Decatur, AL CPT Sean Daily (JIMI Class of 2015) SGT Gary C. Spencer (JIMI Class of 2016) North Carolina National Guard Museum & Learning Center of Excellence JFHQ-NC Raleigh, NC Matthew J. Edwards (JIMI Class of 2013) Mount Airy Museum of Regional History Mount Airy, NC Ken Gaddy (JIMI Class of 2003) Paul W. Bryant Museum Tuscaloosa, AL Kathie Thurman (JIMI Class of 2016) Tuscaloosa Museum of Art Tuscaloosa, AL Kari Barley (JIMI Class of 2016) Pioneer Museum of Alabama Troy, AL

Carla Thomas McGinnis (JIMI Class of 2017) Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture Washington, DC Anne Rich (JIMI Class of 2004) Callahan Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind, Louisville, KY Tania Said Schuler (JIMI Class of 2004) David Owsley Museum of Art Ball State University Muncie, IN Katherine Steiner (JIMI Class of 2017) Chief Registrar, Mint Museum 500 South Tryon Street Charlotte, NC Vanessa Thaxton-Ward (JIMI Class of 2017) Hampton University Museum Hampton, VA We opened the awards banquet to all JIMI alumni, and four people paid to attend and support the new graduates — Dr. Deborah Mack, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (JIMI Class of 2011), Keith Post, CEO of Satilla Computer Solutions (JIMI Class of 2013), and Ellen Strojan (JIMI Class of 2011). Clint Joiner, Museum Manager, represented the Jekyll Island Museum. In addition, longtime Jekyll Island Museum Director John Hunter was able to join in the

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festivities. Darcie MacMahon, SEMC President, and Susan Perry, SEMC Executive Director, gave a warm congratulatory speech to the class and reminded them of upcoming SEMC activities. Susan then joined JIMI Administrator, Martha Battle Jackson, and JIMI Facilitator, John Lancaster in handing out awards, JIMI pins, and certificates.

Afterwards, the newly minted JIMI alumni regrouped at the hotel hot tub to enjoy adult beverages and snacks and jump into the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean to keep the JIMI Polar Bear Club alive!

Satilla Computer Solutions PO Box 5669 St. Marys, GA 31558 t: 912.467.4794 e: keithfpost@tds.net Keith F. Post, CEO (Jimi Class of 2013)

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Come on Home to Jekyll Island:

JIMI HOMECOMING 2019

The JIMI Committee is pleased to announce the Seventh Annual JIMI Homecoming for JIMI alumni.

The awards banquet for the JIMI Class of 2019 is a chance to meet and congratulate the new JIMI class and to mingle with fellow alumni.

The awards banquet in the historic Jekyll Island Clubhouse takes place on Tuesday, January 29, 2019.

The cost of the dinner is $65.

There will be a bartender, and all alumni are responsible for their own tab and tips.

If you wish to attend, please contact Martha Battle Jackson before Friday, January 11, 2019: martha.jackson@ncdcr.gov or 919.733.7862, ext. 236.

Space is limited, so reservations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis.

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Jimikins in JACKSON 2018 at the SEMC annual meeting’s JIMI Luncheon.

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FROM MARTHA Hey, gang! We’re just back from a wonderful SEMC conference in Jackson, MS. It was terrific seeing so many JIMI alumni and so many in SEMC leadership roles! In fact, Heather Marie Wells (JIMI 2010) was elected to SEMC VicePresident! She and other council members are working to make sure that JIMI continues successfully after I step down as Administrator, so John and I have been providing info on JIMI operations. One of the first steps was to reduce class size. In years past, we had limited the class to 16-18 but had gradually added more to keep from raising tuition. We had been dividing any excess funds between the SEMC Central Office and the LaPaglia scholarship fund, but this year, council voted to allow all of the funds to be rolled over into JIMI 2019. This will allow us to have a class of 16 and eliminate the crowded conditions.

The committee will begin fundraising in earnest next year to keep class sizes at 16 and to keep tuition costs from rising.

While in the JIMI luncheon, we decided to pass the hat to raise additional funds. Generous donors contributed $575! We are planning to use the funds to provide a JIMI Alumni Scholarship. If you would like to donate, please go to the SEMC website and fill in the blanks. Be sure to click on “Jekyll Island Management Institute”

in the purpose field: https://www.semcdirect. net/Donate.

