Reposted from SafeHaven Security

SafeHaven Upcoming Training-

Free Webinar
December 9 | 2:00pm CST

Seasonal Sanity: Protecting Your Mental Health Through the Holidays

The holiday season can be a time of joy, connection, and celebration—but it can also bring stress, loneliness, and emotional challenges. This webinar, led by mental health expert and licensed professional counselor David Lengefeld, provides practical strategies for recognizing and managing mental health concerns during the holidays. Participants will gain insights into coping mechanisms, self-care practices, and ways to support loved ones while maintaining their own well-being.

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Reposted from AAM

AAM 2026 is heading to Philadelphia

The 2026 AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo is in Philly, May 20-23, for four days of transformative learning, meaningful connections, and practical solutions you can bring back home. Find out why your colleagues are calling the AAM Annual Meeting “the best professional development experience of my life."

Super Early Bird Registration Opens Soon.

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Reposted from CISA/DHS

UPCOMING EVENTS-

CISA REGION 8 QUARTERLY THREAT BRIEFING – CISA Region 8 and the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) Region 8 are hosting an Unclassified Quarterly Threat Briefing Webinar. This webinar will review physical, cyber, and foreign threats to critical infrastructure and supply chain security.

Date: December 9, 2025
Time: 10 am MST
Registration Link: CISA Region 8 Quarterly Threat Briefing
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ANNOUNCEMENTS, TOOLS, AND RESOURCES

CISA RELEASES THREE UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS (UAS) SECURITY GUIDANCE PRODUCT – On November 19, 2025, CISA released three new products to help critical infrastructure owners and operators understand and reduce risks from unmanned aircraft systems. Unmanned Aircraft System Detection Technology Guidance for Critical Infrastructure provides critical infrastructure owners and operators with key considerations for how to select and leverage detection technology to increase awareness of UAS activity over a facility or site. Suspicious Unmanned Aircraft System Activity Guidance for Critical Infrastructure Owners and Operators offers criteria for recognizing suspicious UAS activity and recommendations for responding appropriately.  Safe Handling Considerations for Downed Unmanned Aircraft Systems provides information on how to prepare for and respond to downed UAS that may pose a safety or security concern.
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BULLETPROOF DEFENSE: MITIGATING RISKS FROM BULLETPROOF HOSTING PROVIDERS – On November 19, 2025, CISA, in collaboration with U.S. and international partners, released Bulletproof Defense: Mitigating Risks from Bulletproof Hosting Providers, a guide that provides internet service providers (ISPs) and network defenders with an overview of this cybercriminal activity along with key steps, best practices, and resources to protect their customers and their networks.
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MICROSOFT EXCHANGE SERVER SECURITY BEST PRACTICES” ADVISORY – On October 30, 2025, CISA, the National Security Agency (NSA), in collaboration with international cybersecurity partners, released the "Microsoft Exchange Server Security Best Practices" guidance. This blueprint builds upon CISA’s Emergency Directive 25-02: Mitigate Microsoft Exchange Vulnerability.
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JOINT GUIDANCE FOR SECURING OT SYSTEMS – On September 29, 2025, CISA, in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Centre, and other international partners released new joint cybersecurity guidance: Creating and Maintaining a Definitive View of Your Operational Technology (OT) Architecture.
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CISA STRENGTHENS SHARED RESPONSIBILITY NATIONWIDE WITH DIRECT CYBER SUPPORT TO SLTT PARTNERS – CISA has transitioned to a new model to better equip state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments to strengthen shared responsibility nationwide. CISA is supporting our SLTT partners with access to grant funding, no-cost tools, and cybersecurity expertise to be resilient and lead at the local level. For more information about CISA’s Cybersecurity.
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Reposted from AMM

This year's awards events brought us joy and hope, and they may just be the inspiration you need right now With gratitude for our recipients, we invite you to carve out a little time to hear their stories, learn from their experiences, and gather their advice. Here are some of our takeaways: Leadership is listening first, then taking action.

Chris Morehead has dedicated his energies to finding ways to strategically improve and grow system-level operations, all with great care for the people involved. Learn about Chris’ leadership style, the obstacles he’s navigated in museum operations, and where he seeks inspiration and support at this stage of his career.

Innovation in museums isn’t just about tech — it’s about finding new ways to connect with people. How do you get visitors to understand a century-old piece of technology that you can’t turn on? Meet the team at Naper Settlement who sought to bring their c. 1912 Wood Bros. threshing machine using new technologies.

"Everyday is a choice." You choose how you show up, whose voices you elevate, and how you make space.

Rahim Thompson is the Senior Program Manager at Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center (IHMEC). Learn about his people-centered approach to programming and how he’s fostering an environment where everyone feels seen, respected, and empowered.

Every kid visiting your museum today could grow up to be your greatest advocate.

Sara Jane DeHoff is an advocate, philanthropist, and community leader. She has served on the boards of nearly every major arts and education organization in the Toledo area, including the Toledo Museum of Art (TMA). During a conversation with Adam Levine, the museum’s president and CEO, Sara Jane reflects on her motivation and passion for the arts, and her hopes and dreams for the sector.

