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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from Robert A Carotenuto

A huge thank you to Bill Powers, who helped launch my ASIS International volunteer leadership journey back in 2013.

When I first joined ASIS International in 2008, I tried several times to join the ASIS Cultural Properties Community (then called "council") but wasn't accepted. The feedback then was that they needed to be cautious of people "padding their resume."

Fast forward to GSX 2013-I was serving as AVP of Security at the New York Botanical Garden (without any council membership on my resume) when I met Bill, then Chair of the Cultural Properties Council. Bill was passionate about growing membership through diversity of talent and skills. He welcomed me in, and that moment changed everything.

Three years later, I was honored to be named ASIS International Council Chair of the Year. The best part? The incredible friendships I made with professionals who are the best in the field of cultural property protection.

Thank you, Bill, for taking a chance on me-and to the leaders who followed thanks to your vision, including our dear friends who have passed:Leslie Norman Cole and Gary Miville.

Grateful to have "padded my resume" with the names of these outstanding ASIS Cultural Properties Community professionals:

Andy Davis (MSc., CSyP, FSyI, CPP), Doug Beaver, CPP, Ricardo Sanz Marcos, Todd Lacy, Glenn Dowd, CPP, Ibrahim Bulut, James Clark, Dr. Declan Garrett D.SyRM, GRCP, GRCA, CBCI, F.ISRM, M.Sec.II, Daryll Marshall (in memoriam), James McGuffey, CPP, PCI, PSP, Paula Ratliff-and the others who will remind me in the comments!

Reposted from Readywhen.org

READYWHEN

A New Model for Disaster Readiness

Harnessing the Skills of Mass Gatherings Experts to Build Community Preparedness

Disasters are testing the strength of America. But we can be #ReadyWhen it matters most.

Weather disasters now strike every four days on average, causing $182 billion in damages and displacing 11 million Americans every year. Over 95% of Americans live in counties that have experienced major disasters in the last 15 years. Traditional emergency systems are overwhelmed and understaffed.

But there’s a solution hiding in plain sight…

Disaster response starts with neighbors, not strangers. When professional help can take 72 hours or longer to arrive, communities with robust social networks make better evacuation decisions, conduct faster search and rescue, and provide more effective immediate relief. The people who know your neighborhood, run your local venues, and organize community events already have the trust, communication channels, and many of the skills to support coordinated action when disaster strikes, especially when those networks are already prepared and connected with local emergency management.

Time is running out to build these connections before the next crisis

In 2024, the U.S. experienced one Major Disaster declaration every four days, with 267 out of 366 days having at least one active disaster somewhere in the country. Over one-third of Americans lived under a disaster declaration at some point last year.

The question isn’t whether your community will face an emergency—it’s whether you’ll be #ReadyWhen it happens.

Read more at: https://readywhen.org/

IFCPP is proud to share a bit about this important new initiative in advance of the role that ReadyWhen will play at the IFCPP 27^th Annual Conference in New Orleans on April 18 & 19, during pre-conference educational activities and workshops…

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By Tim Fang

November 3, 2025 / 3:50 PM PST / CBS San Francisco

Authorities released surveillance footage as they search for two people suspected of stealing priceless artifacts from the Oakland Museum of California last month.

On Monday, the San Francisco office of the FBI and Oakland Police released photos and video of the suspects. The pair are accused of breaking into the museum's off-site storage facility around 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 15.

According to an FBI statement, the first suspect is described as a male with a thin build, wearing a black beanie, white face mask, plaid long-sleeve shirt, blue jeans and black shoes.

Surveillance footage of two people suspected of stealing items from the Oakland Museum of California during a burglary at an off-site warehouse on Oct. 15, 2025. Oakland Police Department

Meanwhile, the second suspect is described as having a heavy build, wearing a blue hoodie with white letters on the chest, blue pants, white shoes with black detailing and black gloves.

Lori Fogarty, the museum's director, told CBS News Bay Area on Oct. 29 that the stolen objects are priceless in terms of historical value, but not something that would be incredibly valuable in terms of selling on the black market.

"We have one of the greatest holdings of California history anywhere," Fogerty said, adding that the museum's collection includes more than 2,000,000 items, only a handful of which can be on display at any given time.

Purpose

To ensure a safe, lawful, and coordinated response if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrive at a venue for enforcement actions:

1. Preparation & Designation

- Designate a Response Team: Identify and train key personnel (e.g., security, legal, HR) to respond to ICE actions.

- Establish Points of Contact: Assign a primary and backup contact for ICE interactions.

- Know Your Layout: Clearly define public vs. private areas of the venue.

2. Initial Response

- Stay Calm and Professional: Do not panic or confront agents.

- Verify Credentials: Request identification and documentation from ICE agents.

- Do Not Consent to Searches: Politely decline any request to search without a judicial warrant.

  Suggested response: “You must speak with our designated representatives who are being alerted.”

3. Legal Considerations

- Request a Judicial Warrant: Only judicial warrants (signed by a judge) grant access to non-public areas.

- Distinguish Between Warrant Types:

  • Judicial Warrant: Required for private areas.

  • Administrative Warrant: Does not grant access to non-public areas.

- Do Not Accept Warrants on Behalf of Others: If the warrant is for a third party (e.g., tenant or vendor), notify them immediately.

4. Communication Protocol

- Notify Internal Teams:

  • Security
  • Legal Counsel
  • Senior Management

- Alert External Stakeholders:

  • Visitors, contractors, concessionaires, or tenants (if applicable)
  • Other partners

- Document the Encounter: Politely record agent names, badge numbers, and actions taken.

5. Access Control

- Public Areas: ICE agents may access lobbies, waiting areas, and other unrestricted zones.

- Non-Public Areas: Require a judicial warrant for access.

  Response: “This is a private area. You cannot enter without a judicial warrant signed by a judge.”

6. Conduct Guidelines

- Do Not Interfere: Avoid obstructing agents or destroying documents.

- Do Not Leave Agents Unattended: Ensure trained/designated staff members are present, and accompany agents in non-public areas at all times.

- Minimize Interaction: Be courteous but avoid unnecessary conversation.

- Do Not Speak to Media: Refer all inquiries to your communications team.

7. Post-Incident Actions

- Debrief and Report: Conduct an internal review and document all details.

- Legal Follow-Up: Consult legal counsel for any implications or next steps.

- Staff Support: Provide guidance or counseling to affected employees.

ZeroEyes-

Learning From the Past to Protect the Future

When violence reaches churches, lives are changed forever—and vital lessons emerge. In this 60-minute webinar, experts Simon Osamoh and Brent Tsuda will analyze real-world case studies of gun violence in churches to reveal practical, actionable security insights.

Together, we’ll explore: 

Patterns behind targeted church violence and the warning signs often missed
Why reactive-only security models fall short
How AI-powered gun detection can silently add a layer of protection, without disrupting worship or creating fear

Date- October 23, 2025
Time- 1:00 pm EST

Reserve your spot today

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