If we can raise enough for two scholarships, then we can also set up a JIMI Alumni Memorial Scholarship to honor those who have die; please see the list on page XX of the newsletter.

Any remaining funds can be used for JIMI 2019 operations.

JIMI 20th anniversary will be celebrated in 2020, and Melissa Parris (2016), Muscarelle Museum of Art, Williamsburg, VA is heading up a committee that includes Jolie Johnson (2018), Hilliard University Art Museum, Lafayette, LA; Keith F. Post (2013), St. Marys Submarine Museum, St. Marys, GA; Gloria Sanders (2017), Calico Rock Museum, Calico Rock, AR; and Debbie Shaw (2013), Tennessee Association of Museums, Nashville, TN. Stay tuned for a survey!

Also, Heather Marie Wells and Jolie Johnson will be sprucing up the JIMI Alumni Facebook page, so be sure to check on their progress! We want to make JIMI alumni more visible!

If you know the whereabouts of missing alumni (there is a list toward the back of this newsletter), please let me know.

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Dietrah Taylor passes the hat at the JIMI Luncheon, Jackson, 2018.

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JIMI 2020

THE TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY A fundraiser is underway to sponsor a JIMI Alumni Scholarship and a JIMI Memorial Scholarship for JIMI 2019. We passed a literal hat at the JIMI Luncheon, at the 2018 SEMC Annual Meeting, in Jackson, Mississippi, raising $575! A good start! The hat remains extended, and you can make a donation by following this link the SEMC website or by mailing a check to SEMC, PO Box 550746, Atlanta, GA 30355-3246.

We’re grateful to the following alumni and museum professionals for leading the JIMI 2020 committee:

Jolie Johnson (2018) Marketing and Membership Manager Hilliard University Art Museum Lafayette, LA

Gloria Sanders (2017) Executive Director Calico Rock Museum Calico Rock, AR

Rose Marie Kimbell (Local Arrangements/Advisor) Archives & Records Manager The Jekyll Island Museum Jekyll Island, GA

Debbie Shaw (2013) State Coordinator Tennessee Association of Museums Nashville, TN

Keith Forrest Post (2013) Executive Director St. Marys Submarine Museum St. Marys, GA

Scott Warren (2011) Historic Site Manager II President James K. Polk State Historic Site Pineville, NC

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JIMI

Alumni News

Holly Akkerman (2017), formerly Creative Director at Telfair Museums, writes to us about a career change: “Dear Jimi-kins! There is not a day I think about our wonderful week of learning and fun together. I can’t believe it has already been almost a year and a half! I miss everyone and hope your summer isn’t too hot and that things are going great! I have some fun news to share: I have accepted a new position with the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago as a Senior Graphic Designer. I will be working with a team of designers and a slew of other very talented people. I had great time at Telfair Museums in Savannah, ten years (shy one month). So it’s been hard to say goodbye, but I’m happy for new adventures. My JIMI experience really stuck with me, and even if it was just in my subconscious, I know it helped me take this leap. I’m trading humidity for snow ;). Please please let me know if you are ever in Chicago. I would love to meet up and show you the Aquarium!” Hollyakkerman[at] gmail.com.

Instagram: @trihollatops. Web: hollyakkerman.com.

Tracy Burns (2001), an alumna of the first JIMI class, was appointed, in April, at Assistant Secretary for Diversity and Inclusion, North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Prior to joining Natural and Cultural Resources, Burns served as the Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) coordinator in the Facilities Management Department at N.C. Central University (NCCU). She helped to provide opportunities and contracts for HUB firms with the university and interacted with project managers and others at the university.

She also served as director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, development director for the School of Nursing and project manager for renovation of the founder’s home while at NCCU. Burns is not new to DNCR, previously having served the department for almost eleven years as director of cultural history for the Division of State

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Historic Sites and Properties, site manager at Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum, and in other capacities at N.C. Transportation Museum and Somerset Place State Historic Site. She is native to Queens, N.Y., with North Carolina family roots in Washington County and also in Charleston and Beaufort, S.C. Burns was awarded a B.A. degree in Public Administration and History, and a M.A. degree in American History, by N.C. Central University. She co-authored the book Sedalia and The Palmer Memorial Institute.