Collaboration across institutions allows us to achieve more than we could alone.

Recognizing that their museum was not accessible to low vision and blind audiences without assistance, the State Historical Society of Iowa set out to transform their visitor experience. Hear from the team members who are spearheading this work across the agency, along with their community partners, about their methods and lessons learned.

Social justice in museums is never a finish line. It’s work, it’s community, it’s renewal.

Listen in on a conversation with Dr. Elena Gonzales, who has been devoted to community collaboration and advancing social justice since the start of her career in museums, and learn more about her latest project, Aquí en Chicago.

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Reposted from Tim Richardson

Never Stop Learning: Why Coasting Kills Growth

Yesterday, while working with a client in Utah, I had the pleasure of having four of my professional speaking peers in the audience. I also invited another friend—someone who has a keen interest in speaking. While he’s not a professional speaker, he’s seen many presentations and has done quite a bit of speaking himself. All of them were there by my invitation to hear my keynote and provide feedback to help me improve my presentation. I did the same thing last week for a group of local peers while giving a presentation solely for practice. One of the attendees from last week told me afterward how much he appreciated the fact that, after more than 30 years of speaking professionally, I still seek feedback and regularly look for opportunities to improve my message and delivery. He said it would be easy to coast at this point in my career. But I am not about to coast. I’ll keep seeking opportunities to grow as long as I continue to speak. I can learn from peers—and from speakers much younger than I am—and I’m committed to increasing the frequency of opportunities like these.

If you’re even thinking about coasting, this article is for you. In my view, the longer you’ve been doing something professionally, the more you should think about how to do it better. As we age, we tend to become complacent. We coast. We rest on our laurels. We think that what we’ve already learned will be enough to finish strong. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you’re a veteran salesperson, seek out a relationship with a younger colleague and learn all you can from them. If you work in technology, regularly meet with the 20-somethings in your office to hear their viewpoint on emerging trends. If you’re an executive, consider starting a mastermind or brain trust of young and upcoming leaders in your organization. Learn how they like to be coached, mentored, and led.

“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is a myth. Yesterday, I learned a lot from debriefing with my peers. And I know this much: I’ve got a lot more growing to do—and so do you. Never stop learning. Never stop growing. Never stop teaching.

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Reposted from PAR

Dear colleagues,

The Performing Arts Readiness (PAR) project’s latest article, “Enhancing Emergency Readiness in the Performing Arts with Free AI Tools,” offers step-by-step guidance on how performing arts organizations can use free artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and others to begin or refine their emergency planning process.
Despite growing risks, many performing arts organizations have yet to develop formal emergency plans. This article offers accessible ways to begin that process.
Written by Steve Eberhardt, PAR Project Coordinator, the article explains how these tools can help you draft key components of your Risk Assessment, Crisis Communication, and Business Continuity Plans while also addressing privacy and accuracy considerations when using free AI accounts. It includes adaptable example prompts to help you put these ideas into practice right away.
Explore how these accessible technologies can support your organization’s next planning session or preparedness discussion and take the first steps toward a more resilient future. A companion article, to be published later this month, will explore how organizations with access to paid AI accounts can use advanced features for deeper planning.

Your friends at the Performing Arts Readiness project

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Reposted from Tim Richardson

When Frustration Turns to Understanding

Agitated by the lack of expediency. Frustrated by long lines. Annoyed at the inefficiency of the store procedures. Then, the lady in front of me in the grocery line was taking forever to get her items out of the cart. So, to pass the time, I read the ridiculous magazine cover promises and headlines. The one I wanted to see was, “How to Navigate the Incredible Inefficiency of Your Local Grocery Store!” There was no one to help her unload the groceries from a cart overflowing with food, drinks, and household items.

I sighed and muttered under my breath, “This is ridiculous.”
She turned toward me with a sad look. She was young. She had piercing blue eyes.
And for the first time, I really looked at her. Then I noticed her hands – curled from palsy.

From Frustration to Empathy a Change of Heart
My frustration turned to embarrassment. My agitation was replaced by empathy. My annoyance turned into action.

As I began to help her unload her groceries, I woke up. It had all been a dream. But it stayed with me all day. The frustration, agitation, and annoyance I sometimes have is totally real. Acting in that way would have been very natural if this situation had really happened. I write and speak about pausing. Pausing to notice. Pausing to listen. Pausing before responding. And certainly, pausing to understand. The truth is, I am often agitated by things like the slow driver in front of me, the lack of understanding of simple directions, or the inefficiencies of people and businesses I interact with. In Stephen Covey’s acclaimed bestseller, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, there’s a principle I often quote: “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” Yet once again, I failed to live what I teach. I didn’t stop to consider the other person. That dream reminded me that empathy often hides behind inconvenience. When we pause long enough to see others, our irritation can transform into understanding and our perspective changes everything.

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Reposted from AMM

Council of Regional Museum Associations

Some Good (Museum) News
Holiday Edition

Join Us Live December 9^th, 2025
11am PT/12 pm MT/ 1pm CT/ 2pm ET

Your six regional museum associations are teamed up once again for Some Good (Museum) News - a special holiday edition!

