Succession Planning - Article by Patsey Moppett - 2015

Succession Planning 

The Succession Planning Workshop held by BMACHO in February at the Lithgow Mining Museum provided an opportunity for organisations and committees to find out the many ways to make their tasks easier and more effective and ensure their volunteers get the most out of their roles. (See Heritage January-February p.14). The day commenced with a tour of the museum site.

Lithgow Mining Museum workshops

BMACHO Vice President Ian Jack opened the proceedings. Those few who were able to attend were treated to very worthwhile presentations by the speakers, Emeritus Professor David Carment, Ray Christison, Lynn Collins and Tamara Lavrencic.

Both David and Ray spoke about their experiences in being on committees and their approaches to the success of their various organisations.

David Carment: David reviewed the principles set down by Museums and Galleries of NSW to assist organisations in their operations. He emphasized the importance of valuing the work of volunteers and encouraging their involvement, dealing with aging membership and finding people to fit the committee positions. Inclusion of fixed terms for positions and seeking people who have something to offer, may be key solutions.

Utilization of social media and sharing the load, are also ways to relieve the pressure. People have less and less time to be involved and to carry out the myriad of tasks required in a committee these days.

Ray Christison: Ray cover the topic under five headings, as follows:

•   What is succession planning – finding people to fill key positions on a committee to sustain the required functions of the group. In particular, finding a leader who will identify the problems and work to solve them. Ray quoted from Ben Chifley, “Rookwood is full of people who were indispensable”.
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•   Roles – the roles in a committee range from a leader, administration, program management, tour guides, site/building management, museum development. The task is finding suitable people who can do each of these jobs.
  

BMACHO Vice President Ian Jack addresses the group

•   Plan for the future – the problem is broken down, deciding who does what. Divide the position and delegate tasks. The tasks can be carried out by volunteers, casual staff or contractors.
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•   Attracting volunteers – the vision should be articulated. Sensible business planning should be undertaken, obtaining recognition for the organisation, creating a positive and creative environment for volunteers. Sometimes the facilities can be difficult for volunteers eg. heat/cold. Anticipate the benefits of participation. Network within the community. Keep exhibitions fresh, undertake projects that renew/maintain interest, for both volunteers and visitors.
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•   Alternatives – use contractors for some tasks if possible. Identify roles and cash flow, sponsors and compliances with legislation. Expand the capabilities of the group and possible use a business model. Make use of existing assets such as publications, local businesses, social media. Decide how to access different sectors of the community and have a clear vision. Have a vision statement, and communicate effectively.

Lyn Collins: Lyn summarised their comments and went on to highlight the salient points relating to continuity, role sharing, rotation of positions, reviewing the provisions of the relevant constitution, employing outside expertise, the importance of having a strategy and undertaking social events, and redefining the tasks and roles required. He emphasised the social benefits and the sustainability of committees..

Tamara Lavrencic: Tamara was visiting from the Museums and Galleries of NSW, and explained the Standards Program. It operates for some 10 months of the year and has a regional bias. It is an opportunity to seek assistance for surveying collections, management, engaging visitors, caring for the collection. An independent reviewer is sent out to each museum. They act as mentor to the museum management. Many resources are available, including risk management, grants, setting up a website, and an advisory service.

It provides an opportunity for self review against the national standard.

Editor’s comment: It would appear that we need to take time out of our busy schedules to find the time to help ourselves. It is strongly recommended that all organisations seek out the Principles for the Recognition of Volunteers for a review. Organisations that adopt the principles would be sending out a clear signal to current and potential volunteers that their contributions are valued. (www.volunteering.nsw.gov.au ).

Ref: HERITAGE - Newsletter of the Blue Mountains Association of Cultural Heritage Organisations Inc - May-June 2015 by Patsey Moppett

For further reading see earlier post here

HERITAGE September-October 2014

Food for thought ................... Editor’s note
 
Carpe diem - literally speaking - “seize the day”! Take every opportunity, and don’t put all your trust in tomorrow.

Do we really realise how lucky we are in the opportunities that avail us to experience history today? Everywhere we turn, there are community groups and individuals offering experiences through seminars, collections, tours and publications about our past.

Family history groups and historical societies, museums individuals and tourist organisations abound throughout the country, where dedicated members “work” to collect, store and disseminate information about where we came from, how we reached these shores and how Australia developed from a simple colony to the nation we know today. I say “work” because to them it is often not work but a labour of love.