Abbie Edens (2018) has moved from Columbus, GA, to New Orleans as the new Director of Education at the National World War II Museum. Her new email address is abbie.edens[at]nationalworldwar2museum.org.

Emily Epley (2015) will be transitioning away from her role as Executive Director of the Earl Scruggs Center to a role that allows more availability to her two young sons (ages six and thirteen). After ten years, first as Executive Director for Center’s founding organization and then as the Executive Director for the Earl Scruggs Center, she writes, “It’s been an amazing journey that has been enriched by my opportunity in JIMI in 2015.” As a “nonmuseum” person, she found JIMI and “the amazing relationships formed to be tremendous resources” while she helped continuing the operations for the Center, which opened in January 2014. Emily’s last day was September 3, 2018. She has not begun her job search yet but looks forward to what the future holds.

Melissa Parris (2016), Head of Collections and Exhibitions Management at the Muscarelle, writes to us: “The Muscarelle Museum of Art is entering the next phase of its future! As of May 2018, the Muscarelle galleries temporarily closed for the planning, design, and

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JIMI

Alumni News

development of a new building and arts complex to enrich the experiences of the students and visitors and bring innovative programming to the community. The Muscarelle will expand significantly as it becomes part of a new, multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art building that will be known as The Martha Wren Briggs Center for the Visual Arts designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli. This will increase the exhibition space of the museum, allowing it to bring more of the permanent collection out of storage and to continue to take advantage of internationally important traveling exhibition opportunities. The new facility will also offer additional space for storage, lectures, events, and programming. You can read more about the project here.”

Kendall Chew (2016) has made an encore at the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center (BHEC) as the new Outreach Coordinator. “I was just an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” she writes. And she looks forward to helping the organization grow and expand across Alabama.

Jeff Bowdoin (2017), Deputy Head, Curator Branch, Naval History and Heritage Command, in Washington, DC, had some news waiting for him on return from his ten-day JIMI experience this past January, not the least of which was a mailman joke with variations. On October 6, Jeff and his wife welcomed the arrival of Alexandra Elizabeth Bowdoin.

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LaNesha DeBardelaben (2016) has been selected as the new Executive Director of the Northwest African American Museum in Seattle, WA. She writes to us, “I gladly accept this new leadership opportunity with eager anticipation of taking all I’ve learned at the Wright Museum westward. During my six years at the Wright Museum, I gained tremendous insight and was given wonderful opportunities to learn and grow. I embrace this new opportunity enthusiastically; undoubtedly, the JIMI experience truly prepared me for the leadership road ahead. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with each of you and your institutions. My mentor and current museum president, Juanita Moore, fully supports me in accepting this career opportunity, and reminded me that she too was 37 years old like me when she became Executive Director of her first museum. With support from mentors like her and from all of you, I know that the best is yet to come. I thank each of you for your support and collegiality.” LaNesha’s work number is 206.518.6000, ext. 105.

Congratulations LaNesha’s Profile while in Detroit:

Senior Vice President, Wright Museum

To LaNesha DeBardelaben who is heading onward, upward, westward to serve as the Executive Director of the Northwest African American Museum in Seattle, Washington

Member, Hartford Memorial Baptist Church 2014 Crain’s Detroit 40 Under 40 2015 Michigan Chronicle’s Women of Excellence 2017 Michigan Chronicle’s 40 Under 40 2017 Leadership Detroit Fellow National Board Member, Association for the Study of African American Life and History National Board Member, Association of African American Museums Board Member, Michigan Museums Association

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JIMI

Alumni News

Melina Ludwig (2016) is now Social Media Coordinator at the Tennessee State Museum, in Nashville.

