June 2024 - Introducing VRA "Board Buzz"

Hello all, I am Xiaoli.

Summertime Salutations!

To start, I am thrilled to introduce (again) our new executive Board that formally started in April 2024. Each member brings unparalleled passion and innovative ideas to our organization. Will Fenton, Treasure, brings in rich experience in professional organization treasury management. Meanwhile, Emily Smith, Public Relations and Communication Officer, possesses the right skill sets to craft a well-rounded strategy, fostering connections among members and facilitating resource sharing (this newsletter is one product of this strategy). Jon Cartledge, Secretary, and Liz Gadelha, Grants Officer, have been valuable members of the Board for several years. Jon has meticulously organized all Board files and consistently provided valuable insights from past Board communications to aid decision-making. Liz has efficiently optimized grants management processes and led the selection of grant applications following the merger of VRA and VRAF. Jon and Liz, not only do they support the Board in their respective functional areas, but they also connect the current Board with the past Boards through their knowledge about VRA’s history and traditions. Lastly, we are fortunate to have an outstanding planning team on the Board. This team is headed by Maria Nuccilli, Senior Director for Events and Initiatives, supporting her are Molly Schoen, Junior Director for Events and Initiatives and Nadine McAllister, Officer. They worked tirelessly, collaborating with hotels, institutions, individuals and VRA groups to organize this upcoming conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 8-10, 2024. (Check out the program and register soon to secure the Early Bird Registration.)

This year, we received numerous excellent proposals. To select and then to organize them into a coherent conference was daunting, but the Education Committee willingly undertook this challenge. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Committee for their dedication and hard work. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Allan Kohl for his help. As a Minneapolis local, he has provided unwavering support to the conference planning team, ensuring that the conference comes together, and on schedule. Thank you, Allan Kohl! 

Further exciting news: a new task force has been established! 

Led by our past Treasure Ann McShane, joined by our long-term membership coordinator Lise Hawkos (the lady who contacted you when you first joined VRA) and the current Public Relations and Communication Officer, Emily Smith, this task force, named as Membership Services Software Task Force, will evaluate various membership management software options to identify a more cost-effective solution for managing VRA membership. Currently VRA uses MemberClicks to manage membership, and VRA has used it for many years. With technology advances daily, it’s essential to explore whether there are better, more cost-effective options available. Save a little, gain a lot. We look forward to the task force’s report to be presented during the conference. The group meets every Thursday at 4-4:45 EDT/3-3:45 CDT/2-2:45 MDT/1-1:45 PDT. If you are interested in this type of work, join the task force. Contact Ann at ann.mcshane@emory.edu.  

 That’s all from me for now. 

The new Board looks forward to working with all of you. This year’s annual conference will surely be exceptional, and the registration is now open! Please join the Membership Services Software Task Force!

Best,

Xiaoli Ma

President, Visual Resources Association

VRA Happenings & Reminders

VRA 2024 Annual Conference Registration is Open Now!

The conference will be held October 8–10, 2024, at the Embassy Suites in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, MN. VRA 2024 follows a single-track hybrid conference model. Register now to take advantage of reduced Early Bird registration rates. Check out the conference website for more information. The program is available on Sched, with full descriptions of each session.

VRA 2024 Call for Posters

The VRA Conference Planning Committee welcomes applications for in-person poster presenters at the conference. Unfortunately, at this time there is no virtual option for posters. The poster session will be held Wednesday, October 9, 4:30 p.m. CDT. Submit you poster via this form. The application deadline is Monday, July 8, 11:59 p.m. PDT.

VRA Travel Awards Submissions Open until July 8th

We are delighted to announce that VRA Travel Awards are available for attendance at the 2024 VRA conference in Minneapolis. Applications can be submitted via this form by Monday, July 8, 11:59 pm EDT​. The list of recipients will be announced on the VRA listserv the week of July 31. Contact our committee at travelawards@vraweb.org with any questions.

VRA Awards Nominations Open until July 26th

The VRA Awards Committee is seeking nominations for the 2024 Distinguished Service Award and the Nancy DeLaurier Award. These awards exist to honor outstanding efforts and people in visual resources that may otherwise go unrecognized. The dossiers for the Awards are due by Friday, July 26th, and should be sent to: vra.awards@gmail.com.

VRA Bulletin 50th Anniversary Edition Out Now!

The 50th Anniversary Edition of the VRA Bulletin (VRAB) is now available. This special edition celebrates 50 years of VRAB and all of the editors, advisors, and authors who have contributed to its legacy. 

VRA Regional Workshop Season

The VRA is pleased to announce its 2024 Workshop Season! Register now for our popular Events Made Easy workshop, July 11th & 12th 3-5pm EST both days. Full workshop details and registration links are available on the website. If you have any questions, please send an email to the Regional Workshop Implementation Team at vraf.rwit@gmail.com. New for this season: VRA members will receive a nearly 25% discount on all of our workshop registration fees! For online workshops, the VRA member rate is $50 and the non-member rate is $65.