Inspired by John Krasinski's "Some Good News", we have hosted museum-focused broadcasts to spotlight the inspirational and uplifting stories and programs of our nation's arts and culture organizations. During a special holiday season broadcast, we're going to:

shout out the amazing people out there advancing the mission of their museums
get inspired by museum "wins" - big and small
celebrate the opportunities we've had to gather as a community in a year of new obstacles

Tell Us Something Good

Are there people you'd like to thank for their service (volunteers, staff, or community members)? Any wins to celebrate - big or small? How about hopes and dreams for the New Year?

Submit your story along with a photo or video using the online form
We will share your stories during the Some Good (Museum) News - Holiday Edition webcast on December 9 at 2pm Eastern, 1pm Central, Noon Mountain, 11am Pacific.

Want to join us live?
Join us for a moment of wellbeing, happiness, and humor! Register for Some Good (Museum) News - Holiday Edition

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Reposted from Abigail Manning

Dear Thriver,

Last month we talked about "Finding purpose in the next chapter." It resonated with many of you so I'm adding to the conversation.

Purpose is individually motivated and driven. That's why purpose is not a competition with others. On your journey of purpose, it is not fair (or wise!) to compare your path and progress to people you know or people you see from afar. Out of some of the hardest chapters in my life came my deep sense of purpose ... to help others develop their courage, strength, and confidence.
My journey eventually led me to moments I never imagined ... being a speaker at the Pentagon, Air Force National Symposiums and soon to be a two time keynote speaker for The Crisis Center’s Gala.
My message is a reminder that our purpose often grows from the very places we once felt broken, defeated or discouraged.
If you’re in a season of change or searching for deeper meaning, take heart ... you’re not alone. Look with curiosity at what is challenging you right now. Your strength is there, waiting to be discovered.

Let’s grow together!
Abigail

Purpose

Your Purpose isn’t a Competition
Your purpose is not a race, a ranking, or a scoreboard.

 It’s not meant to look like anyone else’s and comparing your journey to someone else’s highlight reel only steals your peace.
We all have different paths, different seasons, and different timelines for growth. What matters is not how fast you move, but how aligned you are with what truly matters to you.
When you stop measuring your purpose against others, you free yourself to fully live it, authentically, wholeheartedly, and at your own pace. You learn to live unapologetically with courage, strength and confidence.

Purple Thread tip: Dig down to your purpose by asking…

"When do I feel most alive, useful and aligned with who I truly am?"
"What activities or hobbies do I enjoy and I can lose track of time?"
"What do I want my legacy to be? My family to say about me?"
Write your answers down. Talk them over with a trusted friend. Patterns will appear and that's where your unique purpose takes shape and shines through.

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Reposted from NSCC

NORTHERN STATES CONSERVATION CENTER
COLLECTIONS CARETAKER E-NEWSLETTER

INVENTORIES
By Peggy Schaller

Who will do the Inventory?

Only those persons authorized to be in the collection areas should be in charge of doing a Collection Inventory. All helpers during this process must be trusted Collection Staff, another staff member or background checked volunteers. All volunteers must be paired with a staff member and should never be allowed to work in the collection unaccompanied.

Collection Inventories, at their most efficient, are done with teams of two–one person to handle and describe, the other to record the information on the Inventory sheet. One member of this team should be a collection staff member, the other may be a volunteer or other staff member.

Before beginning an inventory, each person involved should go through a short training session on proper handling of collections and how to describe artifacts. Remember, the descriptions required during an inventory are NOT cataloging descriptions, but short, concise descriptions that will allow you to tell one artifact from others of a similar nature.

So how do you go about doing an inventory?

To avoid having your inventory turn into an exercise in frustration, you must have a systematic plan. Do not hop from one shelf to another, or one room or another, you will tend to forget where you have been and will surely miss something. Do one room or section of the museum at a time. Choose a starting point within that room or section and proceed in a logical manner one shelf or case at a time. Always finish each section/shelf/cabinet/drawer before moving on to the next.

Peggy Schaller became Publications Manager at Northern States Conservation Center in 2012; Certificate Program Coordinator in early 2013; and Newsletter Editor for the Collection Caretaker e-newsletter in the fall of 2013. In 2014 she was asked to become the course monitor for all the online courses offered by Museum Classes Online and has been known to lurk in the background of various class chats. She has been an instructor for Museums Classes Online since 2004 teaching collection management courses. 

Ms. Schaller founded Collections Research for Museums in 1991 to provide cataloging, collection-management training and services. She has worked with a large variety of museums and collections for more than 30 years. She provides workshops and project services to museums and historical societies all across the country. The mission of Collections Research for Museums is to inspire museums to improve their professional standards, collections stewardship and service to their constituency through training in, and assistance with, documenting, preserving, protecting and managing their collections. For more information visit her web site Collections Research for Museums

To learn more about how to prepare for and complete a collection inventory join Peggy for MS218 Collections Inventories beginning November 4, 2025.

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