Beth Thompson (2018), Museums Manager at Cookeville History/Depot Museums, has a “non-humble brag to share.” Humility be bitten; we’re proud of her: “My coworkers Pam and Ashley went off to our annual Tennessee Association of Museums conference in west TN. We had filed an application for an annual TAM award for our exhibit Escape the Cookeville History Museum: An Exhibit for Kids. When the time came, they announced an award of excellence, which was awesome, but then, at the end of the ceremony, they started naming the nominations for the “Past Presidents” award (best in show). They named the Frist Center for Visual Arts, the Adventure Science Center (both in Nashville), the Metal Museum in Memphis, and the Reece Museum from East TN State University … and us. Then, to our shock and surprise, we won! We literally built this exhibit with our bare hands and a $200 budget and won the whole enchilada. Just had to share with you guys! Xo!” She adds, having proved it: “Little museums CAN do big things.”

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Heather Marie Wells (2010), Digital Media Project Manager at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, was elected President of the Arkansas Museums Association.

Gloria Sanders (2017), Calico Rock Museum and Visitor Center Executive Director, was elected VP of the Arkansas Museums Association.

Steve Rucker (2001) receieved the 2018 Arkansas Museums Association Peg Newton Smith Lifetime Achievement Award. Steve is now retired from the Arkansas National Guard Museum in Little Rock.

Elise Solomon (2018) has moved from New Orleans to Cincinnati where she is now Director of Learning and Engagement at the Taft Museum of Art. Austin Bell (2018), Curator of Collections for Marco Island Historical Society in Marco Island, FL, and also treasurer for the Southeastern Registrars Association, produced a picture book about Marco Island through Arcadia, and he is currently at work on a scholarly book about the Key Marco Cat, a pre-Columbian, six-inch

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JIMI

Alumni News

statue. The book will be published by the University Press of Florida, and is expected in 2020.

Patricia Moore Shaffer (2003) is now at the National Endowment for the Arts as Deputy Director for Research & Analysis, and she recently moved to Williamsburg, VA. Toni Hiley (2004) retired as Director of the CIA Museum.

Robert Byer (2017), former Deputy Director, was promoted to Director of the CIA Museum.

Christian Cotz (2016), Director of Education and Visitor Engagement at James Madison’s Montpelier, writes to us about the museum’s highly acclaimed exhibition, which he directed: “The Mere Distinction of Colour, has won five national awards — two AAM Muse awards, an AASLH Award of Merit, an AASLH History in Progress Award, and the NCPH’s Outstanding Public History Project Award. The Mere Distinction of Colour is a provocative multi-media exhibition that connects James Madison and his Montpelier plantation to the national story of slavery, exploring the economic, ideological, and political factors that cemented slavery in the newly-created American nation and its Constitution. The exhibition’s conceptual focus is a departure from slavery interpretation at existing Presidential sites, many of which treat slavery as a consequence-less transgression of the past, or as an oversimplified story of forced labor. Montpelier’s exhibition asks one to consider the experiences of the Montpelier community through a lens of human empathy, placing the humanity and individuality of enslaved individuals in conversation with contemporary arguments about essential human rights. It forces visitors to question their notions of societal progress by incorporating the voices of living descendants of those held in slavery who offer

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first-hand testimony on how the legacy of slavery impacts today’s conversations about race, identity, and human rights in America.”

Chieko Phillips (2015), formerly Heritage Support Specialist, is now the Heritage Lead at 4Culture, the cultural funding agency for King County, WA. Chieko must now replace herself; the Heritage Support Specialist will assist with grantmaking and field services. Applications are due by Nov. 16. Follow link for further details.

Cathy Wright (2015) curated the new permanent exhibit A People’s Contest: Struggles for Nation and Freedom in Civil War America at the American Civil War Museum in Richmond, VA. The exhibit will open in the new museum’s new building in the spring of 2019. She’s delighted that the museum allowed her to continue developing this exhibit long-distance after her relocation in December 2017 to Edinburgh, Scotland, to live with her new husband, Malcolm Good.

Nathan Moehlmann (2006), of Goosepen Studio & Press, designed a number of exhibition catalogues this year: Masterfully Human: The Art of Gaugengil for the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum; The Currency of Taste: The Gibbons Georgian Silver Collection of the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art; Wrestling the Angel: A Century of Artists Reckoning with Religion (which won a first place in the gallery guides section at the SEMC annual meeting in Jackson) for the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art; and Vernacular Modernism: The Photography of Doris Ulmann for the Georgia Museum of Art. Be in touch at GoosepenPress.com.