With the passing of John Leary OAM, it would seem timely to look back and see where we of BMACHO have come from in fostering these opportunities. BMACHO commenced in 2006 with the aim to foster and support cultural heritage activities related to the Blue Mountains. To revisit the Objects of the Constitution: 

 1. To raise public consciousness of the value of cultural heritage.

2. To encourage and assist the cultural heritage activities of member organisations. 3. To initiate and support cultural heritage activities not already covered by member organisations.

BMACHO seeks to take every opportunity to bring together many groups to share information and promote culture and heritage throughout the greater Blue Mountains area and beyond. In light of this the most current initiative is our Heritage Trail project. Our diverse membership uniquely blends the skills and resources of historical, cultural and heritage groups, major tourist attractions, gardens and galleries. We need to promote our collective skills and assets to the widest possible audience.

BMACHO is taking up the challenge and is producing a high quality Heritage Trail leaflet and trail map for distribution through Visitors’ Centres, historical societies, family history societies and museums, with contribution from BMACHO members. In addition, a dedicated website which presents the map and detailed contacts, for all BMACHO members, is also envisaged, in due course.

The Heritage Trail would incorporate open days for BMACHO member groups perhaps quarterly, proceeding along the Great Western Highway from Emu Plains to Lithgow, and up the Bells Line of Road from the Hawkesbury to Lithgow. If visitors can see the premises open on the Common Open Days, they can plan a trail that is comfortable for them to travel in a day.

Not every member group has premises, but those without may be able to use a hall or library to facilitate visitors. Even if a member is not able to participate in the Common Open Days, they can list their opening hours on the leaflet.

Funding is to be generated through corporate sponsorship and through participant’s participation fees. The launch of the project should be later in early 2015.

In the meantime, BMACHO will continue to collect and share information and events through this Newsletter. News items are always welcome, from the smallest note to articles in the order of 1500 words. Photographs will always help to illustrate the story and should be sent as separate files. Please direct any items to the editor pmoppett@gmail.com or to the secretary jkoperberg@bigpond.com

Patsy Moppett
Heritage Newsletter Editor
Blue Mountains Association of Cultural & Heritage Organisations Inc

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Read full Newsletter

HERITAGE, Newsletter of BMACHO - Jan-Feb 2014

Governor to open Locomotive Depot museum at Valley Heights 

 

by John Leary, OAM 

LONG GONE is the excitement of the steam train, like a great steel monster white steam gushing from its nostrils, as it pulls out of Sydney Central, quickly passing the back yards of another generation’s dwellings of the western suburbs, then racing at what in those days was considered a break-neck speed across the Cumberland Plains much of it then still farmland until the noisy loco and its train reached Penrith, then a small country town soon to develop as the hub of a satellite city with new suburbs housing a considerable population.
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‘For the cricket tragics’  
By John Leary, OAM

 

ANY of our readers have probably spent considerable time during the 2013 - 14 festive season, watching grown men throw a usually red leather covered ball at three sticks, which another player seems to protect, while others on the field stand by in silly mid on and in slips seemingly with little to do.

It seems there have been five tests this summer between England and Australia and the uninitiated must wonder why so many examinations for what seemingly is a simple sport. 
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Lesser known accounts of early and mid-19th Century journeys over the Blue Mountains

by Peter Rickwood

Introduction

 
The diaries of Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth relating to their discovery of a route over the Blue Mountains in 1813, of Evans in extending that route to Bathurst in 1814, and of Cox in building the road, all predate the type of journey that is of concern here.
Well known, and often cited, are the descriptions of journeys over the Blue Mountains road that were collated by Mackaness in his “Fourteen Journeys”1. Amongst these are accounts of travel on the ‘road’ by Antill (1815), Macquarie (1815), Quoy, Guadichaud and Pellion (1819), Hawkins (1822), Field (1822), Lesson (1824), Dumaresq (1827), Backhouse (1835), Darwin (1836), Meredith (1839) and Stanger (1841) - many published long after the year of their journey. Accounts by ‘celebrities’ such as Louisa Meredith2 and Rachel Henning3 have recently been followed by John Low’s discussion of the travels of Mrs Mary Elizabeth Martindale.4 
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Click here to view/download the full newsletter.

HERITAGE, Newsletter of BMACHO - Nov-Dec 2013

Click here to view/download the full newsletter.

What's on at Blue Mountains Cultural Centre

January Workshops and Programs

Sat 18 Jan:    NSW State Records Conservation Talk with Dominique Moussou. The exhibition, The Air Up There: Vintage Tourism in the Blue Mountains features paper-based objects from NSW State Records. Find out how State Records protect their collection, as well as ideas on how you can protect your collections in your own home.

