<div dir="ltr"><p class="gmail-body-white" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;line-height:115%"><font size="4">Good
morning everyone. The following message is forwarded by BCMA on behalf of the Virtual Museum of Canada. The VCM will conduct pre-conference focus groups in Whistler, October 12. Registration is required <b>through the VCM </b>and is not limited to Conference delegates.</font></span></p><p class="gmail-body-white" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><br></p><p style="font-size:12.8px;margin-bottom:0pt"><b style="color:rgb(118,113,113);font-size:11pt">Heather Jeliazkov</b><br></p><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><p style="margin:0in 0in 1pt;font-size:11pt"><font color="#767171" face="Arial, sans-serif">Interim Executive Director</font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 1pt;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt"><span style="color:rgb(237,125,49);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt">BC Museums Association || 675 Belleville Street || Victoria, BC || V8W 9W2</span><br></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 1pt;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt"><span style="color:rgb(237,125,49);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:14.66px">Office: 250-356-5700</span><span style="color:rgb(237,125,49);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:14.66px"> || <a href="http://www.museumsassn.bc.ca/" target="_blank">www.museumsassn.bc.ca</a></span></p><div style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125);font-family:arial,sans-serif"> </span></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt"><b><span style="color:rgb(118,113,113);font-family:arial,sans-serif"><em><font size="2">Join us for Conference 2016 in Whistler, from Oct 12 – 14!</font></em></span></b></div></div></div></div><p class="gmail-body-white" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><br></p><p class="gmail-body-white" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:115%"><b><br></b></span></p><p class="gmail-body-white" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:115%"><b><br></b></span></p>
<p class="gmail-body-white" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:calibri,sans-serif"><span><b>To all members of the BC Museums Association:</b></span></span></p><p class="gmail-body-white" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%">The Virtual Museum of Canada (VMC) is evolving to be more
responsive to the needs of Canadian museums and heritage organizations. This
will involve a new vision, and changes to the investment programs and
website. As the VMC considers and develops
this new orientation, it feels it is important to obtain feedback from museum
professionals across the country.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-body-white" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:calibri,sans-serif">This is why
the VMC will be conducting a series of consultation sessions at various museum
association conferences over the coming months, including a session at the BCMA conference in October. These dedicated conference sessions will
allow the VMC to present its proposed vision and program to participants, and
to facilitate discussions.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-body-white" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-body-white" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:calibri,sans-serif">Who should attend?
</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:calibri,sans-serif">We need to hear from museum and heritage organizations of <u>all
sizes</u>! If you would like to share
your thoughts on the new direction the VMC is considering and on the challenges
and opportunities your organization faces in terms of having a greater online
presence, we want to hear from you. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-body-white" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:calibri,sans-serif"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-body-white" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:calibri,sans-serif">You would
join a dozen or so museum professionals<span style="color:red"> </span>in a
group discussion moderated by a research consultant from Quorus Consulting
Group Inc, with the support of VMC staff.
</span><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">Each session lasts one hour, </span><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:calibri,sans-serif">no preparation is needed and the
feedback you provide will remain anonymous in the final analysis and report.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black"> <span></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-body-white" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-body-white" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">The sessions for
your conference are scheduled at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, as
follows:<span></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-body-white" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:symbol;color:black">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"times new roman"">
</span></span><b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">Session 1: 2:00
pm to 3:30 pm on October 12 </span></b><b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">(snacks and refreshments provided);
an</span></b><b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">d <span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-body-white" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:symbol;color:black">·<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"times new roman"">
</span></span><b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">Session 2: 7:30
pm to 9:00 pm on October 12 (dinner provided).<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-body-white" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><br></p>
<p class="gmail-body-white" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">Space is limited for each session. </span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black"> If you are interested in participating, <b><u>you must register</u></b> by contacting
Eva Gastelum directly by phone (613) 983-5837, or by email at: <a href="mailto:eva@quorusconsulting.com">eva@quorusconsulting.com</a>
to reserve your chair at the table, to discuss the logistics of the session and
to provide a little of information about yourself.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-body-white" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;color:black">If you have any questions regarding these focus groups, you can
reach the Director of the Virtual Museum of Canada, Megan Richardson, directly
by telephone at (819) 776-7189 or by email at </span><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%"><a href="mailto:megan.richardson@museedelhistoire.ca">megan.richardson@museedelhistoire.ca</a><span style="color:black">.<span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%"><span style="color:black"><br></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;color:black">We hope you can join us – the VMC values your input!</span><b><span></span></b></p>
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