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MISSING ALUMNI David M. Adams (2005)

Barbara Broach (2003) retired

Julia Jones (2009)

City of Florence Alabama

Museum Coordinator

Florence, AL 35631-0098

Farragut Folklife Museum

VP Operations & Finance

11408 Municipal Center Drive

Charlotte Museum of History

Missing Holly M. Brown (2016)

3500 Shamrock Dr.

Historic Interpreter III

Charlotte, NC 28215

CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center

Peggy S. Lloyd (2005)

100 North Queen Street

Archival Manager

Kinston, NC 28501

Southwest Arkansas Regional Archives

Kristina Allen (2008) Communications Manager

Farragut, TN 37934

201 Highway 195 South

Hickory Museum of Art

Elizabeth Campbell (2008)

P.O. Box 134

243 Third Avenue NE

Associate Director

Washington, Arkansas 71862

Hickory NC 28603

Museum of Coastal Carolina Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469

Jan Anglin (2008)

Richard Mayfield (2002) Program & Education Coordinator

Project Manager

Robert A Dermann (2012) retired

Georgia’s Antebellum Capitol Museum

Tishomingo Co. Archives & History

Washington National Guard Museum

Old Statehouse Square

Museum

Tacoma, WA 98444

P.O. Box 1177

203 E. Quitman St. Iuka, MS 38852

Milledgeville, GA 31059-1177

Merritt Giles (2013) Curator of Art

Stephen McKinney (2008)

Edna Baden (2004) retired

Albany Museum of Art

Cartersville, GA 30120

Site Director

311 Meadowlark Drive

The Whalehead Club

Albany, GA 31707

Site Manager

P.O. Box 307 Corolla, NC 27927

Alton Mitchell (2010)

Dorinda M. Hilbun (2004) retired

Historic Stagville

Executive Director

Durham, NC 27712

Kimberly M. Branscome (2001)

Brec’s Magnolia Mound Plantation

Executive Director

2161 Nicholson Drive

Nancy Moon (2008)

Visual Arts Center of Northwest Florida

Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Executive Director Fort Smith Art Center

19 East 4th Street Panama City, FL 32401

Jacquelyn Hollis (2001)

423 North Sixth St.

Registrar

Fort Smith, AR 72901

Brenda P. Briley (2004)

Booth Western Art Museum

Business Administrator

PO Box 3188, 406B Old Mill Rd.

Kimberly A. Peters (2005)

Georgia’s Antebellum Capitol Society

Cartersville, GA 30120

Collections Manager/Registrar

P.O. Box 1177

Mashantucket Pequot Museum &

Milledgeville, GA 31059-1177

Research Center 110 Pequot Trail Mashantucket, CT 06338

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DECEASED ALUMNI

Christopher G. Pike (2004)

W. Samuel Terry IV (2006)

Curator

Executive Director

Thronateeska Heritage Center

Riverview at Hobson Grove

Lisa Chastain (2014)

100 West Roosevelt Avenue

1100 W. Main Avenue

Curator of Collections

Albany, GA 31701

Bowling Green, KY 42101

Museum Center at 5ive Points 200 Inman St East

E. Gabriela Portillo (2005)

Kathie Thurman (2016)

Education Intern

Tuscaloosa Museum of Art

The Columbus Museum

Tuscaloosa, AL

Cleveland, TN 37311

Thomas E. (Pete) Jordon (2003) Director

1251 Wynnton Road

Noelle Totten (2004)

Arkansas Post Museum

Registrar

5530 Hwy 165 South

Paula Reel (2002)

Marietta Museum of History

Gillett, AR 72055

President

1 Depot Street, Suite 200

Prism Promotions & Marketing

Marietta, GA 30060

Columbus, GA 31906

Jill Beute Koverman (2010) Curator of Collections

PO Box 888

DJ Wallace (2009)

McKissick Museum

Director

816 Bull Street

Diana Sanders (2007)

Grant County Museum

Columbia, SC 29208

Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum &

521 Shackleford Road

Educational Center

Sheridan, AR 72150

Clemson, SC 29633

Col. Ewell G. (Buddy) Sturgis, Jr. (2010)

Piggott, AR 72454

Rae J. Weimer (2005)

Director

Constance Sarto (2007)

Bartow Museums, Inc.

