NAAM and SAH Conference - March 24-27, 2010
Hosted by the Tupelo Automobile Museum - Tupelo, Mississippi
The 2010 NAAM/SAH Tupelo Conference opened Wednesday March 24 with registration and a 5 pm welcome reception in
the Sweet Gum Room of the Conference Center just behind the Tupelo Hilton Garden Inn. Being the birthplace of Elvis
Presley, the reception featured an Elvis impersonator with a rendition of many Elvis hit songs. Board meetings were
scheduled that day for both NAAM and SAH.
A day of seminar classes followed Thursday's buffet breakfast beginning at 7:30 am. First up, Jackie Frady (filling in for NAAM president Michael Spezia) welcomed everyone to Tupelo and introduced our first speaker, Matt Short, Executive VP from the ACD Museum who addressed Collection Focus and Management Policies, Procedures & Bulls-eyes. Matt stressed the bull's-eye policy that centers on your museum mission first, and followed by secondary and tertiary donations. In other words, "Don't say yes to everything offered to your museum." Session 2 for NAAM members concerned Collection Management as well and was presented by Brian Gomez VP of Operations at Past Perfect. Past Perfect is a new museum software collection management data base. For more information on that, visit the website www.past-perfect-online.com. Finishing up the morning seminars was Josh Mabus founder of the Mabus Agency in Tupelo who addressed "Rev up your Marketing."
A truly delightful southern feast was presented buffet style for lunch on Thursday. This Yankee editor had his first taste of black-eyed peas, the best corn bread I'd ever tasted, pulled pork, barbecued ribs and chicken, and red beans and rice, all washed down with iced sweet tea and apple pie for dessert. Allen McDaniel, curator at the Tupelo Automobile Museum, spoke to the overfed diners with a humorous presentation following lunch. His friendship with Frank Spain led to his becoming curator at the museum. Allen is a true hobbyist and has a sizable collection of vintage cars of his own. The Cadillac displayed in the Conference Center lobby belongs to Allen.
Afternoon seminars for NAAM members included an entertaining presentation "Communicating like a Pro" by Deborah Tierce of Tierce Motivational Training. Deborah stressed communicating by establishing understanding quickly, clearly, and accurately. Otherwise the listener's brain may wander and miss the point. Next up was Gordy Fitch, Commercial Sales Manager for Hagerty Insurance. Gordy gave updates on commercial coverage for museums, clubs, dealerships, and events. And as a side note, we are looking forward to updates on "Hagerty's Cars That Matter" website that will soon include a new feature where you can plug in an antique car's Vin number and find out just what options that car included from the factory. Gordy also mentioned kits available from Hagerty for investing in the future by supporting youth judging at your next event. Lastly NAAM and SAH members gathered for a round table discussion led by Leslie Kendall of NAAM and Susan Davis, SAH president on how the two organizations can compliment and enhance one another through future cooperation.
Friday was a day of bus tours to Elvis's birthplace and museum, the Natchez Trace Parkway, Brice's Crossroads (a Civil War battlefield), and a late tour and refreshments at the Tupelo Auto Museum.
Saturday morning, more seminars. First Kit Foster spoke on libraries and archives followed by Patricia Yongue, Associate Professor of English, University of Houston who spoke on sports car racing. After lunch, the annual meeting and election of NAAM directors was followed by the NAAMY Awards presentation.
Saturday evening’s finale was a banquet in the Sweet Gum Room (with a choice of prime rib or fish) followed by guest speaker David Rumbarger, President/CEO of the Tupelo Community Development Foundation. David talked about the new Toyota assembly plant going to open soon in the area, as well as the restoration continuing on the rare 1957 Toyopet at the Tupelo Auto Museum. I want to express our sincere thanks to Jane Spain, Cindy Hale, and Allen McDaniel of the museum for hosting this conference event and providing such an entertaining venue.