1pm – 2.30pm Free Event. Bookings essential.



Tues 20 Jan:   Keepsake Postcard Workshops

Explore a range of creative techniques to make postcards as “Keepsakes”. The workshop includes a tour of the exhibitions, Keepsake and The Air Up There. Participants’ work will be exhibited in the Keepsake Postcard Exhibition from 25-27 January.

10 -12noon   Age: 5-8
1-3pm           Age: 8+

Cost: $20 ($30 per family); $15 InSight Members ($25 per family)



Wed 22 Jan:    Mobile Phone Photography

A full day introduction to mobile phone photography using an iPhone (iPad or Android device) with Keepsake Photographer David Brazil (see below for more information)

10 – 4.30pm  Age: 10+

Cost: $45; $40 InSight Members



 •• Postcards due for exhibition



Thur 23 Jan:    Make your own recycled “Snowdome”: or message in a bottle!

Is there an idea or memory that you’d like to capture and “keep” … bring along tiny treasures and a recycled round lidded bottle to create a small imaginary world as a “Keepsake”. This workshop will also include a tour of the exhibitions, Keepsake and The Air Up There.

10am -12 noon   Age: 6-8
1-3pm             Age: 8+

Cost: $20 ($30 per family); $15 InSight Members ($25 per family)



Fri 24 Jan:    E-Bling Workshop

Recycle electronic waste to make some very cool bling with Kathy O’Hara of Scrapture Studios! Items produced in this workshop can be submitted to the Waste to Art Exhibition at the Cultural Centre in March.

10am – 1pm        Age: 8+

Cost: $20 ($30 per family); $15 InSight Members ($25 per family)



Sat 25 Jan                Keepsake Postcard Exhibition and 2014 Summer Harvest Kitchen Workshops

Sun 26 Jan               Keepsake Postcard Exhibition and 2014 Summer Harvest Kitchen Workshops

Mon 27 Jan              Keepsake Postcard Exhibition


NB. The program will be continually updated so please do keep checking the website at http://bluemountainsculturalcentre.com.au/public-programs/ for what’s coming up and for more details as they become available.


Bookings essential for all events to 4780 5410.

Zig Zag Railway at Lithgow lost equipment in the fire

Hi Wal

I sent this out to BMACHO members yesterday.  You might like to post, if you have not already seen this request from Zig Zag Railway.

Cheers
Jan

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Blue Mountains Association of Cultural Heritage Organisations Inc <bmacho.heritage@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Oct 26, 2013 at 10:20 PM
Subject: Zig Zag Railway
To:


To BMACHO Members

As most of you probably know, the Zig Zag Railway at Lithgow lost equipment in the fire that swept through there last week.

Some of the equipment destroyed in the fire includes these "big ticket" essential items:

2 x lathes 24" swing over gap and 16" over table
1 x surface grinder 400mm high 700x300
1 x geared drill machine floor mount
1 x 12" grinder floor mount
1 x 8" bench grinder
1 x universal milling machine 2000 x 500 mm table 1500 mm travel
1 x turret milling machine 800 mm x 350 mm table

If anyone can help with replacement of these items they would love to hear from you.

You can get their contact details from their Facebook page, without having to sign up to Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ZigZagRailway
Regards

Jan Koperberg
Secretary BMACHO

THE BLUE MOUNTAINS: WHERE ARE THEY?

This paper has previously appeared in Issue 3 of The Blue Mountains History Journal, a publication of the Blue Mountains Association of Cultural Heritage Organisations Inc. 

"This paper is by Andy Macqueen, a well-known Blue Mountains author who has contributed a most thoughtful paper on the meaning of the term ‘Blue Mountains’. Aided by a generous collection of maps he demonstrates that the term means different things to different people. Thus to some the Blue Mountains extend north-south from the Hunter Valley to Picton and east-west from Emu Plains to Jenolan and that latter parameter raises the issue of whether the Blue Mountains should include rocks older than Permian and whether part of the Great Dividing Range should be accepted as being within the area. Andy makes it quite clear that there is no unique definition that is acceptable to all. This scholarly work will for many years undoubtedly be the definitive account of the topic." (Dr Peter C. Rickwood)

Click here to view/download the full paper.

HERITAGE, Newsletter of BMACHO - Sept-Oct 2012

This article has previously appeared in HERITAGE, the newsletter of the Blue Mountains Association of Cultural Heritage Organisations Inc.

Click here to view/download full newsletter.