SC Military Museum

Director

Cartersville, GA 30120

1 National Guard Road

Mosaic Templars Cultural Center Little Rock, AR 72201

Columbia, SC 29201-4752

Robert White (2007) Curator & Director of Research

Anita Sullivan (2003)

Kathryn Shaffner (2004)

Wilson History & Research Center

Finance & Operation Manager

Educator/Special Programs

27 Rahling Circle

Albany Museum of Art

Hampton Roads Naval Museum

Suite D-14

311 Meadowlark Dr.

One Waterside Dr. Suite 248

Little Rock, AR 72223

Albany, GA 31707

Elizabeth T. Williams (2003)

Steve Temple (2004)

Linda Blue Stanfield (2008)

The Hollinger Corporation

Director

Director

Fredericksburg, VA 22404

Gadsden Museum of Art

Norfolk, VA 23510

Mount Airy Museum of Regional History

515 Broad Street

301 N. Main St.

Gadsden, AL 35904

Mount Airy, NC 27030

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JIMI

I

For Pete’s Sake

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The Peter S. LaPaglia JIMI Scholarship Fund

n the early 1980s, Pam Meister, then executive direc-

expand Jumpstart!, and thus was born the Jekyll Island Man-

tor of both the Southeastern Museums Conference

agement Institute (JIMI).

(SEMC) and the Louisiana Association of Museums

Pete was the heart and soul of JIMI; in fact, he became

(LAM) approached Peter S. LaPaglia with a workshop

known as “Mr. JIMI.” He not only poured his time and energy

idea called Jumpstart! She had written a successful

into it, he supported it financially and found other partners

grant to develop a workshop aimed at “small, new, emerg-

willing to fund it. These funds allowed the JIMI Committee

ing, and transitioning museums” in Louisiana. In addition

to fund tuition scholarships for museum professionals who

to formal training sessions, Jumpstart! brought together

otherwise would not have been able to attend.

workshop participants with seasoned museum profession-

Today, JIMI is a nationally recognized program with gradu-

als who volunteered to share their expertise and experience.

ates from twenty-five states plus the District of Columbia.

Each Jumpstart! participant was matched with a mentor

The museum world lost a valued friend when Pete passed

who guided them for twelve months following the workshop.

away. Because he was so committed to JIMI, SEMC has

Pam enticed Pete to facilitate Jumpstart! with the lure of

established the Peter S. LaPaglia JIMI Scholarship Fund to

wonderful Cajun food, but unfortunately, it turned out to be

endow one annual scholarship in his memory.

spring break week and all the restaurants on the road to the

The scholarship will be open to all museum professionals

workshop site were closed. Pete never let Pam forget that she

in the United States having no less than five and no more

nearly starved him to death.

than ten years experience in the museum profession. The

After the success of Jumpstart!, Pam contacted Martha

applicant must demonstrate involvement with a museum

Battle Jackson, then chair of the SEMC Professional Devel-

professional organization at some level (state, regional, or

opment Committee and said, “Have I got a deal for you!”

national). The scholarship recipient must be a member of a

Working with Pete and Pam and an infusion of money from

regional museum association. We need $20,000 to make this

another successful grant written by Pam, the committee

scholarship possible.

expanded Jumpstart! to three and a half days and held the

For Pete’s Sake . . . please help by sending a check of any

workshop in four locations in the Southeast. Enthusiastic

amount to the Peter S. LaPaglia JIMI Scholarship Fund, c/o

participants wanted more, so the committee decided to

SEMC, P. O. Box 9003, Atlanta, GA, 31106-1003.

T

The Peter S. LaPaglia Fund Policy he Peter S. LaPaglia JIMI Scholarship funds will be

the museum profession. The applicant must demonstrate

restricted to using only the interest for one annual

involvement with a museum professional organization (state,

tuition scholarship. The scholarship will be open

regional, or national). The amount of the scholarship will be

to all museum professionals in the United States having

funded at the SEMC member level. The scholarship recipient

no less than five and no more than ten years experience in

must be a member of a regional museum association.

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